Sipping his drink, he watched her from those intensely gripping hazel eyes. One thing Ive learned is that looks can be deceiving.
And in maybe the most surprising thing of all, yet another thrill went through her, because suddenly, strangely, she hoped so.
THAT NIGHT, Jared Skye lay in his bed staring at his ceiling, thinking about what hed done. A confirmed city rat, hed taken a week off work, a rarity, to go on a trip. Not just any trip, but a camping trip, with rocks and bugs and no running water.
Definitely not the norm for him. In fact, hed never slept outdoors, not once in his thirty-two years.
But if life had taught him anything lately, it was to go with the flow, and try the path less traveled. To seize whatever the day brought, especially if the day brought a slightly irritating, self-protective, sexy-as-hell guide leader into it.
This year hed been given a second chance, a hell of a second chance, when he hadnt died as he should have. As a result, he no longer waited for things to happen. He made them happen. And that meant when he saw something of interest, he did what it took to get it.
Lily Peterson interested him.
It wasnt just a gotta-have-you naked interest either, though that had definitely been there, too. But a gotta-know-you-deeper interest.
With a woman his polar opposite.
It might seem completely illogical, this attraction, not to mention out of character, but since he no longer depended on logic to get him through the day, he didnt care.
Nope, it was all about living to the fullest, logic not withstanding
When he finally fell asleep, he dreamed-no surprise-of his trekking guide, with her vulnerable eyes, with the polite smile she wore to hide her thoughts, with her tough little body that he wanted arching and writhing beneath his
No surprise then that he woke up hot and bothered, and he had to laugh at himself, even as he wished he could dive back into the dream
Instead he got up. His first camping trip was going to be even more interesting than hed thought.
LILY SAT straight up in bed, panting for breath and just a little bit sweaty.
Shed dreamed of being in a kayak, fighting another kayak for the best spot on the river. The best kayaker she knew was Keith, but it turned out not to be Keith out there with her, but a guy with impeccable dressing habits, and neat, short hair and designer glasses, a guy with a rather goofy, contagious grin and a rangy body that wasnt sure or coordinated.
Jared Skye, still disturbing her.
She got up, showered away the aches and pains and lingering stiffness shed never had before her forty-foot fall, telling herself better to feel pain than to be six feet under, feeling nothing at all.
She dressed and went to physical therapy, where she was laid flat as always by Eric, whod missed his calling and should instead have been working for the government torturing war prisoners for information. She showered again, dressed again, and then shopped and packed for the trip, telling herself the butterflies in her stomach were hunger pains, not nerves.
But the nerves were there, quietly eating her alive.
After going over the topo maps, marking everywhere on the trail she wanted to hit, with alternate plans for unforeseen events such as one of the hikers not being able to get as far as shed planned-or God forbid, herself-she drove to Outdoor Adventures to coordinate for the supply and canoe drops along the loop theyd be walking.
But instead of an assistant she got Keith himself, with his mischievous smile and teasing voice that brought her back. When they were done, he hugged her good-bye, letting his hands linger and his body press against her for just a beat longer than necessary.
And because it was what she thought she wanted, she let him.
Maybe we should get a drink tonight, he said against her hair. And toast tomorrows trip.
She wanted to want what he was offering, but suddenly she realized shed spent her energy on second- and third-guessing herself and her ability to handle this trip, to lead an expedition into the wildernessnot to mention the doubts over her long-term goals, oh, and her ability to support herself.
Or to have a relationship
She had nothing left.
Im leaving tonight, she said, a decision she knew Keith wouldnt question because most of the guides, and probably many of their guests, left the night before as well, staying at inns or hotels closer to the trailhead, three and a half hours away.
He looked disappointed, but let her go, and by late afternoon, she was making the drive from the bay area to the Sierras. Highway 80 was wide open, the July foliage and growth in full bloom on the hills. As soon as she hit the grade, she flicked off the air conditioner and opened the windows, inhaling deeply to get the scent of the mountains: sage and pine and everything else that felt so much more like home than any city.
She was doing the right thing. It felt like the right thing. Already, smiles were coming faster and easier than they had in too long. She took another deep breath and felt some of the terrible tension that had been with her begin to dissipate.
Feeling like the little engine that could, she kept repeating to herself I can do this, I can do this
She arrived at the B &B just after dark, and got a surprise in the form of a tall, lean and lanky man sitting sprawled in a recliner in the reception area, sipping a drink.
