Lindsay’s cheeks colored as she glanced down at her shorts. “Considering what I’m used to, I feel so damn overdressed. Who’d have thought that was possible only wearing a t-shirt and pair of onlypuff cutoffs?”
“Make yourself more comfortable, then. Take them off. Take everything off.”
“Don’t kid around about stuff like that, okay?” Because you know I’ll do it if you tell me to. I don’t care; I’ll strip down right here in public.
Especially if it leads to us eventually fucking.
“I wasn’t kidding.” Colt tossed Lindsay a studious glance and witnessed her turn a darker shade of crimson.
“Seriously? Well, I mean, if you…”
Colt held up a hand. “Hold your horses, cowgirl. I was only kidding.”
Lindsay blew out her cheeks and righted her posture. “Jeeze Louise, I don’t know what to think about you sometimes.” Her nose crinkled. “It’s like you’re this mysterious puzzle, and I can’t solve you. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”
“And how is that different than everything else in your life? You’re quite the whimsical girl.”
“I don’t know. I mean, I’m not supposed to like you. You’re a married man – married to my best friend, even.”
“I’m not supposed to like you, either, but I do. And this best friend you speak of? My wife? You like her too. In fact, you love her. And Pamela loves you. Oh, does she ever. I hear it every day.” He made a tsk, tsk, tsk sound and grinned. “Quite the little homewrecker, aren’t you?”
Up at the waterfall, Colt’s smile was akin to a warm caress across her cheek. “I’ve enjoyed our day out so far, Lindsay. I enjoyed last night at the ballgame, too, though the Orioles lost.”
Amazed at how relaxed she was around him, especially considering their once-strained interactions, Lindsay said, “Yeah, it’s been fun. When I hike, when I’m out in the wilderness like this, this is my one true happy place.” The sky was clear and the air carried a musky scent mingled with pinewood. Gulls circled above, calling to each other as they flew back and forth. “I could do this all day.”
Where had the person she once was gone? I’m still the same girl who went hiking with Dad every week when I was growing up, aren’t I? The same girl who went to church twice a week and was close with her family. I don’t understand why taking a “different” type of job has alienated me from them. Truth was, Lindsay missed her family much more than she’d let on with Pamela and Colt. Perhaps I should’ve gone home the other night and tried talking to them again. Lindsay’s last contact of any sort with the Anastacio clan was all the way back in December. Maybe it’s at the point now where they’re afraid to approach me the same way I’m afraid to approach them. How many times, after all, had Pamela told her time heals all wounds? We need to meet in the middle and reconcile.
I’d give anything to hike The Clouds-To-Cactus Trail with Dad again. Those day-long excursions – just the two of them – were restorative, fun, and built strength in their father-daughter relationship. Oh, I miss being with Dad so much. Mr. Anastacio loved the outdoors and, much like Lindsay, found peace in nature.
I may never get to hike with him again….
“Have you ever thought about becoming a forest ranger?” Lindsay was pulled from those sad thoughts as she glanced up, an eyebrow raised, and surveyed Colt as he kept speaking. “I know Pamela is gonna help you later this week with your college application, but instead of majoring in Sociology, I don’t know, perhaps you could try Agriculture instead.” He held both hands out and rolled his shoulders. “I think you’d be a lot happier working outdoors – in nature – down the road instead of being behind a desk. You’d be perfect for a forest ranger job.”
“I never thought of that, but it’s a hell of an idea.” Lindsay produced her smartphone and began searching on the Internet for information. “Is an Agriculture degree required to become a forest ranger? A park ranger?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I’d think something like Agriculture, Engineering, Geology, maybe just plain Science would qualify you.”
“Forestry too.” Lindsay skimmed through an article with her forefinger. “Conservation, even Education. I’ll talk to Pamela and see what she says, come up with a game plan.” She bit her lip. “I love the house, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want to be working there ten years from now.”
“I don’t want you to be working there ten years from now either.” Lindsay’s eyes again darted up as Colt, his tone soft and considerate, traced the length of his thumb across her bare knee. “You deserve better than that place.”
“But I like what I do.”
“I know you do. But it’s not something you need to be doing long-term.” He pulled a smoked tofu and veggie sandwich, encased in a wrapper, from his backpack and handed it to her. “Girls your age? I always tell them to save up for college tuition and then get the fuck out.” He averted his eyes and grimaced. “But most ignore my advice.”
She took a small bite. “Saving for college or getting the fuck out?”
“Both.”
