Page 10 of Grand Escape
Finally still, I tried not to bend over in agony as I caught my breath. “What’s up? Got a cramp?”
Hand on her hip, she raised an eyebrow. “Not me, but I’ll bet you do.”
“You’re fast,” I said through broken breaths. Giving in, I bent over and put my hands on my knees, giving up on trying to salvage my pride. “And it’s hot here.”
For a fleeting second, I thought of Becca. My sister loved to run and would put me through my paces, making fun of me the whole time. She’d always end up at the final destination minutes ahead of me, smirking like a smartass.
Kind of how Rylan was currently mocking me.
“Told you to stick to the golf course. I’ve been running in this heat for years. Plus, I’m originally from Florida.”
“Michigan,” I said, finally starting to catch my breath.
“That explains why you’re so nice. Midwesterner.” She sighed at my hopelessness, but I knew this whole tough-girl act was nothing more than shtick.
“Well, you’re some sort of superhero,” I said, playing into her fake armor. “You’re not even sweating.”
“I am sweating,” she said, getting defensive. “This was a cooldown for me. I already put in my work before you finally stalked me hard enough. The original work was at a six-and-a-half-minute pace.”
“Count me out for that run. So, are we just going to stand on the street talking, or what?” I asked, letting her know I wasn’t actually a nice guy. “Or are you going to point me back toward the hotel?”
“You don’t want to run back with me, stalker?”
She wanted me to acknowledge I’d been looking for her, and I wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction. Not after she’d just dusted me on her cooldown run.
“I’d rather make it home alive.”
“I’ll do you one better. Buy me a coffee,” she said, pointing behind her to a turquoise-painted shack with a sign that read Island Beans ’n’ Stuff above the door.
“Good thing my credit card is in my shorts,” I said as we started toward the entrance.
“Oh, I knew you’d be prepared.”
I grabbed the door before she could. “Let me get that.”
“Told you. You’re too nice.”
“Yeah, am I buying coffee or what?”
“Hey, Ry.” The dark-skinned older man behind the counter greeted my running partner before she could answer me, killing the moment.
“Hey, Sam. How’s it going?”
He started filling a large cup with coffee without Rylan saying a word. “Prepping for the spring-break rush. Marva’s at home, enjoying some time with the grandbaby before she has to be here for the next month.” He slid the coffee to Rylan and asked me, “What can I get you?”
“Coffee, black.”
Rylan took a pitcher of milk off the counter and topped off her brew before taking a sip.
“Mmm. Best blend ever. They roast their own beans,” Rylan told me after her first sip. “Samuel, meet Adam. He got lost on his morning run today. I told him to stick to the beach or golf course, but he went and followed a local.”
“Nice to meet you, Adam.” Sam grinned as he handed me the coffee, giving me a look over the rim of his glasses as if he knew what I was up to. “First time in the Caymans?”
“It is.” Glancing at Rylan, I added, “Beautiful too.”
Faster than I’d been, she averted her gaze and took a sip of her coffee.
“It is,” Sam said, agreeing with a wink. “You going to show this guy around, Ry? Take him over to the turtle farm? He needs a picture petting one of those to take back home.”