Page 40 of Just One Season
But faster than I can imagine moving, Kellen dives down and grabs the leash, pulling Bear back before he gets within striking distance.
“Fuck, come here, Bear!” Kellen growls and grabs my dog off the ground. He turns to me. “Let’s get out of here.”
I don’t need to be told twice, so I spin and lead the way down the path away from the snake.
“Won’t it follow us? Stalk us?” I toss a look over my shoulder.
“It’s a snake, not a tiger, Lucy. It won’t hunt us. We’ll just head back down the trail for a minute and then take a big loop around the snake to keep going.”
My heart’s still racing, but the sight of Bear happily snuggled into Kellen’s chest distracts me. Not that it does much to slow my heart down.
“Holy crap. We almost died.” I breathe out once we’re far enough back down the trail.
“I mean, that’s a bit of an exaggeration.” Kellen chuckles.
I smile, but I’m suddenly overheated by everything. The exercise, the excitement, and the hot man holding my dog.
“What’s the difference between poisonous and venomous?” I ask, remembering Kellen’s correction.
“Snakes are venomous if they bite you and you get sick. Poisonous means ifyoubiteit, you get sick. And most people don’t bite snakes.”
“Interesting clarification.”
Kellen stops and points off trail. “Let’s head that way and circle back around past the spot with the snake.”
“Or—and hear me out—we can just go back to the car.” I’m embarrassingly hopeful he’ll say yes.
Kellen watches me for a few seconds. “Sorry. I didn’t even ask. Are you okay? We can go back if you want to. If we keep going, there’s a lake about fifteen minutes ahead, and then the trailcomes back around to the parking lot. It’ll take us another forty-five minutes total.”
I consider and almost choose to bail, but then Bear gives me his legit puppy dog eyes from Kellen’s arms.
“Let’s keep going.” My heartbeat’s almost returned to normal, and I would like to spend more time outside on this beautiful fall day.
“Yeah?” Kellen nods. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sweating though, so give me a second.” I pull my hoodie over my head and squat to unzip my backpack and shove it in. I feel much better in the tank top. “The whole life or death thing kind of got me fired up.” I zip up my bag and stand, swinging it over my shoulder.
“Again, not sure it was quite life or death.” Kellen’s gaze drifts down my body, then fixes back on my eyes.
“Still.” I swallow. “And… thanks for saving us.”
“No problem.” He absently strokes Bear’s head, and the dog stares up at him with adoring eyes.
“Bear likes you. You don’t happen to want a dog, do you?”
But even as I say it, my heart gives a little squeeze. I never particularly wanted a dog, but the little weirdo has grown on me. It’ll be hard to leave him when I go to England.
If I go to England. I need to get the job first.
“I travel too much for a pet, much to Ava’s disappointment.” Kellen puts Bear on the ground and keeps hold of the leash. “Follow me. I’ll go ahead since it’s off path. I can keep an eye out for other woodland creatures.”
“How likely do you think that is? That we’ll see other animals?” My eyes dart around the forest, almost ominous despite the bright sun and colorful autumn leaves.
Kellen shrugs. I am not reassured.
“Let’s go back to fake dating. We have the fall festival and the team retreat.” Kellen runs a hand through his hair. He’s not sweaty or flustered. I bet his heart’s not racing, either.
“The other day when I first met Paul, I was with Atticus in the coffee shop.” I appreciate the crunching leaves beneath my feet, and keep my eyes trained on the ground so I don’t trip. “Atticus said Paul and Savannah live around the corner and come in almost every day. Maybe we could run into them at the coffee shop for our first public sighting?”
