Taught by the Hiking Guide

  First Times in Trout Creek #2

  By Hazel J. North

  Copyright

  © Taught by the Hiking Guide by Hazel J. North

  2022

  All Rights Reserved

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Taught by the Hiking Guide

  Chapter One | Harper

  Chapter Two | Knox

  Chapter Three | Harper

  Chapter Four | Knox

  Chapter Five | Harper

  Chapter Six | Knox

  Epilogue | Harper | Six months later

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  Taught by the Hiking Guide

  Harper

  I don’t know why Knox, the local hiking guide, hates me. Every time I see him and say hello, he ignores me. What did I do to him to be treated like this? I decide to close my bakery for a couple of days and sign up for a private trip to a hidden waterfall with him as my guide. It’s time I find out what his deal is.

  Knox

  The curvy girl owning Trout Creek’s bakery caught my attention ever since she set foot in our town, but I can’t let her know that. I’ve been burned too many times to give in to love. But then she shows up at the trail head for a hike with me, and I don’t know if I can resist her any longer.

  Taught by the Hiking Guide is a steamy short instalove romance full of heat and heart with NO cliffhangers, NO cheating, and a Guaranteed HEA. This book is part of the series First Times in Trout Creek, a steamy romance series set in a small mountain town where every insanely hot guy finds a sweet & inexperienced curvy woman to love.

  Chapter One

  Harper

  I take a deep breath as I open the oven and pull out a fresh batch of strawberry cupcakes. Is there anything that can beat this scent? Sure, freshly cut grass comes in a close second, as does the earth after a rainstorm. But this... to me, it smells like heaven.

  I put the treats on the kitchen counter to cool down. Then, I add chocolate frosting to the batch of vanilla cupcakes I baked an hour ago and a chocolate number one on top of each. Placing my hands on my curvy hips, I step back to admire my work. Perfect! I’m positive Sawyer and Maxine will be happy with these cupcakes. They ordered them for their son’s first birthday, and I’ve poured all my baking love into them.

  After putting the ordered items in two boxes, I grab a cupcake from the batch I took out of the oven ten minutes ago and take a bite. It’s not that I can’t control myself, but I can’t serve my customers anything without making sure my cupcakes are perfect—which means I’ve put on lots of weight since I opened my shop. It’s all worth it, though. Happy customers make me happy. All I need are some extra ways to make more money so I can finally buy my own house. It’ll be so sweet to live in something bigger than a shoebox.

  The bells attached to the entrance of Sweet as Cake jingle, and I wipe my hands on my apron before heading to the counter. I expect to see one of my regulars, but I’m met with Knox, the hiking guide who lives up the mountain. This is the first time he’s entered my shop. Why does he never come in here? Who knows? Either he doesn’t eat sweet treats, or he doesn’t like me. It’s probably the latter. Whenever I see him in town, he looks away as if I’m not worthy of a nod or a neighborly hello. I’ve thought about why he acts like that many times, but I still haven’t figured it out. I can’t have pissed him off verbally as he and I have never spoken to each other. Maybe I’ve unknowingly stolen a parking spot from him or something?

  “Order for Max and Sawyer.” It comes out as a bark.

  Jesus. A touch of friendliness wouldn’t hurt the guy.

  I frown. “Why are you picking up their order?”

  “Can’t a guy pick up his godson’s birthday cupcakes?” he asks in a gruff voice.

  “Oh, of course. I had to make sure you weren’t some cupcake-crazed thief,” I say with a laugh.

  Nothing but a blank stare from him. Wow, tough crowd.

  I clear my throat and smile at him. “Just a minute, please.”

  I enter the kitchen and retrieve the two boxes of cupcakes. “There you go.”

  Our fingers touch for a split second as he accepts the order from me, making my toes curl. What the guy lacks in friendliness, he sure makes up in scorching hotness.

  “Well, enjoy,” I tell him.

  What else am I supposed to say? He’s standing there staring at me. Weird.

  He runs a hand through his thick hair. “You’re not going to charge me for these?”

  “Oh, Sawyer already settled the bill when he came in to order them last week.”

  He nods. “Good.”

  “Anything else I can help you with?”

  He grunts something, but I can’t hear what he’s saying. Before I can ask him to repeat himself, he turns on his heel and marches his gorgeous ass out of my shop.

  The bells jingle again as the door swings shut. I lean my arms on the counter and watch him step into his truck. He adjusts his rearview mirror, then looks straight at me before gunning it out of there.

  I know it’s wrong of me to pine for him after our confusing and short interaction, but I do. Hell, I’ve been pining for him since last year when I moved to this small town. The guy is so mysterious. I don’t know what to make of him, except that he has me all hot and bothered. As I continue frosting cakes and mixing batter, his face keeps swimming in front of me. His thick beard and muscled shoulders, paired with his sexy ass, cloud every other thought. I sigh. If only it were normal to walk around bare-chested, I’d find out what he looks like underneath his tight shirt.

  Get it together, I tell myself. I'll drool into my cake batter if I don’t stop fantasizing about him.

