Page 10 of Dragons and Cupcakes

Chapter 4

Oh my God, ‘It’s a date’? Ugh, who the hell do I think I am?!

For about the fiftieth time, Kira tried to pull her hair up into something resembling an even slightly sexy updo – only for it to all immediately fall lankly around her face the moment she took her hands away. It was no use – her hair was just too straight and fine to be stylable without the help of a professional, or at the least without more hairspray or mousse or whatever than anyone could reasonably be expected to have on hand.

And anyway, we’re going hiking, it’s not like we’re going to a fancy restaurant! Not that there really are any fancy restaurants in Girdwood Springs.

She told herself she’d look pretty ridiculous hiking through the forest all got up to the nines anyway. That would just be silly. She’d be better off just doing her usual, boring thing of a ponytail and no makeup. It wasn’t so wrong to want to look glamorous, but it just wasn’t practical for a hiking date.

And it’s not like this is really a date anyway, she thought, unable to resist one last attempt at a side-part. It was just a joke. A joke! Caleb knows that.

She wasn’t even sure what had possessed her to make such a stupid joke to begin with. Caleb was hot – like, smoking hot. Maybe her hormones had run away with her for a moment, for which she supposed she couldn’t really be blamed. And whatever the case, Caleb hadn’t seemed to be put out about it. He’d still seemed keen for the guided tour she’d offered him, so it wasn’t like he was offended or anything like that. She just had to not say or do anything stupid like that again for the whole day, and everything would be totally fine.

Ha. Ha. Yeah.

Kira shook her head at herself as she tied her boots. Could she really trust herself not to blurt out something silly? More than once yesterday she’d felt herself getting all dreamy and drifting off into imaginary land while gazing into Caleb’s startlingly blue eyes, or imagining what it’d be like to run her fingers through his black hair. Finding out whether his shoulders were really as broad as they looked under the jacket he’d been wearing.

Yeah okay, this is not helping. Kira shook herself as she climbed into her car. You’re just going to show the poor man around some of your favorite trails. You are going to have to do your best to restrain yourself and not eat him alive. Okay? Okay.

Starting the car, Kira managed to get her concentration together enough to drive through the winding mountain roads. Her house was a little way out of the main part of Girdwood Springs – up the mountain and down a long driveway. She liked it out there, even though the town itself could hardly be called large or bustling. But the solitude suited her, and she liked looking out of her bedroom window and seeing nothing but trees, and hearing nothing but birdsong and the leaves rustling in the wind. It had been her grandfather’s house, and he’d left it to her in his will, since her parents had decided they’d like to retire to somewhere a bit warmer and sunnier.

The old place does need a few repairs, though,Kira thought, as she turned down the road that led to the park, where she’d agreed to meet Caleb. I’d want to get it fixed up a little before I brought Caleb back there or anything… which I’m obviously not going to do, so I don’t know why I even thought that.

She let out a deep breath. Clearly, she still had a little way to go before she got her brain back under her control.

I can do it! I believe in myself!

The problem was, however, that she didn’t – especially not when she rounded the last bend, and saw Caleb himself standing by her office cabin, all six-foot-whatever of him, dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, a warm vest snuggled comfortably over his shoulders.

Aw, man. That’s just not fair.

Kira parked her car, leaning over to the passenger’s seat to sort through her backpack and checking she’d remembered all her supplies. Water bottles – check. Nourishing snacks, courtesy of Sylvie – check. Raincoat – check. Waterproof flashlight – check. There was no rain forecast for today, but after yesterday’s freak rainstorm she wasn’t taking any chances.

Well – she had everything. So she really couldn’t put off getting out of the car and facing up to the… well, face of her persistent fantasies any longer.

Caleb came to greet her as she hopped out of the car, pulling her backpack with her.

Kira greeted him with a smile – a smile she hoped looked normal rather than manic. A smile that said It’s cool, I guess I’m happy to see you again, rather than Oh please let me pull your pants off with my teeth.

Kira coughed, feeling her face flushing bright red. She sputtered furiously, her eyes watering. Oh my God! No!

“Are you okay?” Caleb’s voice was all concern as he appeared at her side.

Kira waved him off, hoping she wasn’t coming across as rude. “No, no, I’m fine,” she said weakly, once she’d managed to get her breath back. “I just – something went down the wrong way. Sorry.”

“As – as long as you’re sure you’re not choking,” Caleb said, his face way more worried than a little bit of unfortunate and embarrassing coughing and choking warranted. “You’re really okay?”

“Yeah – no worries at all.” Kira nodded in what she hoped was a reassuring fashion. Well, that was two meetings so far, and two times she’d stupidly embarrassed herself – yesterday there’d been stupidly tripping over and landing in his arms, today it was stupidly choking on her own spit. Kira wondered with a shudder what the rest of the day would bring.

“Should we get going?” Kira asked, trying to redirect Caleb’s attention. “While the skies are clear, I mean.”

“You know, I really can’t thank you enough for spending your day off showing me around like this,” he said as they walked together toward the gate leading to the trails. “After spending your working week here, I would’ve thought looking at more forest is the last thing you’d want to do.”

“Oh, no, it’s the opposite!” Kira knew she sounded way over-enthused, but when it came to the park, she just couldn’t help it. “I love spending time out here – I sometimes come out here on my days off anyway. And my house is surrounded by trees anyway, so even if I stay home, it’s still more forest. I do a little gardening, but really, it’s my favorite place to be in the whole world.”

“I can tell,” Caleb said, giving her a smile. “Me, I was born and bred in the city, so I haven’t spent much time in places like this. But I can definitely see the appeal.”

“I think everyone should spend a little time in places like this,” Kira said as they made their way through the gate, and then down the beginner track before the trails all branched off in different directions. “It’s really calming – well, most of the time, anyway. And I think if people could just see how lovely these places are they’d really understand more about why people feel so strongly about protecting them. It’s not just that they’re beautiful, though – the forest is home to so many birds, animals, insects… all kinds of things. And there’s so many rare plants that grow here too. I really think that –”

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