Page 13 of The Love Hoax

“Tomorrow I’ll tackle Cloud’s Rest.”

Adam brightens. “Wild. That’s where I’m heading.”

Zane cuts his eyes to Adam. “You are?”

“Yes, I am.”

I don’t miss the glare at Zane. I hold back a smile.

Zane stands, too. “I need to be up at six. Thanks for the grub, bro. Too bad I had to pass my winnings over to Evie or I’d pick up the tab.” He walks away.

“Better luck next time,” I call over my shoulder. To Adam, I say, “I better get going also.”

Adam stands, walking me to the exit, swinging the leather jacketover his shoulder. The shirt sticks to his abs, and his arm muscles look like their close to bursting. Are all the men in this town related to the Hulk?

He says, “You know, since we’re both heading to the park tomorrow, would you care for a ride?”

I feel an unexpected sensation. It sneaks up on me like a pouncing tiger.

Desire.

What is wrong with me? He’s too young!

I clear my throat. “I’m leaving at daybreak. And I’m staying in the opposite direction from the park. And I don’t actually know you.”

Adam smiles. His teeth are perfect. “That’s a lot ofands.”

I open the door and return the smile. “Thanks, but I’ll pass. I have my own wheels.”

“No prob,” he says. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow in the park.”

“Sure.”

Seriously, how likely would that be in a park roughly the size of Rhode Island?

I watch him amble away, telling myself I made the right decision to decline his offer.

I knowI shouldn’t be surprised by the hotel. Caroline has expensive taste and the money to indulge it. But when I pull up to the reception and a white-gloved valet comes to take my bags, I find myself marveling.

The hotel, located in Merced, is the most luxurious I’ve ever stayed in. Unexpected, in a town close to a national park. Granted, I had to drive another twenty-five minutes from the bar, in the wrong direction. But it’s worth it to have the claw foot tub with spectacular views, designer bath products, and a shower with spray that hits you from every angle.

I put on my flannel nightshirt, flick off the lights, and get under the covers, moaning at the feel of cool luxurious linens on my body.

Excited for the next day, I wait the few minutes until midnight. “Here’s to another half century on the planet!”

A half hour before dawn, I wake to the Beatles’Good Day Sunshineblaring from my phone. Out the window, the mountains are still dark, their ridges visible beneath the moonlight.

Despite the temptation to remain under the cozy comforter, I sit up, itching to get out on the trail. First things first. It’s eight-thirty in New York. I ring up Caroline.

“Can’t talk. My doctor is here,” Caroline says, in a low voice and I pause a moment, picturing her in a dreary hospital room all alone. Caroline is not one to sit still. She likes to be out, at the gym, shopping, coffee clatches. But something in the tone of those few words takes me by surprise. If I’m not mistaken, Caroline is swooning. The doctor must be a looker.

I tell her I’ll call back and get out of bed, do fifty crunches, twenty push-ups and then ten minutes of an online yoga class before hitting the shower.

Thoughts of last night come to mind. I hope Zane is done licking his wounded ego.

As I lather up, the heavenly scent of argan oil fills the shower stall. A mental image of Adam pops into my head.

Adam is hot stuff. His thick mop of hair, curling at the edges. The way his shirt clung to his abs. Younger or not, the attraction is fierce. For me, anyway.