Page 41 of That Rush

“Then this should be easy.”

She walks away, leaving me no chance to prove otherwise.

I take the trail guide from the shelf and wait near the entrance while she fixes the printer, answers a phone call, and checks out a stack of picture books for a mother with two young boys. She doesn’t hurry any of them. She looks at each person like they’re the only one in the room, but once, as she hands a receipt to the mother, her eyes lift and find mine for a second, a silent question, before she turns back to her work.

When the last family leaves, Paige joins me near the front doors.

“You stayed.”

“You asked me a question.”

“I assumed you’d dodge it.”

“I occasionally take the scenic route.”

Her smile appears, quick and pleased. “Why haven’t you asked me out?”

“I thought I had.”

“You invited me to a cookout.”

“That included food.”

“And your family.”

“They’re usually included with the food.”

“Exactly.” She folds her arms. “You offered me a place in plans you’d already made. You never asked if I wanted to spend time with you.”

“I wanted you there.”

“You never said that.”

Admitting Axel was right would make him unbearable.

“I assumed you knew.”

Paige leans in and lowers her voice. “Maybe you’re used to women figuring out what you want and making it easy for you.”

“Are you going to make it difficult?”

“I’m going to make you say it.”

The dare in her eyes is familiar now. So is the pull low in my gut when she refuses to hand me the answer I want.

My life is built on clear decisions. I can read a storm front, a sick animal, a fence line that won’t hold. A fence can’t look me in the eye and decide it would rather stand alone.

“I want to spend time with you,” I say. “Alone. No family, no event, and no excuse involving Josie.”

Her expression shifts, the challenge easing into something warmer. “Better.”

“If you want to ask me out,” she says, “ask me out.”

I meet her gaze, holding it. “Paige, will you have dinner with me Friday night?”

“Friday already has a cabin, a book, and food I like.”

“That sounds suspiciously like another refusal.”