Page 34 of Miss Fortune

“It’s not something I care to talk about.” Only my family knew about my divorce, and that was enough of a reminder of the failure. All my parents cared about was making a good impression in front of their colleagues and friends. They treated parenting like an Olympic race, and for them, my divorce meant I was now disqualified.

Daisy took in stride my refusal to discuss the topic. “Fair enough. By the way, you’re not an ultra-crazy hiker, right? Because I’m more of a mosey type of girl, taking lots of pictures and enjoying nature.”

Her change of subject immediately improved my mood. “Mosey is a fine speed. I’m not in any hurry once it’s the weekend.” For my mental health, I worked out religiously every morning, Monday through Friday. The physical exercise helped me prepare for my day. But come Saturday, my entire routine was about decompressing from the week. Whether it was attacking a home improvement project or going on a hike, I was on my own time.

“Great, you might make a good hiking partner yet.”

“Am I being graded?”

“Absolutely. Hiking compatibility is something I take seriously. The last hike I took was with a dashing, albeit way-too-energetic, three-year-old Lab mix. He and I were not destined for a long-term hiking relationship.”

My lips curved up in a smile. “I promise to treat you to lunch afterward, so let’s hope it gives me an edge over the dog.” Damn. I hadn’t planned on suggesting a meal for fear of what it could represent to her, yet she didn’t seem to read anything into it at all.

“Sounds good unless it’s vegetarian. In that case, I reserve the right to declare Louie the Labrador the clear winner.”

I chuckled and glanced over. Conversation was proving easy with her. “So you’re done dating in LA?”

“Yes, I’ve had enough bad experiences in the last two months to put me off it for a while.”

To hear she wasn’t actively dating was a relief. We chitchatted a bit more before finding street parking near Runyon Canyon. The area was already filling up with cars due to the place being a popular hike and the fact it was a weekend.

After getting out of the truck, Daisy took a moment to fiddle with her watch, scrolling through the digital screens.

“Thought you weren’t timing us?”

“Definitely not timing, but I do watch my steps and heart rate.”

Sounded like a normal explanation if it weren’t for the blush staining her cheeks. Strange. “Shall we?”

“Yes, can’t wait.”

The trail loop I’d planned was less than three miles and was rated a moderate hiking experience because of the steady climb and the loose footing. I tended to avoid it simply because of the crowds, but luckily, it wasn’t too populated yet. Usually when I hiked, I preferred silence, yet fifteen minutes into this one, and I missed Daisy’s chatter. She walked at a steady pace and smiled at everyone who passed. She also kept looking at her watch.

“Your watch all right?”

“Yeah, fine.” She sounded breathless.

“This is a little faster than I anticipated.” I didn’t want her setting a pace she thought I required. I’d meant it when I said I preferred a leisurely walk.

“You having trouble keeping up?”

“No, but I’m starting to feel sorry for the Labrador if this is your idea of mosey.”

Her laughter was contagious. As soon as she slowed down, she appeared more comfortable.

“Can I ask a nosey question?”

She seemed surprised. “Only if I have the right of refusal or get a nosey question of my own in return.”

“Fair enough. Do you come from family money? Is that why you’re able to afford your nice apartment and only work part-time?”

“Yes and no. My parents are considered middle class. When I quit my job and moved out to LA, they certainly weren’t going to fund it. So I lived in a run-down apartment and took every odd job I could get to make rent. But when my grandmother died a couple years back, she set up a trust for me to inherit once I turned twenty-five. Which happened a few months ago. Although I could live off of it for a while, I’m hoping to sell one of my patents in the near future.”

“Patents?”

“Yeah, I developed a system design for a more efficient electric car. Toyota is interested, if I can get the patent to go through. If you think the freeway is slow in LA on a rainy day, you should see the patent process. It’s painfully sluggish.”

“Toyota wants to buy your patent?”