TWO
Back in the office, everyone was quieter than normal. This wasn’t how I wanted to start a work week. Ever since my coworkers found love, we stopped having drinks with clients. That had drastically cut my social life down to nil. So I did the only thing that would make things right. I set my smoothie down on my desk and cleared my throat.
“Ladies,” I said, getting both of their attention. “I’m sorry. I’m just in a slump lately and can’t seem to get out of it. I didn’t mean to drag you both down.”
“That’s okay.” Blake offered a smile.
Cher piped up. “I think you need to get laid.”
“Hey!” I threw up my hands. “What do you know about my sex life?”
Blake walked over to my desk. “Honestly? Not a thing.”
“For reals,” Cher added. “I just assumed you didn’t have one.”
“I do,” I said, defensively as both of their brows raised in surprise. “Okay, I did. Ugh, all the boys here are boring.”
“I totally remember that,” Blake said. Cher nodded in agreement.
“Well standing around here doesn’t fix it, so I might as well get back to work.” I dropped into my desk chair and turned to my computer, burying myself in the online booking program, so I didn’t have to see any pity in their eyes. I was a good fifteen years older than them. I did not need their sympathy when it came to my sex life.
The morning slipped by along with the awkwardness of our conversation. I was so busy with paperwork that I didn’t bother to look up with the door dinged.
“Welcome to Three Sisters,” Cher greeted the customer. “What kind of adventure can I help you with today?”
“I’m not sure that you can help me with this request,” a semi-familiar voice floated to my ears. “I’m looking for a guide to come with me on a heli-flight. I was told I could find Ali here?”
My head snapped up at the mention of my name, and I locked eyes with the customer. I knew that voice sounded familiar. It was kale-mango boy. A frown pulled down my lips and pushed my brows together. What was he doing here?
“Josh, isn’t it?” I said, standing from my desk. What brings you here?” I chuckled. “Well we both know it was your stretch-limo, so let me rephrase that. How can I help you?”
His face blushed at the mention of the limo, but he quickly brushed it off and cleared his throat. “A birdie told me that you worked here. I was hoping I could get you to guide me on my flight out this afternoon.”
“That’s pretty short notice.”
“You are the one who recommended I search for adventure in the mountains. And seeing as I am the guy in the limo, I seem to be the best option to show myself a good time—again as per your recommendation. I’m just looking for someone with experience to show a boy like me around these parts.”
I smirked. Touché my young friend. “Of course I’ll join you. It is my job. That’s what I get paid to do. I’m just not sure we can get a flight approved that fast.”
“I’ve already taken care of that,” he said. “We’re taking my chopper. My pilot is waiting for us at the hangar.”
I frowned. “Your pilot? Listen, I pilot my own flights.”
He put both hands up in fake-defense. “I’ll pay the same rate. I just need a seasoned pro like you to guide us.”
“So what? I’ll just be your sightseeing guide?” I couldn’t hide the sharp edge in my voice. Who did he think he was, coming in here and demanding I act like his personal chaperon to the mountains?
“Please,” he said, dropping his lower lip into a pout. “I’ll pay double your wage.”
I paused, biting the inside of my cheek. Double. Hmm. That might just work. I could put it toward more commercial airline training—get myself out of this town to see the world.
“Deal,” I said, jutting out my arm. “But you have to pay it as a tip.”
A wicked grin crossed his lips as he grabbed my hand and gave it a stiff shake. “Deal.”
***
The sky was where I felt most like myself. In control. Away from the rest of the world. Call me a loner, but I loved being as far away from the hustle and bustle of a resort town in the Rockies. There was never a slow season. Outdoor adventures kept Canmore busy all year round.
But today I had to take a backseat. Not my forte.
At the hangar, I made sure to check the flight plan. It was nothing tough, just a quick stop at the Mount Charles Stewart landing site, a common place for weddings, hikers, and others looking for a quick ride to the top. It would be a piece of cake.
I’d swapped my skimpy office uniform to the standard company tour gear. We were allowed to dress much more practical when we left the office. Wouldn’t do to have girls trampling the mountainside in miniskirts and tank tops. I slipped out of my mini-skort into a pair of Three Sisters cargo pants and threw a wind jacket over my tank top. Yeah, I had to skip underwear (the skorts had them built-in), but I’d survive the four-hour outing without them.
“So,” I said, trying to take my mind of the front of the chopper where I wished I was sitting. “Why Canmore?”
“I have some business here,” Josh said, from the seat across from me. He clasped his hands and started tapping his thumbs together. “Well, a mix of business and pleasure.” The wicked smile returned to his lips.
I turned my attention from his hands to the scenery outside. Below us, the peaks of the Three Sisters peaks approached. Not only the same name of our adventure tour company, which was actually owned by three sisters, but Canmore was also home to an amazing range of mountains with the same name.
“So what’s your business?” I asked, turning back to the cabin. I was being paid to keep Josh company after all. I should show a little interest.
“It’s a little of this, and that,” he said, focusing on his hands. “Some manufacturing. Some retail. Some research.”
