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Heath barked out a laugh.

“Watch your step and don’t roll your ankles. Keep an eye out for loose rocks and downed branches on our path,” Dayne warned as they veered off into the woods onto a narrow dirt trail.

“Do you normally wear a hydration vest?” Heath asked next.

“Yep. Besides water, it’s smart to carry bear spray.” Dayne patted one of the pockets. “Plus, it holds my cell phone and some other stuff.”

Heath’s head began to swivel. “There are bears around here?”

“You haven’t noticed them?”

Heath slowed down for a second and fell back. When he caught up, he was chuckling and shaking his head. “I meant the kind that walks on four legs, not two. And I’ve never been into bears, the two-legged kind.”

Dayne shrugged as he picked up the pace a little. So far, Heath had no problem keeping up, even on uneven terrain. “Black bears will try to avoid humans, but you just never know. They also aren’t the only wild animals around here, so it can’t hurt to be both aware and prepared. Especially when I’m running alone.”

“Good to know.” A second later, Heath said, “I’m assuming you’re not married. And if you are, I hope you have an open relationship with your spouse.”

The subject change gave him whiplash. “No, I never married.” He never had the desire to tie himself down to one person.

“Any kids?”

Was this only small talk or was Heath attempting to get to know him better? “No. I was never in a rush to settle down and become domesticated.” He actually valued his freedomto do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. As long as it was legal, of course. “You?”

Heath shook his head as he ran by his side. The path was narrow enough that they kept bumping shoulders. Theycouldrun single file. In fact, if he told Heath to run in front of him, he could watch his ass bounce in those black silky running shorts he wore, or the muscles flex in his long legs.

Dayne couldn’t wait for the chance to throw those legs up in the air and plunge?—

“Divorced, remember?”

Dayne shook himself mentally. He needed to pay attention to obstacles on the trail. “Ah yes. You did mention an ex last night at dinner. Sorry to hear that.”

“It was for the best.”

“She left you?”

“Yes, and unfortunately, I’m still financially recovering. When she left, so did most of my money, including savings and investments.”

“Really? And you own a penthouse in Hoboken?” How rich had he been before his divorce? Or had he been living above his means?

“Right now, the bank and I own it. The bright spot was, she quickly found her next man—who she told me is arealman, by the way—and the alimony payments will stop once she remarries. Hopefully soon.”

“See? This is why it’s easier to find someone, or someones, for the night, get your rocks off and then say goodbye. No heartbreak. No financial damage.”

“Easy enough to do until you fall in love.”

Dayne grimaced.

“You don’t believe in love?”

“I do. My parents were the epitome of love. They were two halves of a whole. But that doesn’t mean it’s for me.”With that, Dayne sprinted up the next slight incline, leaving Heath in the dust.

He was done talking about the topic of love.

Once the terrain leveled out, Dayne kicked his pace into another gear, pushing himself. Either Heath would keep up or he wouldn’t. The path was easy to follow so he knew Heath wouldn’t get lost.

But after five minutes, he slowed enough to glance over his shoulder without planting himself face first in the dirt.

Heath was nowhere to be seen.Shit.