by Shirley Jump
In the end, he’d scored a 91 on that test. Maybe because he’d studied. Or maybe because of Kate’s grounding pencil. Whichever it had been, there was something about Kate’s quiet faith in signs and superstitions that he found…endearing.
“So, does that work for you?”
Carissa’s voice drew him back to the present. To business, not reminiscing. “Uh, yeah, sure.”
“Great. I think the waterfall will make a great backdrop for your photo. The couple I’m working with wants their photos done on the bridge. How about I meet you at the falls when I’m done? Say, a couple of hours?”
He nodded. “Perfect. See you there.”
Carissa gave him a nod, then headed across the parking lot to meet up with a young couple who were holding hands and exchanging kisses as frequently as giggles. The woman’s diamond ring glinted in the sun.
Trent had never been a PDA kind of guy. But as Kate came up beside him and stood several inches away while the other couple celebrated their love, a part of him wanted to swoop her into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless.
“I’m as ready as I’m going to be,” Kate said. She smoothed a hand over her new pants. The khaki rip-stop fabric paired well with the dark blue lucky T-shirt. She’d done as he’d suggested and worn the white thermal Henley as a base layer. She looked outdoorsy and utterly adorable. “Let’s get our hike on.”
“One—” he grabbed a jacket out of the truck and settled it on her shoulders, resisting the urge to button it up and send the message that he was taking care of her, “—that’s the dorkiest thing I’ve ever heard, and two, a hike is more of an experience than something you get on.”
She grinned up at him and zipped the jacket closed before swinging a backpack that Trent suspected was woefully underpacked over her shoulders. “Then let’s start our experience.”
Trent shrugged into his own pack, then led the way to the start of the trail, skirting the big map and a few lingering hikers who were debating which trail to take. “The trail is wide and well-used, but even in early spring, it can get a little slippery the higher we go, so watch your step.”
They headed down the paved road, perfect for a first-time hiker, and an easy gradual climb up the mountain. Thick trees crowded either side, shading the trail and dropping the temperature a few degrees.
“This is gorgeous,” Kate said.
“You haven’t seen nothing yet. I love this trail. It’s great for running too.”
“You run up the mountain?”
“Well, I used to. My friend Greg and I are a tiny bit competitive, and we pretty much run anywhere we can race. The beginner loop is a handful of miles and all paved, so it’s great for an out and back.”
She blinked. “Okay, now you’re talking Greek.”
He laughed. “Go out, come back. No loops, no need for a ride at the end. The best part about running this is that the back part is all downhill.”
“I hated running in high school. I can’t believe you do it for fun.” Kate made a face.
“Don’t knock it until you try it.” He put a hand behind her back, so close to touching yet not, as they made their way around a family with a couple of strollers and a wayward toddler dashing back and forth. “Running is a great stress reliever. When I can’t get out and do this—” he motioned toward the mountain and the lush, green canopy above them, “—I try to at least fit in a short run.”
“Well, I’m hiking today.” She shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe I’ll be running next.”
“Are you turning into an outdoorsy girl right before my eyes?”
She laughed. “Maybe an outdoorsy-tryer? Because there’s nothing I love more than snuggling up with a warm blanket, a cup of cocoa and a good book on a rainy day. That’s my idea of heaven.”
“Well, today you’ll get to see my idea of heaven.” It was the world he had wanted to share with her ever since they’d met. Dare he hope the two of them might find the common ground they had missed years ago?
Then he remembered how she’d said she often went to the working environment of the people she wrote for, not because she enjoyed it, but because it was a way to get into their heads and understand their thinking. Maybe this hike was just another cigar bar to Kate.
A few minutes into the hike as they rounded a bend, Kate stopped. “We’re crossing that? Do you think it’s safe?”
A little ways ahead of them sat a wooden footbridge, flanked by wooden steps on either side. Below it, the crystal waters of the Lewis River hurried along the rocks and steep banks. Budding wildflowers peeked between the stones on the bank. The water cascaded in a white rush down the rocky hill underneath the footbridge.
Trent leaned in, almost brushing her back with his hand. The temptation to touch her roared in his veins. She just looked so cute in the jacket and boots. Cute—and irresistible. “You’re with me, Kate. I know every inch of this mountain. You won’t get hurt. I promise.”
Kate scoffed. “Last promise you made to me you broke,” she said softly, then slid past him to start the trail.
“What promise was that?” He hurried to catch up to her and fell into step with Kate as they made their way up the paved road. Red alder, Big-leaf maple and Douglas firs filled the dense woods on either side.
“Let’s just enjoy the hike, Trent. It’s a beautiful day, and all that is in the past.”
Was it? Because that past sure seemed to be impacting the present. He watched her for a moment more, but she kept her focus on the road ahead and never even glanced at him. “This is one of those rails-to-trails projects,” he explained, filling the silence between them with facts and history. “The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad still runs through here, and if we’re lucky, we’ll hear the train.”
“Really? That’s cool.”
