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CHAPTER 9
“So this is the trailsystem.” Addisyn seemed to be suitably impressed. She brought her bike to a halt on a damp knoll carpeted in pine needles. Taking a deep breath, she gazed at the scene.
“Yep, this is it.” Darius still couldn’t believe she had asked to go bike riding with him. A twinge of uneasiness flicked at him. Hopefully she was up to the challenge. Mountain biking wasn’t for the faint of heart, especially on Whistler’s world-class Zappa trails.
But Addisyn had looked so eager when he’d come in for his coffee this morning. “My bike has been working great ever since you fixed it,” she’d informed him with a big grin. “Since it’s been three days, I’ve decided its probation is over.”
Darius had laughed. “So I actually fixed it, huh?”
“You did.” Addisyn had hesitated before blurting out her next question. “Want to see for yourself?”
“Huh?”
“Go bike riding with me.” She’d pointed at him with mock sternness. “You own a bike. I saw it in your mudroom, so no excuses.”
Darius had plenty of excuses. Like the fact that he was damaged goods. Or the fact that his mind was screaming at him to stay far away from Addisyn before his heart could be sucked farther into the whirlpool of emotion.
But all those excuses vanished like steam from a latte at the prospect of being near Addisyn for an afternoon. So as soon as he’d left work, he’d picked her up and brought her to the Zappa Trails, intending to take her to Lost Lake.
“This is the most beautiful place.” Addisyn scanned the horizon, turning her face to the sun.
Darius too was enjoying the view, but he thought the prettiest part of the scenery was Addisyn herself. Perched on her bike with her silky hair pouring from under her helmet and a dreamy smile on her face. He was glad to see that smile. He had the idea there had been too much pain in her life thus far. Maybe this outing could bring just a little light to her life.
Certainly the loveliness of their surroundings would have whispered tranquility to any uneasy soul, and Addisyn couldn’t seem to drag her eyes from the view. Which was fine, because Darius couldn’t drag his eyes from her.
She was perfect. No, way better than perfect. She was everything he’d ever dreamed of in a woman—or would have dreamed of, had he known such a woman existed.
Which was why she could never be his. He clenched his jaw. Sure, she knew his story now. But she didn’t know the whole story. If she did, she’d take off on that bike and never look back.
“So?” He suddenly realized Addisyn was watching him, those big brown eyes glittering with excitement. “How bout these trails?”
He forced himself to lighten up. “Absolutely. Right this way.”
As he pedaled toward the trailhead for the Zappa Bike Trails, he reminded himself once more. There was no way he could ever approach Addisyn as more than a friend. She wasn’t—what was it the guys always used to say?—on his level. She deserved the very best life could offer her, not some broken-down ruin like him. A guy who’d shipwrecked his life and made all the wrong choices.
If he had any speck of chivalry and decency left in him, the only thing for him to do was to stop thinking of her in that way. Stop losing his breath every time she glanced at him. Stop searching for ways to make her laugh, words that could bring her sparkling smile to her flawless face.
Stop losing every chunk of his weather-beaten heart to her.
“Darius, thanks for bringing me here. I can’t wait to see the lake!”
He chanced a glance back over his shoulder. There she was, pedaling after him, eyes bright, cheeks the color of the first blush of sunrise over the mountains.
It was no use telling himself to be rational. His heart had gone tone deaf to his mind. In that instant, the realization hit Darius with more force than he’d ever felt in a fall on the ice.
He was in love with Addisyn Miles.
“EVER BEEN MOUNTAINbiking?” Darius’s question floated back to Addisyn on the warm breeze.
“Um...no.” She giggled, a little nervously. “It’s not that much different from biking on a road, right?”
“Like the difference between walking and ice skating.” Darius grinned at her over his shoulder.
“Great.” Addisyn laughed, but Darius didn’t join in. As they coasted to a halt at the trailhead, she studied him, somewhat concerned. Was he okay? He looked—worried, perhaps? No, maybepreoccupiedwas a better word. Distracted.
“Here’s the trailhead.” Darius sounded surprisingly out of breath, considering the fact that they had simply coasted across the parking lot toward the trail system. “Um...” he ran his hand over his face, seemingly trying to gather his thoughts. “The trails all connect, so you can make any length and any sort of ride you want, but the most popular is a six-mile loop.” He looked directly at her for the first time. “Does that work for you?”
She shrugged. “Sure. Lead the way.”
