“Have you been to Thailand?” she asked. She’d remembered my travel bug.
I nodded as we rounded a tight turn past Muir Woods. “I have.”
“What did you like about it?”
“A lot of things about Thailand were really cool, but especially the food. You can go to these street markets, choose which curry you want from all these huge pots, and I swear, it costs less than a dollar. The food there was killer.”
“Ugh, you’re making me hungry,” she said.
Hungry. I wanted her hungry. For me.
We rode in silence, my Jeep bumping along the road as we climbed to the peak of Mount Tam. Jayma had her forehead pressed to the passenger side window, watching the view unfold of San Francisco and beyond, and giving me the chance to check her out. I was dying to reach for her fingers, but it was way too soon for that. So I “accidentally” brushed my hand over the bare skin of her thigh. It was so warm and smooth, my cock sprang to attention.
She looked at me and smiled.
We pulled into the lot at the very top of Mount Tam and headed for the trail that would give us the best views. Gravel crunched under our hiking boots while we got started.
“So, how’d you get your job at the ad agency?” I asked her.
“Well, I moved to San Francisco after college and answered an ad on Craigslist for a receptionist position. I had really wanted to try for a career in advertising.” She looked at me. “I’m working my way into a new position.”
She had what it would take. I didn’t know shit about the ad business, but I could tell.
“You’ll get there. Just keep on keepin’ on. I believe in persistence over quick wins,” I said.
“Well, that’s what I’m doing. Sticking with it.” She gave me one of her mega smiles, the ones that made her freckles dance.
“I’ve never worked in an office. I mean, I have an office. But I’m only there once in a while. I like running around, taking care of customers. Keeps my mind off my dad…”
“Does it keep your mind off the travels you’re missing?”
She guessed well. Or maybe it wasn’t a guess. Maybe it was as obvious as the nose on my face.
I nodded slowly. “For the most part, it does. But it’s always there. The thing we’d rather be doing. Happens to us all, I suppose.”
“How long were you going to travel for?” We took a turn down a path lined with sky-scraping redwood trees. The canopy was so full, we were instantly immersed in what felt like dusk.
“Indefinitely. I wanted to volunteer, help install plumbing systems in poor villages, and teach the locals at the same time. Then my mom called me with news about my dad, and here I am today. I need to keep the business running to support my parents. It’s the only income they have.”
She stopped in front of me on the narrow trail. I was just inches from her beautiful face, and in the dim light, I could swear, her skin glowed.
“That’s awesome, that you’re supporting your parents,” she said, reaching for my hand.
“I’m happy to do it. I know it sounds like I’m not. But there will be time for travel later. Right now, they need me.” To be honest, I’d do anything for my parents.
I took her hand and brought it to my lips. Her skin smelled like lemons and fresh, clean girl.
“I wanted to ask you out the first moment I saw you,” I confessed.
I brushed my lips over the back of her hand again, and then opened her palm. I moved it to my cheek and ran it up and down, reveling in her soft skin. So different from my hand, which was scratchy and callused from work. She sighed lightly and closed her eyes. It seemed like all thought exited my brain.
“Excuse me!”
Shit.
“Sorry,” I said, as we stepped aside to let several hikers pass. Jesus, I thought no one else knew about this trail.
“Shall we keep going?” I asked.