Page 18 of Mess With Me
“Weenies all!” she declared.
He found himself smiling again. He couldn’t remember ever smiling so much. “Got that right. I honestly didn’t think it was that hard a trail. Sorry if I underestimated it.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re probably going to be sore tomorrow. Take a day to rest your muscles.”
“I will, thanks.” She bumped her shoulder into his.
He bumped her back and then had to grab her before she tipped off the boulder. “You’re a lightweight.”
She smiled sunnily. “That is the nicest thing a guy has ever said to me. It’s nice having a guy friend.” She stood and stretched, arching her back in his blue shirt, her breasts full and tempting.
Guyfriend. Not for long.He smirked, picturing her in his shirt after a roll in the sheets, prancing around his townhouse, bare underneath.
She didn’t notice his smirk, instead walking over to admire the view again. He admired her rear view, his shirt clinging to her cute ass.
On the way back down, Ally trailed behind again. He knew she’d be okay. She’d get there in her own time. He whistled to himself on the way down, enjoying sharing one of his favorite activities with Ally. She’d only improve as she got stronger. Maybe they could go on some trails just the two of them.
He stopped off for her shirt, which was still damp, and tied it to the straps of his pack, letting it dry over the back of the pack. He reached the parking lot and waited. And waited. She finally emerged, smiling and chatting with their leader, dreadlock Rob. The guy must’ve doubled back for her because he was always at the front of their group.
He met up with them just in time to hear Rob asking for Ally’s number.
She smiled and shook her head. “Sorry, I’m seeing someone, but thanks.”
Rob met his eyes. “Sorry, man. Matt said you were just friends. That’s cool.”
“No worries,” Ally assured Rob. “Ethan and I are just friends. It’s somebody else.”
Rob shot him a confused look before turning back to Ally. “Hope to see you back with the group. Very nice to meet you.”
“You too!” she said cheerfully.
Ethan clenched his jaw. What the hell? She was seeing someone after all that commitment to singlehood talk? He turned and headed back to his Jeep and Ally followed, patting his backpack.
“My shirt’s still pretty wet,” she said. “You mind if I hang onto your shirt until the next time I see you?”
“No problem,” he muttered.
“Do you have an extra shirt in your car?”
“Just a hoodie. I’m fine like this.” He would continue to go shirtless as long as Ally continued to ogle him. He calmed down a little. She must’ve been giving Rob a line, right? She’d been going on about her single me, happy me plan on the way over here.
They reached his Jeep and he opened the passenger-side door for her. She climbed in and turned to him, her gaze glued to his face. “You want to put the roof back on? I don’t want you to get chilly.”
Real men didn’t get chilly.
“I’m fine.” He headed over to the driver’s side, started the Jeep, and looked over at her. She had a small smile playing over her lips. “Enjoy yourself?”
She beamed. “I did. There’s something about being in nature that just makes you feel at peace. Like all is right in the world.”
“Yes.” He relaxed because she really appreciated what he’d shown her here today. He put the Jeep in gear and pulled out of the lot. It wasn’t like he had a claim on her. Of course men were going to hit on her. She was beautiful, sexy and sweet, lit from within from some exuberant life force. Oh, man, he had it bad. He had to make a move soon before another guy moved in. But wait, maybe another guy already had.
He glanced over at her to find her staring at his chest. Her eyes met his, the expression somewhere between lust and guilt. Did she feel guilty because she was secretly seeing someone? If that was the case, then what the hell was with all that single me, happy me talk?
“Who’re you seeing?” he asked casually. “I was just wondering because it’s only been a day since your commitment to singlehood.”
She laughed. “I’m seeing myself. I want to focus on my life. I wasted too much energy on relationships, you know? Now my relationship is with myself.”
