Page 47 of Some Like It Fox

I might be able to do something creative with some of it, like the old bathtub out there.

Hmm.

My phone dings.

I have a solid lead for you. Not too far from your hometown. It’s in PA. Call me.

It’s the PI, Georgia. Pennsylvania? Did Mom leave us to end up one state away?

I pick up my phone and push on Georgia’s name.

She answers after two rings.

“Tell me.”

ChapterThirteen

Taylor

I’m sitting on the porch swing, gently rocking back and forth, enjoying my coffee when Atticus pulls up in his truck.

The sun has just crested the mountains, throwing a faint gold sheen over every surface. Atticus hops out of the truck, the rising sun illuminating the scruff on his jaw and the way his sweater hugs his broad shoulders.

Friends. Just friends. Right.

The past week has been a blur of work, work, and even more work. I don’t think I’ve ever spent so many hours in an office voluntarily. My days have been stuffed full of paperwork and phone calls, trying to connect to musicians and influencers while working the bar, and it hasn’t been as much of a nightmare as I might have expected. As a matter of fact, it’s been fun.

I stand and greet Atticus at the bottom of the steps. “Hey.”

His mouth curves up, his eyes downcast, a faint flush tinging his cheeks. “Hi.”

Could he be any cuter? I squash down all the unsatisfied lust that’s been a relentless thrum in my veins for days.

Ugh.

Once we hit the road, he hands me the cord to plug in my phone, keeping one hand on the wheel.

“Thanks.” I fill the truck with String Cheese Incident.

“So tell me about this trail and what I can expect on this hike. What’s our plan?”

He adjusts the rearview mirror before glancing over at me. “We’ll go slow. I need to time how long it will take with a group. It’s a survival camp, so I need to check out what’s growing up there right now, what’s in bloom and edible and anything poisonous, along with where they can look for shelter, what to do if they encounter a bear, that kind of thing.”

“I’m sorry did you saybear? Do you think we’ll see one? Will it eat us?”

He chuckles. “Even seeing one is unlikely. This region has black bears, but they are active mostly late at night and early morning. If any are around, we would probably scare them away with our noise before they get too close.”

I purse my lips and lift a hand. “Probably?”

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to outrun the bear, you just need to outrun me.”

A surprised laugh bursts out of me and I rub my chin. “How often do you run?”

“Never, if I can help it.”

“So you’re telling me I have a chance?”

His gaze travels down my face to my legs. “I have a longer stride, and I spend a lot of my time hiking. But you seem fit enough to have a sporting chance.” His eyes go hot.

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