Page 46 of Decidedly Off Limits

“What were you hoping for?” He pulled into an empty spot in the parking lot near the trail.

“Something that’s more fulfilling. Something I can get lost in and that gets me excited. Something that makes me feel more complete. So far none of that’s happening.”

“Maybe that’s ’cause you just started it.” He turned off the engine.

“True.”

I gathered my backpack by my feet and climbed out of the vehicle. Trent was removing his backpack from the trunk by the time I walked over to him.

Tearing my gaze from him before my heart could let out a dreamy sigh, I studied the light-blue sky and the few puffy clouds drifting by. Including one that reminded me of a penis.

Oh, God. Even out here I had sex on the brain. “I bet the stars look amazing from here at night.”

“I didn’t know you’re interested in stargazing.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m interested in studying it, if that’s what you’re asking. But I’ve never seen the sky before without the light pollution from the city.”

Trent looked up at the sky. “I used to believe that the stars were the people we once loved. When they died, they became a star in the sky.”

“I remember that.” It was one of the many small pieces of trivia that we used to talk about when we were younger. I smiled at the memory of us lying in the backyard, along with Erin and Liam, discussing the stars and various myths and legends. The guys had quite a vivid imagination. “When did you stop believing?”

“When my aunt died of cancer,” he said, still staring at the sky.

I gave his hand a light squeeze, knowing how much she had meant to him and Erin.

We began hiking along the trail between the trees. A few other hikers were out, but other than that the area was fairly quiet. I paused and closed my eyes, enjoying the calming sounds of nature: birds singing in the trees, the occasional rustle of leaves, the gentle gurgle of water rushing over large moss-covered rocks. Now this I could get passionate about.

I opened my eyes and continued to where Trent was waiting for me. A little farther ahead, we stopped at a bridge crossing the wide stream. I removed my camera from my backpack and lifted it to take a photo of the forest. But as I scanned the area for a good picture, I noticed Trent lost in thought, gazing out at the water. Thanks to the trees, the light on his face was just right.

Without him having a clue what I was up to, I snapped a picture of him and checked the result in the LCD screen.

I inhaled a soft breath at the image. I had, mostly by fluke, captured him in a way that I hadn’t seen in a while. He looked relaxed, at ease with the surroundings. At peace. He wasn’t thinking about the stock market and the companies in his portfolio. He wasn’t thinking about his promise to my brother to keep an eye on my dating life—and disrupt it if necessary.

He was just enjoying the moment.

And I could honestly say I’d never seen him look more breathtaking than he did right then. My heart sped up. Not because I was turned on from seeing him this way (which I was). My heart got excited at what I had accomplished. The photo had been a fluke. Now I wanted to learn how to consistently take great photos.

“You’re smiling.”

I looked up from the screen to find Trent watching me. “I am.”

“Want to tell me what you’re smiling about?”

My grin widened. “I’ve figured out what I’m passionate about.” I showed him the picture.

He looked at it, then his gaze jumped to mine. “You’re passionate about me?” His voice came out I-want-to-do-you-against-this-bridge husky, and for a second I forgot what we were talking about.

Yes!I wanted to say out loud.You’re all I can think about. Instead I said, “Photography.” It came out as a croaked whisper and I cleared my throat to hide what I was really thinking. “My friend taught me a few things in college, and I enjoyed playing around with her camera. I guess I’d forgotten about it.” Until now.

My mind started to swirl at what I needed to do. I had to figure out what camera and equipment to buy. And I needed to study books…maybe sign up for a workshop.

I could do this.

“I think you might be onto something.” Trent handed the camera back to me. “This is the first time since deciding you need a hobby that you’ve actually been excited about it. You weren’t this excited when you signed up for the cooking class.”

He was right. I had looked forward to it but that was about it.

We continued hiking until we stumbled across a fallen tree blocking the path, its trunk too massive to easily step over. Trent climbed up first, his long legs making easy work of it, and jumped down on the other side. I followed, but before I could jump down his hands were on my waist. The warmth from them seeped through my T-shirt and spread through my body, concentrating on the area between my legs.