Her Unexpected Admirer Page 0,46
road and she could sit next to him and just enjoy his company.
“We’re here,” he said and pulled into a parking space.
She looked out the window, not exactly sure what she was looking at. “We’re going to look at rocks?” she asked.
He laughed softly. “Get out of the car, woman. We’re going to view the Garden of the Gods and you’re going to be impressed.”
Kate laughed at his tone but got out of the vehicle. “Think you’re in charge, eh?” she asked, walking in the opposite direction he’d indicated.
He walked over to her and grabbed her arm. “Oh no you don’t,” he countered. “You have to see the garden this way.”
Kate pulled her arm but she wasn’t really trying. It was more about wanting him to touch her. After breakfast this morning, she was more interested in just being with him than truly challenging him. “But I want to go this way.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re just trying to be annoying but it isn’t going to work. You were jealous of Ella this morning.”
She shrugged and moved along with him. “That meant nothing. Just that I didn’t want to be played for a fool.”
He chuckled and led her down one of the rock pathways. “It meant a lot more than you’re willing to admit. At the end of all of this, you’re going to explain to me why you won’t come to my bed. I’ll win. I always win.”
She laughed as well, feeling carefree and light-hearted. “There’s so much about me you don’t know. I’m a very complex woman.”
“Ah! A mystery! That just makes you more of a challenge. I love unraveling mysteries.”
“Whoa!” she exclaimed, stopping in her tracks. Davis didn’t mind. In fact, he’d been waiting for it to happen.
“This was why you needed to walk along the path my way. Much more dramatic view.”
Kate ignored his arrogance while she stood looking at the most amazing sight she’d ever seen. A moment ago, the rocks sticking out of the earth simply looked like twigs. And ugly, scraggly twigs at that. But as they came around at an angle, the twigs became something bigger. Much bigger. Those twigs now looked like enormous fins sticking out of the ground. The rocks were massive juts of sandstone and other types of rock and they were literally just slices of the rocks. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the rocks in all directions. There weren’t just the fin-like rocks, there were others that were balanced, huge boulders on top of smaller rocks that looked like they were impossible to balance.
“Is this real?” she whispered.
Davis nodded but she didn’t see it because she was still staring at the rock formations. “It’s all real, formed millions of years ago by glaciers and other forces. Pretty amazing, huh?”
She nodded as well, stunned by the reddish, pink rocks all around. She continued moving forward and, at each turn in the trail, she saw something new and interesting. They walked through the park, the autumn sun not nearly as hot as it would be in the summer, but still warming them thoroughly.
“Here,” he said, handing her a bottle of water that he’d obviously carried for her from the car. “Ready for something to eat?”
She looked up at him, then around. “Where would we find food out here?” she asked.
He moved closer to her and winked. “You’re going to have to trust me again, aren’t you?”
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what he was up to. “I don’t think I do.”
He leaned down and kissed her lightly. “I think someone has hurt you pretty badly. I haven’t figured out who, but you don’t trust many people do you?”
“No,” she replied automatically.
“Will you tell me about it?”
She thought about her father and his comments over the years. “No,” she finally admitted.
He ran a hand through her hair, enjoying the way it sparkled in the sunshine. “That’s fine for now. Eventually, you’re going to have to accept that this person is long gone and can’t hurt you any longer. And then I’ll be here to show you that you can trust me.”
Her father’s harsh words came to mind and she sighed. “Probably not, but I appreciate the hope.”
He took her hand. “Come on. The hotel packed a picnic lunch for us. I think there’s a blanket in there too.”
They ate sitting on a sun-warmed rock, enjoying the sunshine and Davis told her stories about growing up on a horse farm, all the antics he had with