Page 20 of Mr. Red

“Uh-huh.” I stare at him and cross my arms over my chest.

“Anyway, I’d love to join you. I brought provisions.”

“Provisions for who?” I furrow my brow.

He doesn’t respond and then starts walking ahead of me like he knows all about this trail.

What’s going on here?

“Your leg seems better today,” he observes, as I catch up to him.

“Oh, yeah, my hip is much better. It was just a little bruise. Didn’t affect me at all.”

“You were limping yesterday.”

I thought I played it cool yesterday; looks like I wasn’t so smooth.

I clear my throat. “Have you been on this trail before?”

“Yeah, just the other day. I like the view of the lake this one has.”

“You just moved here and you already think you know as much as a local, huh? If anyone was going to do it, it would be you. Mr. Arrogant, was it?” I tilt my head to the side with a grin.

“I wouldn’t consider myself a local, but I’ve been on this trail. It’s nice.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve been hiking it for years.”

“Okay, Miss Expert. I get it. Maybe a newcomer will show you a thing or two.” He pulls ahead. The dick.

I could abandon this hike. I could go on another trail and ignore him completely.

Instead, my feet walk after him. The view in front of me is pleasant. Those jeans hug all the right places.

He interrupts my dreamland as we follow the path. “So, is your favorite color red? You know, since your name is Scarlett and all.”

“You did not just ask my favorite color,” I chuckle.

“You have a colorful name. It made me think of it.”

After an eye roll, I respond, “Yeah, I like red. What’s yours?”

“Scarlett.” He looks over his shoulder to give me a wink.

Did he just admit to liking me?

Scarlett! Don’t fall for it!

“So,” I interject, “what brings you to our little town?”

“I came from Texas for a work project.”

“Ah. You’re here temporarily?”

“That’s the plan. I’m only supposed to be here for six months, but I did buy a house in the area. I could always come back.”

“You just went and bought a house?” I scowl.

He says it like buying a house is a simple exchange. Just another thing from the grocery store. House, tomatoes, same thing.

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