Fool Me Once by Lexy Parker

Author:Lexy Parker [Parker, Lexy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BrixBaxter Publishing
Published: 2019-04-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Evie

We got out of the car in the parking lot of the trailhead. There were plenty of other people gearing up for the trek. We got a few looks from those that were probably wondering who took a town car to a hike, but Dayton didn’t seem to notice. I followed his lead and played it cool, like I had gotten out of a luxury car every day of my life.

“I’ve never been on an actual hike before,” I exclaimed, studying the huge poster with the outline of the trail.

“I can’t say I have either. It looks easy enough,” he mumbled, tracing his finger over the wide blue line that snaked around and up the mountainside.

I burst into laughter. “I’m sure those are going to be famous last words.”

“We’ve got our water bottles, sunglasses, Chapstick and good footwear. The concierge told me that’s all we needed. I’m holding him to that,” Dayton said with a laugh.

“So am I or I’m going to be calling him to come carry my ass down this mountain,” I joked.

“You ready to do this?” he asked, his eyes alight with excitement.

I nodded. “I am. You have to tell me if your arm is bothering you. Do your best not to swing it while you’re walking.”

He moved to stand in front of me, looking me directly in the eyes. “Don’t worry about me. This is about you relaxing and enjoying yourself. We’re here to have a good time. I’m going to be fine.”

I nodded. “Okay. Sorry, I can’t help but worry.”

“I know. I’ve learned that about you.”

We got started, taking it slow and easy, pacing ourselves as we walked along the narrow path that was lined with trees. I immediately realized why he had bought me the jacket. It was chilly underneath the canopy of trees. Despite the number of people walking the same trail, we had relative privacy.

“You’ve never been here before?” I asked him.

“Nope. I’ve heard about it, but never been.”

We walked along, listening to the birds singing as they fluttered from branch to branch up high. The air smelled so clean and fresh. I could imagine myself living in a cabin, far away from people and cities. I liked the tranquility of it.

“Maybe one day I’ll buy a cabin high up in the mountains,” I murmured.

“Really? Does that mean you would consider leaving Hope?” he asked.

I shrugged. “As much as I hate to think of my mom leaving this earth, I know it will happen one day. There would be nothing keeping me in Hope if she wasn’t there.”

“You told me your mom was sick. Can I ask how sick?” he said.

I smiled, feeling a little bad that I had been so evasive. It seemed like we were past the point of total separation of our professional and personal lives. “She had cancer.”

“Oh. I know very little about cancer. She doesn’t have it anymore?” he asked.

I sighed. “As of her last checkup, she doesn’t. She will have to be tested every six months for the next five years before we can really take a breather and relax.

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