When August returned to the shop the following day, he was surprised to find an older lady instead of Josie.

Mrs. Miller greeted him with a polite, gentle smile, "I haven't seen you around before."

"I'm on vacation you could say," August said simply. "I was hoping to talk to the girl that worked here yesterday, Josie."

Her gentle smile became an all knowing one and she took in the attire of what seemed to be a wealthy business man, but looks could be deceiving.

"I see. Well, today was her first day off, so I can't say for sure where she is, but if it were any other day, she's usually reading at the coffee shop."

August thanked her and headed down the street, determined to find the girl who plagued his thoughts.

He was delighted to find Josie sitting at a table in the far corner of the shop, a book splayed open with a mug of something steaming resting beside it. Her attention was focused intently on the words in front of her.

August ordered a coffee and took it to her table, sliding into the seat across from her. She looked cute today, wearing an oversized hoodie and jeans. She looked up at him with her brown, doe-like eyes.

"I'm glad I caught up with you," August said, taking a drink.

Josie was stunned silent. She was almost certain she was never going to see him again, yet here he was.

"Were you looking for me?" she whispered confused. She should have known he would be in for a coffee, but the thought never crossed her mind when she came in for her routine cup.

Of course I was August thought, but he didn't say the words out loud. He wasn't an idiot, he just knew what he wanted.

"I was hoping to find a familiar face. I heard there were some good hiking trails in the area, and wanted to find someone who could go with me."

"You want me to go hiking with you?" Josie asked, taking in the serious man. Why was he asking her when he had captured the attention of everyone in the shop? His confident frame and handsome face drew eyes like magnets.

"That's where I was getting at, yes," August said, his voice rich and deep.

Josie knew it was stupid to go out in the woods with a strange man, but something in her didn't want to say no to him. There was something about August that attracted every fiber of her being. The feeling was terrifying, yet exciting in an electric way. She also loved hiking, and it would be a nice change to not go alone.

"Fine, but I'll need to change. I'll drive us. How about you meet me back here in an hour?" Josie met August's calculating blue eyes, his gaze never straying from hers.

August didn't expect her to agree so easily. The beast within him was preening. Josie was right where he wanted her, and he would let her call the shots just this once, even though it rattled him to the core to have her be in charge, let alone drive. If she were his for real, the tone would have to go.

"I'll be here in an hour, Josie," he said, drinking the last of his coffee and watching her beautiful frame leave the store. She was a goddess and didn't even realize it.

Josie sucked in a breath of fresh air. She had no idea what the hell she had got herself into. August was so intense, so self-assured. She was certain he was toying with her, that he had bad motives. However, everything inside of her just blossomed under the attention. No one ever gave her the attention that August had given her in their short conversations. For once, she just wanted to be selfish and enjoy it for however long it lasted.