Page 18 of Starry Night Kisses
“Okay, we have to talk about the elephant in the truck.” I throw my arms up and slide my body sideways in my seat, hitching a leg up until it’s forming a nine and I’m facing Eric full-on. I grab the bags of jerky I brought, giving a regular piece to Archer and sliding Bagel his own through the space between the seat and the door before tossing a piece of Korean-style pork in my mouth.
“You, sir, are like two totally different people in there.” I point a long piece at him and twirl it in the air like a wand. Eric grabs my wrist mid-air and pulls my hand to his mouth, biting off a chunk of the tenderized meat while side-eyeing the road. The action makes me wet instantly. Eric hums in approval as if he knows it, rubbing his thumb lightly over my wrist before he lets me go.
“See? That! Thatright thereis what I mean!” I cry once I find my words. “You are so laid-back one moment and then all dominant alpha male the next. Which one is therealyou? Will the real Eric Adamspleasestand up?”
He lets out a long laugh. It’s full and boisterous and makes his entire body shake with mirth. “This is the real me, Evie. Just your friendly neighborhoodgolden retriever in the streets and a dominant Doberman in the sheets, baby.”
Baby.
In fear of melting, I shrug out of my jacket, letting it hang on my shoulders as I attempt to get rid of some of the heat radiating off my body. “Have you dated someone who’s really into spicy romance books since Daphne or something?”
Did I just give away that I, myself, like spicy romance books—a hobby I picked up abroad?
Oh well. No shame in my game. Those books have unlocked kinks I never thought I’d be into.
Eric grins—he really has to stop doing that—like he knows exactly where my dirty mind has drifted off to. “I’m a cyber security specialist. I’ve seen some shit.” He shrugs as we take an exit and turn left toward the woods. “I got curious.”
Well, fuck. Now I’m curious, too.
“Does it bother you that we barely know each other and I’m overly familiar with you?” he asks suddenly, though the smile on his perfectly pouty lips denotes his playfulness hasn’t left the building…err, truck.
I shake my head. “It’s been six weeks. It’s not like we haven’t been talking and texting consistently, among other things,” I mutter the last part under my breath, but he hears me anyway.
“How long did it take you to get untied, anyway?” He laughs, flinching as I reach over and smack his arm. Archer begins to bark, shoving his way onto the center console once more as his high-pitched yelps fill the truck. Bagel starts to bay. The loud shriek-like howl paired with Archer’s pathetic cries has us covering our ears and sharing a look of sympathy.
“Too long,” I shout over the noise, “and you’re going to pay for that. And for making me get up so early today. I’m not a morning person, you know.”
I swear he mutters, “I know.” But I can barely make it out over the two ridiculous dogs who have created a two-hound band and are currently crafting their first chart topper.
How would he know?
I ponder the question as the forest grows thicker. The road is lined with fluffy Hemlock trees and other coniferous species, and the further we drive, the more I notice the naked, smooth, greige bark of maples peppered throughout.
I’m good at picking out certain things in nature, but if you asked me to write a detailed report on my findings in the forest at any given time, I’d get my paper back with a big, fat F circled in red.
Hiking is fun. Needing to learn everything about my surroundings while out on the trails is not.
There’s a sign welcoming us to a national forest with a name I can’t pronounce. Not long past that, there’s a check-in station that Eric pulls up to with a smile.
“Hey there, Sampson,” he greets, grabbing a yellow paper from his dash and handing it to the older gentleman.
Sampsonsmiles, the deep wrinkles in his facecrinkling as his thick, bushy mustache wiggles. “Why hello, Eric.” He leans down to peer through the open window and lifts his hand in a wave. “Hi there, miss.”
“Hello,” I offer politely.
Eric and Sampson fall into easy conversation, talking about how it’s unnaturally warm this time of year and how the ground is dry, so we won’t have to worry about snow. “But even so, it’s still a bit early for campers to be in the area you’re going to, so you don’t need to worry about having any neighbors.”
He gives Eric a wink before nodding to me. “Have a great time out there.”
I don’t know whether to be slightly disturbed by the older man’s insinuation or if I’m looking too deep into the sparkle in his brown eyes. As soon as Eric’s window is up and we’re winding down the long road, I ask, “Come here a lot?”
“There’s a lot of lakes and trails up in through here, and it’s dog friendly. I keep Archer on his leash when we're hiking, his recall is shit, but I’ve never had a problem with any other dogs. It’s like a whole different world up here, you know? One where I can escape the reality of work and the smell of the city. Just a man and his best friend, huh, buddy?” he coos to Archer, who has started to get restless in the backseat as though he recognizes where we’re at and can’t wait to stretch his legs.
“Why do you live in the suburbs, then, if you’d rather be in the woods?”
“Would you want to live in the middle of thewoods with no one around? Just your significant other and your dogs?” he answers my question with one of his own.
My reply is immediate. “No. I need human interaction. I wouldn’t mind living somewhere with lots of land, so neighbors aren’t right on top of us, but I definitely don’t think I could be restrained to the forest with only you and the dogs for company…sorry.” I look over at him as I laugh.