Chapter 43

Clementine

There was a knock at the front door the following morning. For once, it appeared that Liam was adhering to door-knocking etiquette. I took a deep breath before I opened the door.

“Are you ready to go?” He was dressed in light-coloured cargo shorts and a grey t-shirt that emphasized the marble-like muscles underneath. I ran my eyes down him but frowned when I saw the hiking boots on his feet. I was wearing sneakers.

“I don’t own hiking shoes,” I mumbled, feeling a little anxious.

He nodded and ran his eyes over my clothes as if assessing their suitability for the hike. “Sneakers will be fine.” I wore a breathable, moisture-wicking athletic top in pale blue and a pair of black shorts. Simple but comfortable. His eyes seemed to linger on the V-neck of my top.

“Is this okay? Is it suitable?” I asked about the rest of my attire.

His eyes snapped to mine, the gold rings swirling. “Yeah. It’s not a hard or long walk,” he croaked.

I sighed as I stepped out the front door. Loo