If there was a way to capture the pure delight radiating from Samiah without seeming like a creep, Daniel would have taken the picture with his phone already. She’d been tossing those teasing grins his way all morning, along with the jabs about him lagging behind.

Why would he want to catch up with her? This vantage point afforded him a magnificent view of her tan shorts stretching deliciously over an ass that, up until now, he hadn’t given himself permission to fully appreciate. He was all too happy to stay a couple of steps behind.

“I can handle whatever you throw my way,” Daniel returned.

“Oh really?” She winked. “We’ll see about that.”

She picked up speed, charging up the winding, well-trodden path that cut through the dense cluster of towering bald cypress and sycamore trees. He’d been amused by her attempts to test him, suggesting they take the more demanding walking trail and setting an aggressive pace from the very outset. As far as Samiah knew, he was a lifelong computer geek who spent most of his time behind a monitor. He’d own up to being a computer geek, but he’d also spent months trekking across the shrubland of Djibouti with fifty pounds of gear strapped to his back and a Marine Corps–issued M16A4 rifle nestled against his chest.

Still, a vigorous hike was a vigorous hike. They were both puffing for air by the time they broke free of the thick trees and came upon an outcropping of limestone that jutted out over a rushing stream.

“Holy shit, this is beautiful,” Daniel said.

“Onion Creek,” Samiah said. “Worth the hike?”

He glanced over and had to catch his breath at the portrait she created. The sun filtering through the wispy clouds cast a warm glow over her profile, making her sumptuous brown skin even more alluring. The urge to reach over and run the backs of his fingers along her cheeks—still flush from their hike—overwhelmed him.

“Absolutely,” he said.

She turned to him, and all the fantasies he’d tried his hardest to suppress slammed to the forefront of his mind. Curbing the impulse to lean into her and taste those lips he’d dreamed about for weeks took a strength he hadn’t realized he possessed.

Just ask her. That’s all it would take. One simple question.

He already had the answer. It was staring right back at him. The lambent arousal flickering in her eyes, the way her lips parted slightly; she gave off the kind of vibe that couldn’t be mistaken. Three weeks of steadily escalating flirtation had to lead to something. Maybe this was it. This moment when they were finally alone, away from all distractions, from every hindrance that could get in the way of exploring where the undeniable attraction between them could lead.

All he had to do was ask.