Lovers of Legend Read Online Free

fingers and tried not to admire his perfect face. His physique was hidden beneath his large overcoat and boots. "I must look stupid to you being with that kind of a guy," I commented.
    "It wasn't the wisest relationship I've ever seen, but you were smart enough to get out of it," he pointed out.
    I sighed and gave a nod. "Yeah, and now I'm stuck here. He drove off with my only way off the mountain," I told him.
    "Do you really need to go so soon?" he wondered. I turned to him and raised an eyebrow. He smiled. "What I meant to say was your former boyfriend left too quickly to cancel your reservation, so you still have several more nights left in the cabin," he reminded me.
    I shrugged. "But what am I going to do? I was going to go hiking with him, and hiking alone isn't all that fun."
    "I could show you the trails. I know them better than anyone else," he offered.
    "You? I don't even know your name," I pointed out.
    He smiled, stood, and gave a bow. "Michael Spalding, at your service, but you can call me Mike," he greeted me.
    I copied his movements, but curtsied. "Alice Gooding," I replied.
    Mike took my hand and planted a soft kiss on the back of it. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Gooding. I hope you give me the honor of escorting you along the trails tomorrow," he requested.
    I gently removed my hand from his and teasingly scrutinized his beautiful features. "I'm not sure I can trust you to have that honor, Mr. Spalding," I replied.
    "Does my face look like the face of a person like your former boyfriend?" he asked me.
    "No, it looks better," I told him.
    "And does my voice tell you that I mean you no harm?" he wondered.
    "It does seem to be telling me that," I agreed.
    "Then trust your instincts and let me lead you through a wonderful fantasy land full of interesting trees, flowers, and wildlife," he insisted.
    I laughed. "If you insist," I answered.
    "Good. What would you say to an afternoon walk with me, say about one o'clock? You could have lunch and we could meet on the trail behind this cabin," he suggested.
    "Why so late?" I asked him.
    "The trails are less crowded then, and I have something special I want to show you," he replied.
    "Something special?" I wondered.
    He smiled. "It's a surprise, but I hope you'll like it."
    I narrowed my eyes. "I don't mean to sound paranoid, but why would you want to surprise me? We barely know each other," I pointed out.
    "Do souls need a certain time to know when they've found someone they feel to be a kindred spirit?" he returned.
    "I'm not sure. Maybe I sold my soul to a Girl Scout for a cookie," I teased.
    "Be that as it may, I still want to be your guide and company on the trails. Will you give me the honor?" he persisted.
    I looked at his sincere, eager face, and my heart and brain told me to do it or else I'd regret it. "All right, one o'clock at the trail behind this cabin," I agreed.
    "Excellent. Until then sleep well and try not to worry about the monster who left you here," he suggested.
    Mike left and I felt like I was walking on clouds. I started to think Greg had done me a favor by leaving me alone. Here was this handsome young man wanting to take me on a guided tour through the hiking trails, and he also had a surprise waiting for me, to boot. I was like a child on Christmas Eve hardly able to sleep a wink waiting for the next day to come. Come it did a few hours later, but I had managed to fall asleep and I slumbered through the sunrise and half of the breakfast hour.
    When I did awaken I noticed the time and sprang from my bed. I hurried on my clothes and rushed out my door into a bright, albeit wet, day. I wasn't one of the last ones out of the cabins, however, and was startled when a family of five clamored out of cabin fifteen. I paused on my porch and watched them walk past with a frown on my face. Apparently my new acquaintance wasn't my neighbor after all. It made me wonder how he'd heard the ruckus last night if even cabin fifteen wasn't awakened by the noise.