Page 40 of Endeavor

I grin. “Better. So how about a hike?”

She nods enthusiastically. “Yes, I’m excited to get out in nature and breathe some cleaner air. My lungs are already enjoying today.”

We clean up the picnic and make our way down the hill to the car. I hold her hand. I don’t know why I keep holding her hand, but I like the way it feels in mine.

Emma

The trail isn’t long. We chat about nothing and everything as we walk. With each step, I can tell we’ll have a great view at the top. And I am not disappointed. The view of the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking. A couple is just leaving a bench, and I walk over and sit down. Grady joins me and we both stare out at the spectacular view.

“OK, you did well. This has been a great day,” I admit.

“Ye of little faith, of course it was.”

I look over at him. He’s smirking and has his hands behind his head.

“So much modesty,” I quip.

He winks. “I have lots of everything.”

I roll my eyes. “You know, every time I start to think there’s something deeper there, you turn around and say a jackass comment. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have self-confidence issues. Maybe a little imposter syndrome?”

He leans over so we are nose to nose. “Or maybe, I just like playing with you.”

“Right.”

Neither of us moves for the longest second, so long in fact that I think we might kiss. Do I want to kiss him? I don’t know yet. And with that thought, I pull back. I look out toward the ocean again.

“What now?” I ask.

“I think we need to focus on dinner.”

“We just ate.”

“Come on,” he says as he stands and grabs hold of my hand, hauling me up and into his lean body.

“Please tell me that’s not code for sexy times,” I whisper as I gaze up into his eyes.

“Not code for anything.” His face is so close to mine, and for the second time today, a part of me wants him to kiss me, the irrational, “falling for a man I just met” part of me. His eyes darken, but just when I think he might kiss me, he pulls back. “Let’s go.”

I follow him as we walk back down the trail. We don’t say much on the way. My mind spins in a million directions. Does he like me? Do I like him? Will he actually try to kiss me? It is our second date. What would Kate say?

I’m so deep in thought I trip on a rock and go stumbling forward. I put out my arms to catch myself, but suddenly I’m pulled back and straight into the arms of Grady. He holds me tight against him.

“Whoa there,” he murmurs in my ear, as he presses me against him. “You OK, Emma?”

I turn in his arms slowly and nod. We are alone on the trail and all I can hear now is the far-away sounds of the ocean and thumping of my heart. “What had you so deep in thought that you nearly fell?”

I shake my head. “I…” I trail off because I don’t know what to say.

He puts his finger under my chin and pushes my face up until my gaze meets his. His eyes search mine and I swear neither of us breathes for the longest time. “I’m wondering if you were thinking about the same things that I was.”

“What were you thinking about?” I ask.

The hand that was under my chin comes up to caress my cheek. My eyes close for a second, enjoying his touch. “I was wondering how I can already be falling for you. How I already want to kiss you.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” I challenge.

It’s the only permission he needs. His lips descend on mine, gentle and tentative. It surprises me. I didn’t expect his kiss to be so tame, not coming from a man who otherwise exudes passion. But I assess it too quickly because his soft, feathery brush over my lips goes from delicate to off-the-charts fiery in a matter of seconds. His tongue dips between my open lips and glides over mine. I moan as his hand cups my jaw, tilting my head so he can deepen the kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling our bodies flush together. He smells of something woodsy and it ignites a deeper need in me. His knee presses between my legs and my body lights up like a five-alarm fire. I don’t know what overcomes me but suddenly I’m grinding on his leg, moaning into his mouth, and kissing him like he’s oxygen and I’ve been holding my breath for too long. His other hand goes to my ass, kneading it, pushing it so that my pelvis is flush against his thigh which he presses upward, giving me more friction. Fuck, I’m so close just from dry humping his leg.

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