Chapter 5

Elias

“You’re bailing on me?” I groan, clutching my heart like I’ve been shot. “The betrayal. How will I survive this? I’d never known you to be so cruel.”

I’m being over the top, of course, but she deserves a bit of pestering. A solo hike with just a guide is boring. It’s supposed to be the three of us.

“Make him shut up,” Erin groans, covering her tired face with a couch pillow. Somebody had one too many glasses last night and is now facing the consequences of it.

Abel gives me a scathing glance and brushes his fingers through her hair. “Spare her the dramatics until she can function again, asshole.”

Chuckling to lighten the mood, I lift my hands in mock defense. “Fine, fine. Do you guys need anything before I go?”

I’m not going to bail on whoever is scheduled to lead us through the mountain trail, I know they get paid extra for it. I’ll just make it a quick one if it gets too awkward alone.

“I need you to shut your face,” Erin whines, pouting into her cushion.

Miming zipping my lips, I tip my head to my brother and make my escape. Erin is not a happy hungover person, but I mean, who can blame her? We aren’t in our twenties anymore so getting a little too tipsy hurts a helluva lot more in the morning than it used to.

And sure, it’s after lunchtime, but anything before 3 pm is the morning when you’re hungover as fuck.

The weather is pretty fucking phenomenal out today with the sky bright blue and slightly cloudy. There’s a decent cool breeze that floats around just often enough to take the bite out of the sun’s heat too, which will hopefully make hiking much less sweaty.

Having already dressed in my cargo shorts, hiking shoes, and T-shirt, I strap my little bag to my back and head over to the meeting point. I’ve got a little first aid kit, a knife, and a water bottle in there just in case.

I’m not too bummed about Abel and Erin skipping out on this but I’m even less bummed when I notice who’s waiting for me.

“Well, well, well,” I tease, approaching Caleb from behind. “Did I luck out and get the hottest tour guide in the world or do you just happen to be standing here?”

When he spins around to meet me, I grin. Under the shade of his cowboy hat, I can’t tell if he’s blushing or a little red from the sun. Either way, I like that pink shade on his freckled cheeks.

“I’m your guide,” he answers, voice husking on every word. “Where’s your brother?”

“Helping his wife nurse a nasty hangover,” I answer honestly. “They’ve abandoned me to sit around the TV and recover. How rude, huh?”

I get half a chuckle out of him before he dims his smile, returning to his attempt at a grumpy demeanor. I have no doubts that he’s able to be closed off easily with other people, pushing them away with sarcasm and bored expressions, but not with me. Even the grumpiest of the grumps can’t withstand my sunshiney nature.

“I’ve done this hike before,” I tell him. “Last year, were you not doing them then?”

He shakes his head. “I only do them when someone else can’t.”

“Why not?”

Caleb shrugs those broad shoulders. “Not really the tour guide type, people find me off-putting and unapproachable.”

Well, that’s not very nice.

“I find you very approachable and not the least bit off-putting,” I note sincerely.

The corner of his mouth twitches. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”

And you aren’t complaining, now are you, cowboy?

“You ready?” he grunts the question.

For an hour of being alone with you? Hell yeah, I’m ready.

Smirking, I nod to the path nearby. “Lead the way, stud.”

Halfway into the hike, Caleb starts to swear. It’s not profusely or anything overly noticeable, but it’s catching my eye for sure. The way the dew beads ever so slightly on the back of his sun-kissed neck… fuck, it’s obscenely sexy. All I can picture is dotting my lips around the thick space, peppering him with kisses while he moans before silencing him with a salty kiss.

Unfortunately, staring at him and thinking about him like this is making my dick hard. So hard that it hurts and I would love to know how he feels about kissing it to make it better. I mean, he’s responsible for it, so he should tend to it, no?

“So, are you gay?” I ask casually, sipping on a bit of water as the altitude begins to get higher.

Caleb’s eyebrows jump to his hairline and he coughs in surprise. “You just say whatever is on your mind, don’t ya?”

“Oh I have a filter,” I assure him. “Trust me, I’m keeping the truly unhinged stuff locked up.” For now, anyway.

Unable to help himself, he chuckles and sways his head from side to side. “Yes, I’m gay.”

“Me too,” I reply smiling. “There were rumors there for a while that I’m bisexual and my brother and I share his wife, but I assure you, that is not the case.”

I couldn’t handle Erin even if I was into women. She is chaos personified and I need to be the ridiculous one in my relationships. No one should steal my thunder and be more goofy than me, it would be a catastrophe for my attention-loving brain.

Caleb’s lips part in shock. “Why the hell would anyone think that?”

Now it’s my turn to shrug because I really don’t know. “Probably just because I haven’t dated anyone since they went public. People love to speculate.”

“They should mind their own business,” he grunts.

I agree but I also don’t stress over it. It’s never going to change and if you dwell on the bad shit, none of the good shit feels as good. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for, and when you’re a fortunate public figure, there tend to be downsides. I wouldn’t trade it though.

I hum, nodding along with his point. “Are you out?”

“Out of the closet?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Yeah,” he replies quietly. “I’m just private around here.”

“I get that,” I tell him seriously. “This is where you work, it makes sense to have personal stuff you prefer to have to yourself.”

The cowboy seems to soften, understanding my lack of judgment. Everybody has their own way of being themselves and who am I to evaluate his?

“Yeah,” he murmurs absently.

“So since you’re out,” I start, rubbing my hands together as we maneuver around a sizable fallen tree. “And it’s against the rules to fraternize with guests, would you let me take you out after my reservation expires?”

Caleb stops in his tracks, eyes widening at me. “W-what?”

Okay, that was adorable. But why is he so shocked?

“When I leave,” I repeat, still smiling. “Would you let me take you on a date? Dinner, maybe? Or lunch, if you’re the kind of guy who thinks dinner is somehow more intense than lunch for a first date.”

“You want… you want to go on a date?” He gapes, jaw hanging open. “With me?”

Scrunching my eyebrows together, I give him a bewildered look. “Of course I do. I’d love to go out with you.”

He’s struck silent. All I can hear is him breathing for several moments.

“Seriously?”

“What do you think I’ve been doing this whole time?” I ask. “I thought I’ve been pretty clear about being really fucking into you.”

Caleb shakes his head. “I thought… I thought you were just looking for a hookup.”

Oh, bless his heart.

“Maybe when I first saw you, yeah,” I admit. “But most of that thought process was just me being struck by how seriously fucking gorgeous you are. I’d take a no strings thing if that’s what you’re looking for, but it’s not all I want.”

“I—” his voice trails off and he looks at me. Really fucking looks at me. “Why would you want that? You can have anyone you want.”

Licking my lips, I counter, “I’m looking at exactly who I want.”

It’s like it finally hits him and before I can say another word, he’s pressing me firmly against a tree and attacking my mouth with his.

Fuck. Yes.