I grunted at his ambiguousness. “Sounds like a lot more than this and that. So what—you’ve got a store or something? Obviously, you’re doing well.” I motioned to the chopper.
Josh shrugged. “It takes up a lot of my time, but I did start it from scratch, so I guess it’s like my baby.” He laughed. “I must sound like an idiot.”
“Not at all,” I said, shifting my body toward him. “Tell me what your business is about.”
Josh’s bit his lip before meeting my gaze. “Pleasure. It’s all about personal pleasure.”
I started laughing again. “You make it sound sexual.”
Josh lowered his head, his eyes burning into mine. “It’s exactly that. I’m the CEO of Moore Sex, LLC. A multi-national line of—”
“Sex toys,” I finished, my mouth dropping open. “You guys have everything. Dildos, vibrators, creams, oils, lingerie—”
“Blow up dolls, cock rings, and much more.”
“Wow,” I said, leaning against the back of my seat.
“Is that a good wow?” he smiled.
I let a smile creep across my face. Josh was more than the usual yuppie; he was a sex toy king. In theory, he should be the opposite of boring. He may be just what I’ve been looking for. “Tell me more about your business.”
By the time the chopper landed, I’d learned a lot more about Josh’s business than I’d expected. Vibrators were a number one seller. Then dildos and male masturbators filled the top twenty. Anal toys and cock rings joined the mix for the top forty. After that sex dolls and lubes helped fill the top hundred.
By the time we climbed out of the helicopter, my skin was flushed, and I was burning with excitement between my legs. Thank God I hadn’t been flying. Josh stepped out of the chopper first and motioned for me to take his hand.
The moment our skin touched my body lit up like a fire. What was wrong with me? It was late fall, we were on a mountaintop, and I was way too old for him.
“So,” I said, exhaling a burst of post-conversational excitement, “where to now? Hike a bit?”
Josh put his hands on his hips and surveyed the area. All around us the mountains poked at the horizon. Civilization was nowhere to be seen. I liked it here. “Um, to be honest, I didn’t really think that far ahead,” he said. “I just wanted to get some time alone with you.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Was he serious? I couldn’t tell. “Come on, let’s go see the wild.”
“Yeah,” Josh said shaking his head. “I’m not so sure about that. You know—bears and all.”
I rolled my eyes. “You can’t be serious. Bears. For real? We just spent half an hour in a chopper to get here, and you’re worried about bears?”
He shrugged, flashing his perfect white teeth with an equally perfect crooked smile.
I threw up my hands and started walking for a line of trees in the distance. “I didn’t come all this way to stand around. Now follow me or stay behind. Your choice.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Josh’s footsteps crunched along the broken rock under our feet until he caught up with me.
We followed a ridgeline where a distinct two-tone in the landscape displayed when rock met vegetation. It was a bit before Josh talked again. “You must think I’m silly.”
“What, not at all.” I laughed. “I’m guessing this is your first visit to the mountains?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’ve been here a lot for business. But this is my first time in the wild. I guess I’m just a city boy at heart.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” I said, stopping where the rock line took a sharp turn, sloping down to the edge of a cliff. “Look at all of this.” I spread out my arms. “You can’t get this in the city.”
“You sure can’t,” he said. But I could see that Josh wasn’t looking around at the vast open skies that surrounded us. He was staring at me. And it was making me nervous.
I slowly turned my head toward him, tilting it slightly as my gaze met his. “What are you doing?” I asked, unable to stop a smile from crossing my lips.
“Admiring the scenery,” he said. “Isn’t that why you brought me here?”
I nudged him with my elbow. “The scenery is out there.” I motioned back to the mountains.
“I’ve never met anyone quite like you.” Josh licked his lower lip before continuing, sending a warm shock between my legs. “You say it like it is,” he continued. “I’m used to girls—well everyone—just doing what I say, or waiting for me to tell them what to do.”
My voice came out sharper than I expected. “I guess that comes with running a million dollar company.”
He paused, biting his lip before continuing. “I shouldn’t have told you.” He stepped back shaking his head, and I immediately regretted my sarcasm. “It doesn’t define me, you know.”
“You know what, I’m sorry,” I quickly backpedaled. “I just mean, who cares if everyone does what you want.”
“It’s boring,” he said, repeating my words from earlier. I raised an eyebrow, smiling at the memory of our first meeting. Taking it as an invite, he stepped closer—so close that another inch would press his hard chest against mine.
Josh and his chest. His naked chest, young and chiseled, just a finger-width away from mine, separated by only a few layers of clothing. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears incessantly pounding as my chest rose with each breath, bringing me closer and closer to him.
I nodded in agreement, my voice coming out as nothing more than a whisper. “Boring sucks.”
“It sure does.” He lifted his hand to my face, tucking a stray strand behind my ear. The sensation of his finger running along my cheek, made my skin tingle. I closed my eyes, taking it all in. His touch. His smell. His everything.
When I opened my eyes, he was watching me with his mouth partially open, as if he was waiting for my command.
And with three words, there was no turning back.
“Kiss me, dammit.”