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“It’s a good thing… you’re a doctor… I think I need... medical attention.”

Ash laughed and settled a hand on Alice’s back.

“When you’ve remembered how to breathe, just look at this view.”

Slowly revived, as if by the doctor’s touch, Alice unfurled her torso and looked ahead. The view stretched for miles. In the distance, the rugged hills disappeared into the morning mist. A patchwork quilt of lush shades of green lay in the valley, nestled up to an expanse of water, shimmering in the sunlight.

“Wow,” gasped Alice.

“I know, right?”

Alice turned to see Ash staring at her with a hungry look. Ash reached out and tucked some wayward curls behind Alice’s ear. The lustful way her eyes dropped to Alice’s mouth made her stomach flip. She cupped Alice’s cheeks in her hands and leaned in, capturing Alice’s lips with her own in a tender yet urgent kiss. Ash tasted sweet and salty, and Alice couldn’t get enough.

“How fast do you think we can get down this mountain?” Alice pulled back, that ache from before now back with a vengeance.

“Depends how much those hiking boots are hurting you.”

“They’re fucking killing me.”

Ash laughed. “I knew it. Well, the good news is that just over there is a café with a bar. I’ll get you a medicinal glass of wine and then we can catch the train down.”

“Oh my God, there’s a train?”

“Yeah, I already booked us tickets because I knew you wouldn’t break your boots in like I told you to. Do you want the other good news?”

“There’s more?”

“Yeah, I booked us a cabin with a hot tub, so we can enjoy the view as we soak away our achy muscles.”

“I love you, Ash.” The words tumbled out of Alice’s mouth before she could stop them. Panic gripped her as she waited for the impact to land.

Ash stilled, staring through wide eyes, her lips frozen in a half-smile, like they weren’t sure what to do.

“Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean?—”

Ash’s kiss swallowed the rest of Alice’s words. She snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close until there was only heat and a layer of flammable clothing between them. Ash pulled back, her eyes shining with the same glow Alice felt radiating from herself.

“I love you too, Alice French,” she said.

Forget the blisters. Alice was walking on air.