Page 14 of Those Who Are Bound

Elliott

Hewasearly.

Elliott saw his headlights round the corner of the main building. After letting out an expletive, experiencing a time warp because she thought she still had a few minutes to get ready, she made a mad grab for a couple of things and dashed for the door.

By the time he was out of the Jeep, Elliott was banging out of her screen door with a backpack dangling off one arm, hopping on one foot while shoving the other in a boot, a slice of buttered toast in her mouth. She tried to call out, “I’m coming,” around her panic and the food, but it came out garbled.

Laughing, Jonah took the stairs two at a time. “Slow down! I’m early.”

Flustered, she halted her activity as she watched him leap quickly up the wooden steps toward her. He was wearing gray cargo pants and a light gray T-shirt with his brown top-of-the line hiking boots. She lingered over the sight of his chest, admiring how well the T-shirt fit, defining his pecs whenever he moved.

Jonah removed the toast from her mouth while he reached behind her and steadied the screen door. “Let’s try to unravel here.” He looked her over in turn, tilting his head to take in her long black yoga pants and a coral tank top with a black sports bra underneath.

She admitted, “I Googled what to wear on a hike.”

He chuckled. “You wear what’s comfortable. It’s a short trail, not at all challenging.”

Adjusting her backpack as she hop-walked across the little deck to a chair, she asked, “Are you saying that as a trail expert or as someone who hasn’t been hiking in a few years?”

“I thought you could hold your own,” he reminded her.

She sat to properly put on her boots. “Oh, have I mentioned I’m competitive? You could have asked if I scuba-dived, and I would have said the same thing.”

He asked, “Ever been scuba diving?”

“Never!” She laughed. “But I’ve snorkeled, and I’ve watched it on TV.”

He was smiling at her like she was the most adorable thing he had ever seen. “You said you don’t own a lot of gear, so what do you have?”

Snickering at herself and looking down, she admitted, “I have a water bottle.”

Jonah laughed with her. “I admire your spirit.”

She glanced up at him. “So, this trail…?”

“You’ll do fine.” Then he teased, “And if you struggle, you’re competitive enough that you’ll keep your mouth shut and head down, so I’m good.”

“You are such a jerk.” But she was grinning. She held out her hand for the toast.

Jonah looked at it. “Is this your breakfast?”

“Yes. Breakfast isn’t my thing because normally I’m still asleep. I’m a night owl.” She raised a shoulder and said cheekily, “So, if you’re a morning person, we may already be ill-fated.”

Handing the toast to her, he pointed out warmly, “At least you recognize that we’re fated.”

Elliott blushed as she took the toast. When had she given over to blushing? Avoiding his devastatingly disarming regard of her, she stood, mumbling, “I need to lock up.”

Jonah stepped aside, holding the screen door while she turned the dead bolt. “Is that it?” he asked.

“That’s it.” She assured him as she tripped down the stairs lightly, her feet as staccato as her heart; he followed closely behind.

“I have a box of coffee on the floorboard for you,” he announced. “Dark roast. I assumed.”

Elliott’s mood soared even higher. “What? You do?” She practically skipped to the passenger side of the Jeep and opened the door; the scent of coffee greeted her. “Ah! Heaven sent!”She leaned in and poured the brew into one of the two large cups provided, adding cream.

“I’ve discovered one thing that excites you.” Jonah climbed into the driver’s seat. “I realized I didn’t know how you take it.”

“Just cream.” She looked up with mock possessiveness. “Am I sharing this?”

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