He nodded. “It’s one of my favorite trails, because it’s easy and beautiful. When I first started hiking, I did the Bells Mountain trail. These easy, paved roads lead to a moderate hike that’s about seven miles each way, so you can get a little tougher climb in if you want, or stick to the easy path.”
“Uh, are we going to do that other one today?” She bit her lower lip. “I only brought one granola bar.”
Trent laughed. “Next time, we’ll have a chat first about supplies. You always want to have enough for an emergency.”
Next time? Where had that come from? There would be no next time. This was all part of the interview process for the book, not a date. They’d have this one hike, she’d gather some more material for the book, and that would be it.
“Noted, captain.” She grinned. “As you know, I’m the girl who never remembers my raincoat or umbrella, so I’m pretty sure I’d be the first to die on the mountain.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen to such a great writer. Where would the world be without your books?”
Kate shot him a grin, the distance from earlier gone. Trent figured if a joke and a compliment was all it took to turn Kate’s mood, he’d keep up the patter all day, merely to see that smile.
They had reached the footbridge, and as she made her way up the stone steps, Trent placed a cautious hand at her back. A metal railing guided people up the stairs, so his touch was totally unnecessary. Nevertheless, his hand ghosted along the small of her back, the touch enough to make him trip up the last step. “Sorry. Not watching where I’m going.”
“Don’t break a leg. We’ll starve to death.” She laughed, then stopped in the middle of the footbridge to take in the view of the rushing river. A dense forest on either side cast shadows over the water. The chirps of birds punctuated the roaring of the river tumbling over the rocks. “This is so gorgeous.”
“We’ll have to come back in early summer. It’s so green and dense, it seems like you’re in your own world.”
She turned toward him, her eyes wide, her cheeks flushed. “It’s a date.”
He could tell Kate had said the words as a joke, but both of them stared at each other for a long second before Trent hurried to shift the conversation. “So, um, as we climb, you’ll be able to see Mt. St. Helens and other mountains. This first part is a bit steep, but worth it. We’ll get to the East Fork Bridge, and from there you’ll be able to see the entire gorge.”
“Okay.” There was a determined set to her features as they walked off the footbridge and started up the incline. “If it’s as beautiful as this section, I can’t wait to get there.”
“Whoa, cowboy.” He tapped her shoulder to slow her pace. “We have a few miles to go. Let’s take some time to enjoy the scenery.”
That was twice now that he’d found an excuse to touch her, and still the urge to hold her hand, kiss her, help her over a rocky path, beat a steady drum in his head. Only a few people were on the trail, some with hiking poles, others taking a slow stroll through the woods. A couple with a Golden retriever passed them, chatting about the weather as they went. Kate and Trent settled into an easy pace, winding their way through the woods and up to the East Fork Bridge.
“So,” she began as she pulled a small notebook and pen out of her backpack, “tell me about where you grew up. I only met your parents once, but need to know more than that for the book.”
Oh, yeah. The book. Another reminder this wasn’t a date and they weren’t a couple. “Small town. Two parents. Two kids. End of story.”
She rolled her eyes. “I need more than that, Trent. I have a whole book to fill and—”
Trent stopped walking. He pulled out his camera and pivoted to snap a pic. Then another. A third. “Hold on, let me get this shot.”
She poked her head in front of him. “Are you seriously taking pictures while I’m interviewing you? Isn’t the book more important?”
He turned and took another photo. “The photos are business too. Just because it’s social media doesn’t mean it’s fluff.”
They started climbing again, wending their way through the woods and up a little path that deviated from the main road. As they climbed, she reached for branches and stones to help herself over the climbs. She was quiet, huffing a little with the effort. Trent thought about filling the silence between them, but that would mean answering her questions about the complicated relationship with his family.
At a steep juncture, Trent turned on the slippery dirt path and put out a hand to help her navigate the loose rock and muddy embankment. “Here. Take my hand.”
“This is your chance to drop me.” She grinned and put her hand in his. “You know, lose the dead weight in the middle of the woods.”
“I leave no writer behind.” He hauled her up, and she stumbled into his chest, warm and soft and so…there. “You okay?”
Kate drew in a sharp breath and took a quick step to the side. She pretended to brush some leaves off her pants. “Yeah, yeah, sure.”
About as okay as he was. Had she affected him this much when they’d dated before? “Let’s…let’s keep going.”
“Sounds good.” They started across the ridge, skirting fallen logs and jutting rock piles that cluttered the manmade trail. For a while, they hiked in silence, busy navigating until the detour took them back to the paved trail. “Did you always want to be an outdoors person, like, when you were a kid?”
“All kids like being outside, don’t they?” They had covered a nice amount of ground already, and the East Fork Bridge rose ahead of them as they hiked around a bend. About time. Trent needed something to distract Kate from her dogged pursuit of his childhood memories. “Oh, look, it’s the bridge.”