Lindsay put the sandwich down and turned her whole body to face him.
“Uh-oh. That’s not a good look.”
She fought the urge to smile. There was no place for smiling as she needed to level with him right now, perhaps get a clearer picture of the future, a definitive answer. “Is it true that you and Pamela are thinking of selling the house?”
“It’s been discussed.” He exhaled. “But we’re going to hold off on that for the foreseeable future. Pamela wants to work a while longer.” He sniffed his nose. “I’m not a saint, Lindsay. I’ve been working in our industry for a long, long time, and I want to be doing something different ten years from now myself. I can’t… keep doing this.”
The hurt in Colt’s voice – or was it guilt? – found Lindsay unable to look away from his somber expression.
“I want a family – one, maybe two kids – and to have a regular, everyday job, and lead a normal, simple life. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. I mean, whether it’s a son or a daughter, or both, I’d like to, you know, go on hiking trips with them one day like this too.”
Those words resonated; Lindsay’s breath caught in her throat as she tried to speak, but no words came out. Zoinks. The young woman turned and kept her eyes on the horizon, afraid if she were to look at him, tears would start falling. Still, she felt his gaze.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
Honey? Dad always called me “honey.” Lindsay could hear her heart beating in her chest because it was so loud and it took all her willpower not to give in, crawl onto his lap, and hug him.
I’ll go hiking with you whenever you want. This man had done funny things to her insides since the day they met when she had to sit through that grueling interview. He was big and muscular, and Lindsay often wondered if there were some tattoos underneath his linen shirt. I bet there is, and I need to find out. And soon. Her own skin was glowing; it was sensitive, much warmer than the summer temperature warranted. She also recalled Friday night, alone in bed, playing with her vibrator and falling apart with his name on her lips. I squirted like a firehose again.
“Nothing’s wrong, Colt. Nothing… at all.” Her words a whisper, she gulped back an uncomfortable lump in her throat. Wow, this was so unnerving. “I’m hopeful there’s a spot for me in your family too.”
She could feel his grin without needing to see it. “Oh, don’t be silly. What would Pamela and I do without you?”
* * *
As they traversed back down the wilderness incline, Colt realized he wasn’t doing himself any favors by spending this one-on-one time with Lindsay. Ninety minutes at the waterfall seemed like an eternity. How much longer could he stave off such intense temptation? The more time Colt spent around her, the more her unique mannerisms and characteristics became permanently imprinted on his brain. Like how Lindsay’s lips pursed in the most kissable way when she was concentrating. Or how she would blow out an exaggerated breath whenever she was frustrated. And how perfect her little ass looked in the denim when she was climbing over a sprawling tree trunk.
That vision had to be the most endearing of all.
A tiny voice inside his brain reminded him of all the reasons this was a bad idea.
Lindsay was too young. She was still recovering from a toxic relationship. She made Colt do things, feel things, and forget things that he shouldn’t.
Your wife.
Acting on his desires, on his urges, on his impulses was wrong, so why in the hell did it feel like it would be so right? Pamela texted me earlier and said she wouldn’t have any objections if I had sex with Lindsay during our hike. Frustration and uncertainty battled with his arousal. And he hated it. Colt was so accustomed to being in control at all times, but he had zero control over the feelings Lindsay inspired in him – and the constant prodding from Pamela concerning the matter. Fuck her for me… a direct quote.
His own wife texted him that!
Beside him, Colt noticed Lindsay struggling with her footing.
“We can take a break if you like,” he suggested for the third time as they slowly made their way down the trail.
She inhaled a steady breath and closed her eyes. When Lindsay opened them, there was a steely resolve in her gaze. Squaring her jaw, she shifted the strap of her backpack up higher on her shoulder. “I’m fine.”
Colt shook his head and they forged on.
He’d never been more thankful for the Lasik procedure he had done in 2017 that afforded him twenty/twenty vision. Keeping an eye on Lindsay for her safety seemed far more essential than any explicit notions with each passing second. And in the process, Colt realized something. The instant she noticed he was watching her, Lindsay would put up a façade that hid any discomfort she may be experiencing. It happened so seamlessly that Colt tested his theory several times before he was convinced he was correct.
While alternating between blatantly staring in her direction and casting covert glances, Colt concluded that Lindsay was struggling. Isn’t she supposed to be this expert, seasoned hiker? Of course, Lindsay wasn’t complaining. She barely said a dozen words since they left the waterfall and half of those were to inform him that she was fine. Yet her body language suggested otherwise.
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