Page 90 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions

“You’ll feel better if you’re not worrying about all the critters out here.”

I blinked.

Okay, mind reader.

“I’m heavy.”

“Not for me,” Alex replied immediately, still waiting. His ass was pushed out, and my gaze slipped to it, a small groan spilling free. Apparently, Alex thought the groan was because I was annoyed, because he spoke again, in that firm tone that made my knees feel like jelly. “I’m not going to ask again. Get on my back, Georgie.Now.”

Georgie again.

Good.

“Okay.” I didn’t fight him this time. Instead, I obediently wrapped my arms around his neck and hopped up. Not gonna lie, it was surprising how easily he took my weight—even though he’d reassured me he could.

“This way you can relax,” he added, and I could hear his smile in the words. “Rest those grumpy lil eyebrows. Give your grimple a vacation.”

“My grimple?” I repeated, belly flip-flopping as Alex stood straight.

“Grumpy-dimple. Grimple.” He readjusted me, and I squeezed tight, a gaspexhaling against the back of his tan neck. Unlike me, he was not lobster-red from the sun. Though, he did have a tan line that looked particularly kissable. A drop of water wandered down his nape and it was so…so tempting to lick it.

How the hell was I supposed to relax like this—with my wet body clinging to all his supple, equally drenched muscle?

Knowing me, I’d get a boner any second. It was Murphy’s Law. Worst-case scenario always. Gah. And now that I was thinking about boners it was almost impossible to stop my mind from wandering again like it had earlier that day when I’d been serving breakfast.

Fuck. Alex smelled good.

He always did. But today was even better than yesterday.

I resisted the urge to bury my nose in the back of his neck, but only just. Maybe if I nuzzled him a bit he wouldn’t notice? We could chalk it up to forced proximity and the steady thud of his footsteps.

“I know what will help you relax,” Alex said after a brief pause. We’d gone a dozen yards or so, which I still felt was quite a feat considering how much I weighed. I was slim, but denser than I looked.

“What?” He could probably feel how stiff I was.

“Close your eyes.”

“And let the creepy crawlies sneak up on me? No thank you.”

“That’s why I’m carrying you,” Alex reminded me. “So no creepies can get to you.”

“Right.” Huh. Okay. So that argument was out the window.

“Close your eyes, Georgie,” Alex urged. It wasn’t a command this time, merely a suggestion, but I followed it anyway. Against my better judgment, my eyes drifted shut. Every time we stepped into a patch of sun my lids would turn a brilliant red. I waited for a minute, expectantly.

“Okay,” Alex said. “Now listen.”

“Listen to what?”

“To the woods.”

“This is stupid,” I huffed.

“Georgie,” Alex laughed, fed up with my bullshit but amused regardless. “Just do what I say.”

“Fine.” I breathed in. Another sunny red puddle. More shadow. Chirping. Rustling. The crunch of Alex’s feet on the path. A bird sang somewhere high above. Maybe one of the ones Joe had pointed out? Unconsciously, I felt myself begin to relax.

“What do you hear?” Alex asked after several minutes of silence.

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