Page 59 of The Innovator

She didn’t know it yet, but she was my perfect match—the feminine to my masculine creativity. Together, we could achieve unimaginable things.

I had never been more excited to lose to someone than losing to her.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

GRAYSON

After staying up most of the night learning about Natalie’s real identity, I still had questions for her. But my admiration for her tripled. I admired people who did the unthinkable. She could’ve stayed in Paris and lived a luxurious life. What motivated her to abandon that lifestyle to move to Providence?

Last night, we both stayed in our rooms and didn’t get to walk. So today, I made it up to her by taking her on a splendid hike on several trails. Despite my desperate need for answers, this was our vacation. I didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable by asking questions she probably didn’t want to answer. Besides, I didn’t know how she’d react to me investigating her. How could I not? I couldn’t resist the mystery surrounding her. But that discussion with her could wait.

After a day of hiking, we returned to the tree house. The cloudy weather allowed us to hike farther than usual. My lovely companion, along with low humidity, made the adventure in the woods one of the best I’d ever had. There wasn’t a minute I didn’t think about her comment from yesterday.

You make me feel comfortable . . . at feeling dirty.

What filthy things did she have in mind when she thought about me?

Despite the sexual attraction between us, I appreciated her friendship as well. We talked about everything, even the frogs, lily pads, moss, rocks, and the texture of the tree bark. Everything became more interesting because she was with me. The girls I’d dated before preferred the city life, fancy restaurants, shopping centers, boutiques, and all the parties I could take them to.

I could see the city girl in Natalie, but I also saw the yearning for serenity and simplicity—the desire for something beyond the external.

“I’m going to hop into the shower, and I can help you prepare an early dinner.”

She didn’t know I’d already placed an order for delivery. “Can I join you?”

“No.” She smiled.

“It’ll be fun.”

“No.”

“I’ll let you sleep in my cozy swing,” I bargained.

She snorted. “My paperwork states that anyone staying on the premise has access toeverything.”

“Except my suite.”

“Do you have illegal stuff in there?”

“You’ll have to find out.”

She rose to her feet and wiped the sweat from my forehead with her hand. “You need a shower too, but in your suite.”

“I thought you liked me dirty.” A single rivulet of sweat trickled down her neck, and I bent down to lick it.

She let out a moan. “Grayson.”

“Yes, buttercup?” I pressed my lips to her racing pulse. “I love your flavor. Want to shower together? We can save water.”

She laughed. “I’ll pass.”

“We can get creatively dirty.”

Right now, I didn’t expect her to say yes to me joining her in the shower, but she would soon. The sexual energy between us could topple this very tree if I didn’t do something about it. The sooner I resolved it, the sooner my life could return to normal.

“I know we can.” She left it at that and walked up to her suite.

My eyes darted to those enticing shorts that revealed enough to make a man want to see the rest. Was she wearing underwear?

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