“And the engagement photos.” Kate stopped walking and watched the couple he’d seen earlier in the parking lot. Carissa stood on one end of the bridge while the man and woman kissed and laughed and posed in the center, with the vibrant, deep colors of the forest behind them and the river rushing below. The woman, a thin, tall blonde, was wearing a long white dress that caught in the breeze, swinging around her legs. Her fiancé had on a blue button-down shirt tucked into a pair of jeans. “That is so romantic.”
“It’s a photo.” Trent grunted. Yes, the couple was laughing and touching, but that didn’t mean anything about their future or the reality of their relationship. “A moment in time.”
Kate shot him a sharp look. “Since when are you such a grump about love?”
Sarah had called him a grump yesterday, and now Kate. Trent thought of himself as a relatively happy person…yet, when was the last time he had been truly happy? Nothing worrying him, no stress?
The answer came to him in a flash. The night at the bowling alley.
Like the images before them, that night had been a blip of time, not any kind of indicator of where he should be or who he should be with. Besides, as much as Kate intrigued him and tempted him now, they had a business relationship. Tangling that with anything else was a surefire path to disaster.
There was also the little factor of him breaking her heart all those years ago. The comment about the promise he’d broken told Trent their past history still stung. A smart man would steer clear of mixing business with a messy past.
Kate stood on the bridge and turned to face him, her eyes wide with wonder and a bright, giddy smile on her face. “It’s sooo beautiful here. It’s almost magical.”
And when his heart did a little flip at the unadulterated joy in her beautiful, familiar, sweet face, Trent had to wonder just how smart he really was—or even wanted to be.
As she climbed all over Bells Mountain, with the picturesque Washington State landscape in the background, Kate’s moods rushed by as fast as the East River—frustration, happiness, regret—with every minute that passed with Trent. She asked him about his childhood, starting with simple questions. “What was your favorite memory from childhood?”
“I dunno. Christmas.”
“Which one? Was there a special year or memory?”
Trent shrugged. “It’s Christmas. It’s always good. Here, let’s take this turn.” And so it went, with everything from his first day in kindergarten to his relationship with his parents. A non-answer or a changed subject.
He refused to open up about his parents or his childhood, which meant she was going to have trouble finishing the book. At the same time, he found little excuses to touch her. A hand as she descended a dirt road. A touch on her back when she climbed. A quick brush when a bug landed on her sleeve. None of the touches necessary, but every single one making her heart trip.
Were they intentional? Or accidental? Should she read something into the attention or ignore it entirely?
Ignore it, she decided. Concentrate on her job.
Except, the trail was so beautiful and romantic, perfect for the engagement photo shoot she’d watched, that it was hard not to get wrapped up in the mood. To imagine Trent and her on that bridge, laughing, kissing, holding hands.
“Three years ago, I got a chance to do a cycle tour along the Camino de Santiago trail,” Trent said. “It’s a little over a hundred and fifty miles through the Castilian plains and El Bierzo’s ancient wine valley. We stopped in this tiny town and shared some lunch with this family, who welcomed us as if we were their own. It wasn’t just the scenery that was amazing—it was the people.”
“What made them so special? I mean, you’ve had adventures all over the world.”
Trent thought for a minute as he helped her past a bit of rocky terrain. “I think it was the grandmother of the family. She didn’t speak a word of English, and we only knew a smattering of Spanish, but somehow, she managed to feel like she was my own grandmother. Warm and welcoming. Not to mention an excellent cook. She made this chicken that reminded me…”
When he didn’t continue, she prodded some more. “Reminded you of what?”
“Of the Chick and Cheese back in college.” Trent shrugged, as if it was no big deal. “Maybe that�
�s why I had a craving for it last week. Or maybe…maybe I just wanted a taste of a great memory.”
The memory of her? Or of the village in Spain? Kate didn’t dare ask.
As they descended the trail, looping around to the best place for viewing the Falls, Kate stuffed her disappointment deep inside her chest. During the hike, she’d gotten part of what she’d come for—several stories about Trent’s favorite adventures—but nothing about his childhood.
“We’re almost done with the hike,” she said as they descended the bottom half of the trail. “And I still need some more information for the book.”
He paused by a thick tree stump. “Why don’t I help you with the writing? You know, like when we used to study together? I’ll hop on my laptop and collaborate.”
She laughed. “For one, it doesn’t work that way. Most of my clients want to ‘help’”—she put air quotes around the last word—“and it ends up being a disaster.”
“I’m not most clients.”
You can say that again. She’d never been attracted to a client. Never thought about kissing or touching a client. “No, you’re definitely not.” She laughed. “You’re more difficult.”
“Me? More difficult than that race car driver?” He wagged a finger at her. “Yes, I did find out what you worked on before me. I called your agent and asked her so I could read one of the books.”
“You did?” A weird sense of flattery ran through Kate at the thought of Trent reading one of her books. “Well, yes, Gerard was a difficult person to work with, but that’s not why I write alone.”
“And why do you write alone?”
“I’ve just…always done stuff by myself.”
“Maybe because you grew up on your own,” Trent said, and it touched her that he remembered a little bit of her past.