  As I slide another batch of cupcakes into the oven, the bells jingle again. At the counter, I’m met with two cheery women who immediately greet me as if we’re best friends. Knox could learn a thing or two from them about friendliness.

  “What can I get you, girls?” I ask them as they eye up my display of treats.

  “Oh, we’ll need a box of every flavor you’ve got,” one of them says.

  The other lets out a laugh. “Never mind Chelsea over here. She’s using food to still her hunger for hot men.”

  Chelsea’s eyes grow wide. “Keira! I do not.”

  “Keep telling yourself that.”

  “Fine, I can’t help myself. I need to channel all this horny energy after the weekend we’ve had, okay?” She turns to me. “You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Eating away your desires?”

  I smile and nod, even though I don’t quite get it. I’ve been horny before, but I’ve never acted on it. Not with a guy, that is. And look where my lack of boldness has led me... right to becoming a twenty-eight-year-old virgin. Not by choice, though. I want a man’s hands on me so bad, some days it’s all I can think about.

  “Anyway, I need to eat lots of sugar so the throbbing between my legs disappears,” Chelsea sighs.

  I laugh. They sure are straightforward. “That sounds like quite the weekend,” I say as I carefully put their cupcakes into a big box.

  Chelsea groans. “It was perfect. We went on a hike with this guide called Knox. He was hot as hell, and I didn’t sleep at all with him so close. Too bad he’s not interested in me, or I’d have jumped at the chance.”

  “You’d have jumped him, you mean,” Keira says with a giggle.

  The mention of his name makes my stomach flutter. “Really? You went on a hike with him?”

  I know Knox is one of the local hiking guides, but I’ve never given it much thought before now. Why would I? Hiking is not my thing. I prefer warm nights in and watching movies, not shivering in a sleeping bag, praying I won’t get eaten by mountain lions or whatever monsters are out there in the woods.

  “It was amazing. If you ever get the chance to book a hike with him, you should. He’s the best. He showed us the most beautiful spots up on the mountain,” Chelsea says. “We’re definitely coming back next summer to book another trip with him. Apparently, there’s a trail leading to a hidden waterfall, but it’s only for experienced hikers, which we are not.”

  “A hidden waterfall?”

  Keira nods. “Yeah, it’s supposed to be magical. You’ve never been?”

  I shake my head. “No. I’ve only been living here for a year, and most of the time, I’m too busy baking, so I don’t go on hikes a lot. I also don’t like bugs and outdoor toilets.”

  The two of them laugh. “We don’t either, rest assured.”

  “Then why do you voluntarily go out there?” I ask, genuinely interested.

  “Nature can be cruel but also stunning. Nothing clears your head like a good hike.”

  I tap a finger to my lips. “I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.”

  They pay m
e for the cupcakes and wave goodbye. After they close the door behind them, I open the Trout Creek website, where all touristic activities are bundled. I scroll down until I see Knox’s hikes listed. My shop closes every Monday and Tuesday, and he happens to be available then. I’ve been so busy trying to get my shop to the next level I could benefit from a good hike to clear my head. The bugs are a downer, but the way Chelsea and Keira talked about it...

  With trembling fingers, I click on the link and head straight to the booking info. Without giving myself time to change my mind, I fill in my details and hit send, nerves coursing through me.

  Mere seconds later, the confirmation email lands in my inbox. Guess I’m going on a private hike with Knox tomorrow.

  Sure, the booking form explicitly mentioned it was only for experienced hikers, and the furthest I ever hiked was the two miles from my house to a local bookstore sale, but still, I had stamina. Waiting in line for hours for a sale wasn’t for the faint of heart. That had to count for something, right?

  Chapter Two

  Knox

  I check my gear again and throw my backpack into the rear of my pickup truck. I hadn’t expected to work today, but someone made a last-minute reservation yesterday. They didn’t fill out a name, so I don’t know who will join me on a two-day hike to the waterfall. Whoever it is, I hope they realize this hike is only for experienced hikers. Sometimes, people click the I have read all the rules and requirements box without actually reading them. Anyway, I’m sure it’ll be fine. I couldn’t call them to check because I came home late last night, after an amazing birthday party for Bear, my godson.

  Maxine and Sawyer were grateful I brought the cupcakes for the party. Now Max is pregnant with their second kid, Sawyer doesn’t like to let her out of his sight, especially this close to the baby’s due date. The two of them are nothing short of adorable. They are so in love, it’s unreal. And according to Sawyer, the chemistry they share in the bedroom is enough to set a house on fire. I’m happy for him but sad I’ll never have something like that. I thought I’d found my girl years ago until she ripped out my heart and put it through a woodchipper.

  Still, there’s no use contemplating how much my non-existent love life sucks. I have a job to do.

  I put my truck in reverse and back out of the parking spot next to my mountain cabin, heading for the trailhead where my customer will meet me. The weather is beautiful today, and I can’t wait to head deep into the woods. Hiking is my life. It keeps me fit and sane, and I love that it pays my bills.

