Page 9

“Yes, I’m a professional, you know. One of the best in my field.”

“Oh are you?”

“Absolutely. I’ve climbed every fourteener in the state.”

My fork clatters on my plate. “Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“You’ve climbed all fifty-eight peaks over fourteen thousand feet in Colorado? I mean, I know people do that, I’ve just never met one.”

Toni laughs. “We’re a strange breed, no doubt. I’ve been hiking since I was two. It’s not that big of an accomplishment, though I did beat my sister’s record as the youngest to complete them all by a month.”

“How old were you?”

“Eleven.”

“Eleven?”

“My record was broken later that year. But I’ll always be above my sister in the record books.”

“Wow.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t take you on a fourteener for a while.”

I laugh. “You’ll never get me on a fourteener, Toni.”

“Never say never.”

She wiggles her eyebrows, and I laugh again.

“Thank you for making me laugh,” I say.

“You have a wonderful laugh.”

A pleasant warmth starts in my stomach and spreads through me. “Thank you.”

Toni leans over the table. “I have a confession to make.”

I swallow. “Oh? About what?”

“I’ve wanted you since I saw you walking through the bar.”

I give her what I hope is a mischievous smile. “And I left my jacket hoping you would follow me.”

Toni licks her lips. “Wanna get out of here?”

I could draw this out, flirt a little more, tease her, but why? I want her as much as she wants me. I motion to the waitress for our check.

CHAPTER FOUR

TONI

I open the door to the apartment and peek inside. It’s mostly clean, and it’ll have to do. Audrey steps close and puts her chin on my shoulder.

“What are you doing?” she whispers.

Energy hums between us like an electric current. I wonder if Audrey feels it too.