Short, almost buzzed hair. Casual but elegant clothes. Easy Im-comfortable-in-my-own-skin stance.
Jared Skye.
At the sight of her, he rose, tugging out his perpetual earpieces. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out an iPod and thumbed a switch, slipping it back into his pocket.
So much for leaving the electronics at home.
Hey, he said warmly, and the most peculiar thing happened.
She found herself smiling at him.
He smiled back, his eyes heating. You staying here tonight, too?
Yes. Okay, this was bad. Shed wanted to be alone, the last time she would be for four days. But
Looking into her face, Jared laughed softly. Look at you, ever so thrilled to see me.
Im sorry, she managed to find enough grace to say. Itsnothing personal.
For some reason, that had his grin spreading. Oh yeah, it is. But thats okay. He flashed that smile again, the one that was slightly crooked, the one that made her feel inexplicably feminine, and for some reason, also made her want to take off her clothes.
Why dont you join me, he said. Ill get you a drink.
Uh
Come on, he said. I promise not to ask you if I can wear open-toed sandals on the trip. He laughed at the look on her face. Jack and Michelle told me. Its going to be an interesting trip, huh?
Very.
He steered her to the couch, and though he surely saw her limp, he didnt say a word.
But she had to. About that handicap sticker, she said. Its old. I dont use it.
He was quiet a moment while he sat. As one whos had his own sticker, I get the whole love/hate thing over it.
She looked at him in surprise. He seemed perfectly healthy. His gaze met hers, dark, still warm but now filled with a whole host of memories, some painful, and in that moment, something happened. Something not physical, and not quite describable.
She didnt understand. He looked like a professor, sitting there with those glasses, the khaki trousers, the white button down shirt. A sexy professor, shed give him that. He was studying her in that disconcerting way he had, seeing far more than she meant him to. Youre good now?
Yes.
She nodded. Well, youre going to want to leave those pretty-boy clothes at home.
He looked down at himself, then arched a brow. Pretty-boy clothes?
She just arched a brow back.
His eyes lit with good humor. Pretty-boy clothes. And here I thought I was so smooth. Go figure.
Damn, he made her want to laugh, too. Well, theyre fine, if you want to ruin your expensive things
Its just money.
Spoken by a man whos probably never had to do without.
Ah, there you go again. Judging a book by its cover.
She opened her mouth, then slowly shut it. You know, I think Im going to bed before I put my foot in my mouth again.
Wait, he said when she stood up.
Im sorry. Imnot really fit for company.
His gaze ran down the length of her, then settled on her face. You look plenty fit to me.
Yeah. If he only knew. I should-
One drink. If I annoy you before you finish it, you can leave. He slid a hand on her arm. What do you say?
His touch electrified, and she stared down at his fingers. Um Wow.
Now thats interesting, he murmured.
He was close enough that she could feel his body heat seep into her bones, and though he was touching her nowhere other than his hand on her arm, she felt surrounded by him.
Not to mention his scent-that intangible, male scent that wasyum.
What was happening here?
Slowly he lifted his other hand, settled it on her arm, too, and gently pulled her a little closer. His expression mirrored some of her own discomfort. This isnt the light and fluffy sort of attraction Id told myself it was.
Its nothing.
A ghost of a smile curved his lips. You dont feel it. He shook his head, laughed at himself. Right. I should have figured that part.
Within sharing-air distance as they were, he was close enough that she could see gold specks dancing in those hazel eyes, filled with disappointment now.
Damn. Shed have thought shed feel this attraction for Keith, had meant to feel this for Keith, but the truth was, she hadnt wanted to stare into Keiths eyes, and she sure as hell hadnt wanted to press her face to Keiths throat and inhale deeply. Yeah, time to go. Good night, she said. Ill see you at the trailhead. In jeans, I hope.
No smile tugged at his mouth this time. Night, he said, and dropped his hands from her.
With a nod, she turned away and headed for the stairs, and then realized something. Shed come here to find herself, to find some semblance of the person shed been.
But that person shed once been would have never shied from anything. At that thought, she stopped. Jared.
Yeah?
I
You
Feel it. She shook her head. I just dont want to.
Huh. Have to admit, Im not sorry. His gaze lit with something that looked like both heat and laughter as he came toward her.
She stood her ground, her nose quivering because God, he smelled good, he smelled heavenly, and she was sniffing at him. I really do have to go. I have to go to my room, I need to look over some maps and- And think about you