My Despicable Ex - Book 2 Read Free Page A

in an attempt to get to the bottom.
    I whipped out my camera and took as many shots as I could, capturing memories of that stunning landscape. I was living a photographer’s dream because it certainly was a photographer’s paradise. When I saw a real, live ostrich and her chicks climbing down the steep slope, I couldn’t stop snapping. “How adorable was that?” I said.
    “ About the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” Jake responded, wearing a big grin.
    I called the tour guide over, and he took a bunch of pictures of the two of us with the sand dunes in the background. I then thanked him and took some more photos of my own. As the sun changed positions in the sky, the shadows shifted, offering me even more different views. I couldn’t believe how strong the colors were, and they seemed to change for every shot, like a model switching her wardrobe. The deep blue of the sky perfectly contrasted with the red-orange sand, inspiring me right to my core.
    My tour guide touched my shoulder. “I was paid extra to get lots of photos of you.”
    “ And you did your job efficiently,” I said politely. “Thank you.”
    He smiled. “Please have some fun like the other tourists. Run down the slopes! I’ll take a few pictures at the bottom.”
    Before I could even answer, he took off with my camera, and started to walk down the slope.
    Jake glanced down the giant slope of doom. “Come on, Ashly. Let’s have a little fun like he said,” he coaxed, taking off his shoes.
    I gazed at him, and he smiled. I had to agree that it did sound like fun, the way rolling down a grassy hill was when I was a little girl. I held my shoes tightly and started making my way down the steep, sandy slope. I ran in slow motion as the sand seemed to swallow my feet. It was quite warm but not intolerably hot, and the sand felt so soft as it oozed over the top of my bare feet. I couldn’t stop the grin from forming on my face. Even though I had sand and grit in all the wrong places, I’d never had so much fun climbing down a hill.
    Jake pushed his thick hair away from his eyes and smiled at me. “Wanna race to the bottom?” he challenged with a twinkle in his eye.
    “ Hmm. Feeling competitive?”
    “ Always.”
    “ Okay. You’re on!” Then, without waiting for a response, I ran fast and furious, having an absolute blast all the way.
    It was so exhilarating to spring down to the bottom, kicking up loose, dry sand behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at Jake, who was gaining on me fast. When I stumbled, I had to flail my arms out to stop myself from falling. My body began to wobble, and my foot began to slide. I tried to regain my balance, but I fell backward just as Jake slipped his arms around my waist to steady me. I stared up into his blue eyes, which were glinting with amusement. He smelled so good, and I wanted to breathe in his scent, but my breath halted as my gaze drifted to the curve of his lips. I looked away, hoping he hadn’t noticed the flush of heat rushing to my cheeks.
    “ You can take your hands off me now,” I said as politely as possible.
    His eyes twinkled. “It’s okay. Friends are allowed to help each other out when they almost fall in the sand.”
    “ Thanks,” I said, continuing to look at his hands that were still wrapped around my waist.
    “ I was hoping you wouldn’t hit me, especially since our photographer is still snapping pictures,” Jake said, smiling and waving at the tour guide.
    I laughed, and we started climbing back down.
    “ So…who won?” I asked.
    Jake winked. “How about we call it a tie?”
    I smirked.
    It only took us less than five minutes to climb down the mighty mountain of sand, far less time than it had taken us to climb up. The deep red colors of the majestic sand dunes would be embedded in my memory forever.
     

Chapter 3
    We checked out of our lodge and were ready for our next destination. It would take two days to get to Paris, and on the way, Jake and I were pretty distant. I