Page 2 of Campfires & Canines
Maybe connecting to my roots will spark something.
Toggling the map overlay, I glare at my phone. If only they had street view on these windy remote roads!
“You doing okay?” A velvety voice brushes over me.I blink up at him.
Golden skin, a rugged square jaw, and bright aqua eyes that could strip my soul. He lounges in his chair with his legs stretched out like some sort of jungle cat.
Slowly, I deliberately swallow. I am not about to spit out my coffee in front of the first hot guy I see.
As I meet his eyes, he sits forward. The motion stretches his white shirt across his pecs and biceps. "Hey. First time in B&B? I don't recognize you."
I pointedly look at the mug in his hands and not his chest. Did he have to pick out a shirt so tight I think I can see his nipples?
"Um, do you work here or something?" I blurt. Smooth.
He laughs and it’s like butter. "No, just a regular. It's a small town. Easy to spot new people."
"Sorry. I'm only driving through." My fingers twist the cardboard sleeve around my to-go cup.
"Cool." He studies me, his head cocked to the side. Blonde lashes glow in the low afternoon light. “Sorry, you looked kind of upset.”
Embarrassed, I wrinkle my nose. “I’m having trouble with my maps app. I don’t get service out here and I don’t want to miss my exit.”
He slides across the aisle and into the empty seat at my table, holding out his hand with a confident smirk. “Let me see. I know the area pretty well.”
“Sorry, I’m not sure,” I stammer. Show a stranger my destination? I’m not going to let a gorgeous face make me that dumb.
“Okay, then tell me the exit. I don’t want to leave you stranded.”
“Alright.”
I zoom in on the map and show him wherethe little blue route line veers off the highway.
“Are you going to see Heath Aten?” His platinum hair falls across his forehead as he looks up at me.
“You know him?”
“Yeah, of course. He was friends with my mom growing up. I haven’t seen him in a few years, though.”
“So, can you tell me how to get there?”
“Sure, but it’s probably easier to download the offline map. Then your navigation should work without cell service.”
“Seriously?” My eyebrows shoot up.He barks out a laugh again and my mouth starts to curve into a smile against my will.
“Here.” Warm callouses scrape across my knuckles as he cups my hand and tilts my phone between us, tapping a few settings. “There, that should work great. Why don’t you get off the Wi-Fi and try reloading the map?”
It works. “Thank you,” I say with a relieved smile.
"No problem. I'm Jasper."
"Hazel."
"So, what brings you to our stretch of the woods?" He takes a long drink of his coffee.
“Heath is my uncle and I haven’t seen him in a couple of years.” My shoulders tense in a small shrug.
“Are you staying for very long?” he asks.
