That made sense to her. In a small town like Azalea, rumors flew thick and fast, and it could possibly make things awkward for the daughters of a single father.
“Okay,” she said, coming to a decision before she was aware of it.
“Okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.”
“Okay you want to take a hike with me tonight or okay you want to keep it secret?”
“Both. If that’s all right with you.” She peered at his face. She was confused and flustered about this whole thing, but she was also incredibly attracted to him. She wanted to see what happened here, as long as it was safe. As long as the whole town didn’t know it was happening.
The stakes in that case would be way too high. She’d never be comfortable trying out something new.
But she also didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
He didn’t look hurt at all. He gave her an intimate little smile. “Sounds just about right to me. I’ll meet you in the parking lot of the park at ten.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t believe she was agreeing to such a crazy outing with the county sheriff. What the hell was she thinking? But she’d wanted to feel free, and this was helping her do it. “See you then.”
KEN WASN’T SURE HOW he’d gotten the courage to suggest night hiking to Madeline. He hadn’t even been thinking about it. He’d been telling himself to play it cool and see if she made any moves.
Instead, as soon as he saw her that day, he burst out with a half-formed offer. He couldn’t believe she’d actually said yes.
Sure, part of him would love to take her out on a real date. Have her take him seriously. Romance her the way she deserved. But he was a pretty good judge of people, and Madeline was definitely skittish. If the only way she was comfortable spending time with him was in secret, then he would be perfectly content with that.
Maybe not perfectly—but mostly—content. Happier than he expected to be.
He felt like a teenage boy all day, squirming with excitement about getting together with her tonight.
He took a shower and shaved again before he dressed in jeans, hiking boots, and a flannel shirt over a black T-shirt. It didn’t feel like a cold night, but it might be brisk in the dark. He looked at himself in the mirror before he left, wondering what Madeline really thought of him. He didn’t look anything like Josh Cantor (the asshole). He was a little too old for her. He figured he was smart enough, but he’d never been academically inclined. Madeline was brilliant and beautiful. She could have anyone she wanted.
He had no idea why she had agreed to go hiking with him.
But that kiss... that had been something else. And it hadn’t been one-sided.
Maybe that blazing chemistry was enough, even without a lot else in common between them.
For whatever reason, she’d said yes, and he wasn’t going to waste his opportunity.
He arrived about ten minutes early in the parking lot of the small park by a lake that allowed access to nearby Canterbury Hill. No one else was there at this time of night. He sat in his pickup truck and waited seven minutes until Madeline’s little sedan pulled into the lot and parked directly beside him.
He got out and walked around her car so he could help her out.
She was dressed in jeans and an unzipped hoodie with a ribbed shirt beneath it that clung to her breasts in a tantalizing way. “Have you done this before?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Hiked in the dark? Sure.”
“And taken a girl?”
“Nope. Never done that before.”
“Well, I’m counting on you to keep me safe from any wild animals or vampires that might be lurking in the dark.” Her smile was warm and clever.
It made him laugh. “You got it, baby. I’ll keep you safe.”
He wasn’t sure where the “baby” had come from. It had just slipped out. She didn’t react to it or look shocked or annoyed, so he figured it was okay.
He took her hand as they started to walk, and she didn’t seem to mind that either.
AN HOUR LATER, THEY’D made it to the top of the hill and found a clearing with a great view of the clear sky, bright stars, and enormous full moon.
Madeline was thrilled with the view. Thrilled with the night air and fresh scent of trees and dirt. And thrilled with Ken’s relaxed companionship. He was easy and funny and thoughtful, and she felt safe with him even in the dark. When they got to the top, he pulled a blanket out of the backpack he’d been carrying and spread it out so they could sit down.
They lay on their backs and stared up, and Madeline felt for a few minutes like a happy child getting a special outing past her bedtime.
It was a silly thought, but she couldn’t shake it off until she turned to smile at Ken. Only to be hit with an intense wave of attraction at the sight of his big body, square jaw, and strong hands.
She didn’t feel much like a kid after that.
“Pretty nice, huh?” he said.
“It’s amazing. Do you come up here a lot?”
“Not as often as I’d like. Usually I’m too tired to go out at night.” He paused, his blue eyes glinting in the bright light of the moon. “I guess that makes me sound old.”
“No. It makes you sound like an adult. To tell you the truth, I go to bed pretty early myself.”
“Well, that’s not surprising. You’re basically doing two jobs, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” She sighed and stared back up at the sky. “It’s a lot.”
“Why not quit the library? I can’t believe you really need that money since the flower shop has taken off the way it has.”
“Yeah. I mean, no. I don’t need the money. I just...”
“You just what?”
She glanced over and saw that he had his
