Page 5 of Hooked
Jeremy walked back to the long picnic table where Tayla had claimed some space next to a group playing Scrabble while they drank. He set down the drinks and swung his long legs over the bench. “Pear cider, right?”
“Yep. If the trees are going to make me sneeze, at least they make delicious cider I can drink.”
“It’s the least they can do,” he said. “Want to play a game?”
She pursed her lips. “I’m not a game player, Jeremy. I’ve told you that many times.”
His smile was slow and seductive. “I can think of a few games we could play. I bet you wouldn’t say no.”
She glanced at his hands. “I bet you— What did you do?” She grabbed his hand and turned it over. His palm was torn and scabbed. “Are you climbing rocks again?”
“Of course not.” He closed his fingers around hers. “There’s still too much snow in the mountains. I got this from being careless at the climbing gym. And if you wanted to hold hands, all you had to do is ask.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Tayla gently tugged her hand away. Contact with Jeremy gave her goose bumps. She had to ration it out or she’d end up addicted. He was like liquor, dark chocolate, and a really good end-of-season shoe sale combined. “Where’s the climbing gym? I didn’t know you had one in Metlin.”
“It’s in Fresno. We don’t have one here. But the one in Fresno gets lots of Yosemite tourists, so they stay busy. I go with Cary a few times a month during the winter.”
Cary was Ox’s silver-fox neighbor who farmed oranges outside town. He was well over forty, but Tayla wasn’t blind. Now she had the happy mental picture of both Jeremy and Cary shirtless and climbing a rock wall.
She couldn’t stop the smile. “Nice.”
“Yeah? We can go if you want to try it.”
“What?” She snapped out of her happy mental place. “Try what?”
“Climbing. I could take you to the climbing gym. It’s fun, and they have beginner classes.”
“You want to take this ass rock climbing?” She patted her hips.
Jeremy looked at them. “I would take that ass pretty much anywhere.”
Tayla had never climbed. She loved yoga and was an avid biker, but she had her doubts as to how easy it would be to haul her backside up a cliff. Her curves were solid, but they were sizable. “Maybe another time. Upper-body strength is not my forte.”
“I would spot you from the ground.” His face was all seriousness, but his eyes told a different story. “I wouldn’t take my eyes off you. Promise.”
“I feel like this is mostly about you getting to stare at my butt. Am I getting that right?”
“Me?” He put a hand over his heart. “I’m only interested in expanding your athletic horizons, Miss McKinnon.”
“I’m so glad I have friends like you looking out for me.”
“It’s the least I can do.” He turned toward the stage when another jazz trio took over. “Want to dance?”
Tayla considered. She adored dancing, but dancing with Jeremy was treading a dangerous line. Depending on the song, it could be a lot of contact.
Danger!Smart Tayla warned.Danger, Tayla McKinnon!
Mmmmm. Evil Tayla purred at the prospect.Do it. Live dangerously.
“Sure.” She set her cider down. “One dance.”
“Only one?” He stood and held out his hand. “I might have to change your mind.”
“You can try.” Tayla took his hand, leaving her purse and their drinks to save their seats.
In a million years, she’d never leave her drink or her purse unattended in San Francisco. But she wasn’t in the city. She was in Metlin. The girl who’d been sitting across from her would guard her drink and her purse with zeal, even though she and Tayla hadn’t even exchanged names.
Jeremy pressed their folded hands to his middle as they worked their way through the crowd.
