Page 45 of Last Summer

“It isn’t coincidence that these are my size, is it?” she asks, keeping her tone steady.

“Nope. They’re yours.”

CHAPTER 13

“Mine?”

Ella sits there and stares dumbly at the clothes. She doesn’t recognize them. She doesn’t remember purchasing or wearing them. The feeling is similar to what she felt several months back when she boxed her maternity clothes and put them in storage. It’s as though they belong to someone else.

“You took them backpacking and then left them with me,” Nathan says, nodding toward the clothes and boots. “You wanted to keep them here, just in case.”

Just in case of what? Ella lifts the pants to look at the long-sleeved white hiking shirt underneath. Not only did they hike together, but they clearly shopped for this outfit. How comfortable had they been with each other?

“Come on, we’re wasting daylight.” Nathan claps loudly. The sound echoes off the high walls. “Ready, boys?”

Fred and Bing bark enthusiastically.

“You can change in the bathroom. It’s over...there.” He points past the staircase and takes a second glance at her. “Hey, you okay?”

She looks at him, then presses her abdomen to settle her nerves. Nathan’s gaze drops to her hand. He swears.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” Concern softens his features. He gestures at her midriff. “Can you hike?”

She frowns. “What?”

“It’s an easy hike. Slight incline. Shouldn’t be too strenuous considering you...um. Your...” He draws a line across his pelvis.

She realizes she’s holding her hand directly over her scar. “Oh.” She’s been running up to eight miles four days a week for almost two months. She’s conditioned, but of course Nathan doesn’t know that. She lets her hand slide away. “I’ll be fine.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“The clothes. They caught me by surprise. I don’t remember them or your house.”

He nods. “We’ll take it slow. You aren’t acclimated. The dogs and I usually make it there and back in just under three hours. There’s a spot I want to show you. We can talk there and have lunch before we head back.”

Ella picks up the clothes and boots. Looks like they’re going for a hike. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time. I have to get the dogs ready.”

In the bathroom, Ella quickly changes. She wants to call Damien, check in with him. He said before she left that he didn’t know much about the interview, which is understandable. Ella wouldn’t have gone into specifics about what she and Nathan discussed. Everything’s confidential until it goes to print. But what about everything else they did together? Would Damien know for how long they hiked and where? What about what she and Nathan did after? Ella can’t imagine she’d spent the entire fourteen days on the trail. She’s all for being adventurous, but two weeks without a shower and a good meal is extreme even for her.

Ella pulls out her phone, then remembers she doesn’t have cell service. Without Nathan’s Wi-Fi password, she can’t even use FaceTime audio. She looks at the time and does a quick calculation. It’s early evening in London. Has Damien tried to reach her since she left the hotel?

She knows he’s upset she took the assignment. Over coffee yesterday morning, Damien admitted he was finally ready to talk, just come to London with him. Ella wants to talk with him, desperately so, but it upsets her that it took an assignment fromLuxe Avenueto make it happen. Almost as if he’d been backed into a corner and had no choice.

Whatever motivated him, whether the interview with Nathan or Damien finally working through his issues with a vigorous workout, Ella had no choice but to meet with Nathan. Only he knows exactly what happened between them when they were on the trail. Ella also has to consider her job. Rebecca’s counting on her, and Paul is breathing down Rebecca’s neck. She had to come to Truckee.

Nathan is inspecting his daypack when Ella joins him by the front door. He’s packed food, water, and emergency supplies.

“Never hike in an isolated area without a compass, SAT radio, medical kit, and a flashlight with a fresh set of batteries,” he instructs her like he would one of his celebrity guests onOff the Grid!“I also pack foil rescue blankets. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to get lost up here. Something can go wrong like that”—he snaps his fingers—“and no one would know.”

“You aren’t going to off me or something, are you?” She laughs nervously, slipping on her gloves.

He zips up a pocket and shoulders the pack. “Don’t worry. You’re in capable hands.”

Strong, wide hands with a dusting of dark hair, she notices. Hands that can do any number of things. She quickly glances away, self-conscious of her reaction. Yeah, he’s hot, but to get hot and bothered from just looking at his hands?

Not cool, Skye.

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