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Chapter 8

The next morning I awoke to a tickling sensation on my neck. I blinked sleepily, but I was so beat from the night before that I could barely open my eyes. I decided to turn over and pretend it wasn’t there.

A deep laugh broke my reverie.

I groaned, grabbed a pillow and threw it blindly toward the laugh. “Get out of here!”

“I come in peace, bearing coffee.”

My ears pricked up, and I struggled into a sitting position. A mug hovered in front of my nose. I looked past its brim directly into the eyes of an astonishingly fit Kaden. Only the paleness of his face betrayed a possible hangover.

“To what do I owe this coffee in bed, Mr. White?” I teased, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. As I lifted it to my lips, a familiar scent reached my nose. My eyes widened. “You even put creamer in!”

Kaden shrugged and collapsed into my desk chair. “I figured I owed you something after last night.”

“No problem,” I answered in all sincerity. I’d only done what any friend would have.

“I mean it. Thanks.”

“Are you turning into a softie, or what?” I asked frowning. “Or is there some kind of catch? A new rule? Do I have to read the fine print?”

“You’re blabbing again.” Kaden shook his head. His expression was serious, but his sparkling eyes betrayed his amusement.

I took a huge gulp of my coffee and sighed with pleasure. “How do you not have a huge hangover?”

“My head is pounding a bit, but I think the aspirin is starting to kick in.” He rubbed his forehead. “Actually, I usually take another medicine for hangovers.”

“And that would be?” I asked.

Kaden gave me a crooked grin. “Fresh air.”

I saw playfulness in his eyes and shook my head. “No way. I got blisters last time.” I rolled my eyes. “I need to get the right shoes if we’re going back to the mountains.”

Kaden pointed to my dresser. “Done. I already took care of that.”

I followed his gesture and stared. After checking quickly that I was wearing presentable PJ bottoms, I got out of bed and went to my dresser to see a pair of shoes sitting next to it.

Hiking shoes.

Stunned, I turned to him. “Did you buy these for me?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “No. Monica didn’t want them anymore. Ethan used to make her go with him, but nowadays neither of them gets out much. I thought they might fit you.”

“That’s so nice.” His thoughtfulness surprised me, and I found myself wondering if “being nice” was somehow breaking one of his rules.

“Nice is such an awful word.” He seemed uncomfortable. “Now get a move on. I want to go out!” He threw me the same sweater that I’d worn the last time.

I sighed as he left the room. And at the same time I couldn’t help smiling.

The weather was much colder this time, and I shivered as we made our way uphill.

“A little slower,” I panted, my hands on my hips. The stitches in my sides were nothing to laugh about.

“If we go any slower we won’t be up there until sunset, and then the view stinks,” Kaden shouted back over his shoulder, unmoved. He was ahead of me by about ten yards and made no effort to wait. The guy had no mercy.

This time he was taking me up a different route. I couldn’t believe how well he knew his way—there were no well-trodden paths here, but he could find his way even without GPS. As if he had a sixth sense for this particular region.

I paused. There was a sound in the distance. It wasn’t loud, but it sounded like a bubbling brook or something similar.