  As I approach the trailhead’s parking, I curse under my breath. Next to the trail info sign, a familiar redhead is waiting. Her back is turned to me, but I’d recognize that beauty anywhere. The hair, the curves, the smile. I wince. Just thinking about her makes me hard. Not that she knows, nor does she need to. I’m not going to give into it. A relationship is the last thing I need after finding my fiancée with another man’s dick in her mouth a few years back. The resulting shock and anger put me off dating anyone ever again.

  I park my truck and hoist my backpack over my shoulders. What the hell is she doing here? I’ve never once seen her on a trail. God, I sure hope she knows what she’s doing.

  “Morning,” I tell her, trying my best not to let her know how much her cheerful demeanor turns me on.

  “Hello,” she beams. “Great day for a hike.”

  “Never picked you for a hiker.”

  She furiously nods her head. “Oh, I’m an avid hiker. I hike a lot of trails. It’s one of my main hobbies.”

  “Oh, yeah?” I motion for her to follow me. “What’s your favorite?”

  Her cheeks flush scarlet, and her innocence punches me in the balls. Fuck, I wish I could ravish her.

  “The one up on that other mountain,” she says, then shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I’m not good with remembering names and stuff. I’m not inexperienced, though. Not in that department.”

  I arch an eyebrow. What is she alluding to?

  She lets out a high-pitched laugh. “Sorry. I’m ready when you are.”

  Jesus Christ. How am I going to spend two days and one night with a hot girl like her, all alone in the woods? It’ll take every ounce of self-control I have not to throw myself at her.

  Our eyes meet, and for a split second, I’m positive she wants to devour me as well.

  “How were the cupcakes?” she blurts.

  Okay, so maybe she wants to devour sweet treats, not me. “Great.”

  She smiles at me. “You’re not much of a talker, are you? That’s okay. I’ll talk.”

  “Or we can enjoy this hike in silence.”

  She winces. I wish I hadn’t barked the words at her, but I’m all kinds of confused. I can’t stop thinking about how good her ass looks in those shorts or how her breasts are bouncing with every step. Since I’m the guide, I need to focus on the trail so we make it to the waterfall safely. That’s not going to happen if I keep imagining her naked body on top of mine, so I decide to tell her about the fauna and flora we encounter to distract myself.

  I’ve never had a customer listening to me this intently. Most of the time, they smile and nod but don’t hear a word I say. Not Harper. An hour flies by without me realizing it. It’s only when her face is beet red and sweaty that I look at my watch and decide it’s time for a small break.

  We sit down on a rock, and I inhale the crisp mountain air with a sigh. This is pure heaven.

  “Hydrate,” I instruct Harper.

  She hasn’t had a sip of water all day. Having her sick with dehydration is the last thing I need.

  She takes her water bottle out of her pink backpack and puts it to her lips. She’s greedy, and water slides down her chin, eliciting a giggle from her. “Oops. Drank a bit too fast.”

  Her knee touches mine as she shifts in place. “Is it hotter than usual today, or is it just me? I’m parched.”

  I guzzle down half a bottle of water. “It’s hot today.”

  “You’re not even breaking a sweat,” she says, studying my face.

  “I’m used to being out here almost daily. Guess I have a high tolerance for heat.”

  We sit in silence while I’m about to explode inside. The skin of her knee grazes mine. If it were appropriate, I’d bend her over this rock and have my way with her.

  “Are you okay?” she asks, concern written all over her face. “You look tortured, like you’ve stepped on glass or something.”

  I jump up to avoid answering that. “We should get going.”

  “Already?”

  “We need to reach Point Red before the sun sets, or we’ll never make it to the waterfall tomorrow.”

  She gives me another of those adorable smiles. “You’re the boss. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.”

  I grunt. If only she knew what I want to do to her. Not only is she the sexiest woman in town, but she’s also super sweet.

  We continue our hike, and soon, the wide path makes way for a tricky narrow one with lots of loose rocks.

  “Make sure to use the rope attached to the side of this rock,” I instruct her.

  She carefully steps forward and clutches the rope as if her life depends on it. Technically, it does, so I’m happy she’s not one of those types who feel the need to prove themselves to me. I’d rather have someone crawl over this part of the trail than run and slip. I’ve witnessed a few close calls over the years, and it ain’t pretty. My best friend Sawyer got his shoulder crushed trying to save one of those macho types.

  We’re only halfway across the difficult stretch of path when she freezes, making me bump into her. “What’s wrong?”

  She shakes her head. “I...I don’t know...I mean, it sure is steep here, huh?”

  I take her hand in mine and give her an encouraging nod. “I’ll help you, but once we’ve crossed this part of the hike, I want the truth from you, okay?”

  “The truth? What do you mean?”

  “About your hiking experience.”

  She nods. I give her hand a squeeze and guide her along the treacherous path. “Watch out here. This is a tricky part.”

  Just when I think things are going smoothly, she looks over her shoulder to smile at me and her foot loses its grip. Harper screams, and I grab her by the arm before she has a chance to tumble down the steep gap right in front of us. My heart races like never before. Good grief, she could’ve plummeted to her death if I hadn’t caught her.