“For sure. Would you like to do a bike ride first, though, while we still have daylight?”
“Yes, sir.”
He loved her exuberance for life. They retrieved their suitcases from the entryway and walked upstairs. He let her have her pick of the suites. Interestingly enough, she chose his room. It’d been redecorated since childhood. His mom had asked for his input, but he hadn’t been back to see the huge bookcase full of leather-bound books, the pale blue-and-white bedspread, the snow-skiing décor, and the view of the backyard and mountains beyond. Even though it’d changed since he’d stayed here, he liked that Mar was staying in his room.
He headed into the suite next door, Seth’s room, to change into some comfortable clothes. He’d take her on a mountain bike ride prettier than the one she’d taken him on in San Francisco. Then they’d swim and hot tub. Then he’d kiss her again. Maybe it was stupid to explore the beauty and passion of their kiss from last night, as he had no clue where it could lead relationship-wise. The concerns weren’t nearly strong enough to keep him from wanting his lips touching hers again.
* * *
Mar was blown away by Luke’s parents’ house. She’d seen wealth in San Francisco, and Cosette’s father was wealthy and had a lovely home, but this was like something from a dream. She wondered what Luke’s own house in Colorado was like.
They pedaled up a trail right behind his parents’ house and were soon lost to the beauties of the mountains. She insisted that Luke go first to lead the way. She was winded from the hard ride and the high elevation, but her legs felt strong and she found she could keep up with him—though it was highly possible that he was going slower for her.
The shadows were stretching longer and the trail was all in shade from the towering pine trees when Luke stopped and glanced over his shoulder with a smile. “How are you doing?”
“Amazing.” She loved her biking treks out to the Muir Woods, but they weren’t as remote and quiet as this. The trees were different, pine and maple rather than redwood, but they were still beautiful and thick. This path was more technical to navigate with rocks, stumps, and sometimes logs in the path.
“We’d better turn back so we aren’t coming down the trail in the dark.”
Her eyes darted around the thick trees and foliage around them. “Why? Do bear and moose attack in the dark?”
He grinned and said, “No, but the mountain lions do.”
Mar’s heart thumped faster. Suddenly, this remote beauty was not quite as appealing. She hurried to turn her bike on the narrow trail. “Let’s go,” she urged Luke.
Luke started chuckling, and then he was laughing uproariously.
“What?” She glared back at him. “Let’s go!”
Luke held up a hand and through his laughter sputtered out, “I was joking.”
“What?” Her heart slowly calmed, and she stopped searching through the shadows of the woods to glare at him. “There are no mountain lions, right?”
Luke finally sobered but was still grinning at her. “There are plenty of mountain lions, but they aren’t going to attack us because it’s getting darker out. At least, probably not.”
“Probably not?” She gripped her handlebars and decided she was going with or without him. He could laugh all he wanted. The most vicious animal she’d ever seen in real life was a yappy dog who’d broken from his owner’s grip and nipped at her heels. Muir Woods was populated with tourists, not bears and mountain lions.
Mar jumped back on the bike and pushed the pedals down hard. She shot off down the trail. It was surprisingly easier going downhill, and before she knew it, she was flying.
“Mar!” Luke called from behind her.
“Come on!” she hollered back. Maybe he was tough enough that he thought he could take on a mountain lion, but she wasn’t waiting around to watch.
“Slow down!” Luke yelled.
Mar squinted at the trail ahead and maneuvered the bike around a large rock, but then a stump appeared out of nowhere. Her front tire hit the stump, and she launched forward. Screaming, she flew like Superman and crashed into some undergrowth. Branches scratched at her face and arms, but she rolled to a stop. Miraculously, she didn’t feel like anything had broken.
“Mar!” Luke was upon her quickly. He jumped off his bike and ran to her side. Gently lifting her out of the bushes, he set her on the trail and kneeled beside her. “Are you okay? Where does it hurt?” His eyes frantically traced over her face and down her body.
“I’m okay.” She was breathing hard and the cuts on her face and arms stung, but she was fine. “Nothing’s broken.” She gave him a brave smile.
He set back on his haunches and blew out a breath. “Thank you. You scared me.”
“I scaredyou?” she hurled at him. “You had me terrified with all that talk about mountain lions. Speaking of which …” She glanced around at the trees and the deepening gloom. “Let’s get out of here.”
Luke stood and helped her to her feet. His hands remained on her arms, and the pressure had her mind flittering back to that kiss. “An animal isn’t going to just attack us,” he said.
“Says you. I have Google.” She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder. “I’ve heard all about bear, moose, wolf, and mountain lion attacks in these remote Rocky Mountains.”