Im sure youve planned out this trip to the nth degree. He snagged her hand. You deserve a night to relax before four days of work.
Relax? Shed been doing nothing but lying around healing for months, and if she hadnt managed to relax by now, it wasnt going to happen. In fact, if she stayed down here with him, with his hand downloading little electric currents of lust into hers, she knew shed start sniffing him again, and thenwho knew. I really She trailed off when he waited patiently. I really have to go.
All work and no play. He laughed softly when she frowned. I wouldnt have guessed that about you. Come on, Lily. Whats your poison?
Excuse me?
What would you like to drink?
You dont have to serve me.
How about, I want to? He was close again, and she looked away because, oh boy, just looking at him smile was like looking at an unopened bag of barbecue potato chips-both irresistible and extremely bad for her.
Very bad.
Wine? he asked, looking at ease, looking confident, looking so freaking sexy it took her breath. Beer? Soda? Painkiller?
Um, what?
The limp. You must be in some pain.
Oh. That. The reminder slammed home all of her fears about this trip. Its nothing. A beer, Ill take a beer. She took a step back, came up against the wall with a crash. Ill take it to go.
Lily-
No. She looked into his disconcertingly gorgeous eyes, and took a big step back-thankfully missing the wall this time-and an even bigger mental step. Really. Im sorry, I need to Get my bearings. Go.
She accepted the beer he bought her, thanked him, and ran upstairs, where she put herself to bed.
Of course she dreamed of him again. That was getting extremely unsettling, she told herself at 3:00 a.m. after waking up sweaty, hot and bothered for the second night in a row. Why did her attraction to him bother her so much she wondered.
Because shed expected it to be Keith?
Yeah, that. She punched her pillow, flopped over, and told herself to dream about something more worth her time-such as the fact she had four great days ahead of her.
Please God, let them be great.
She gave her pillow one more punch for emphasis, and then closed her eyes. Mountains, she told herself. Think of the mountains, the wild animals
Only problem, her brain didnt obey, not one little bit. This time she dreamed about not taking her beer to go, but sitting downstairs with Jared, then making her way to his room, and then
Oh boy, and then.
She should have taken Keith up on his offer for a drink with whatever else that might have entailed. It would have been easy, familiar, fastand done.
Certainly if she had, shed at least be sated by now.
And not still thinking, wondering, yearning about Jared.
3
JUST PAST DAWN, Lily stood at the trailhead at the basin of Balsam Peak and stared up at the vista of glory around her.
Doubt was killing her but she tried to swallow it. She could do this.
3
JUST PAST DAWN, Lily stood at the trailhead at the basin of Balsam Peak and stared up at the vista of glory around her.
Doubt was killing her but she tried to swallow it. She could do this.
She could.
The summer hadnt been a particularly dry one, and as a result, the green mountains seemed to pulse with life. The Sierras didnt have a fancy name, or a photogenic centerpiece like other mountain ranges did, but man oh man, it was, in her opinion, one of the most fascinating combinations of jaw-dropping beauty and unique geology on this side of the Great Divide.
Being here, breathing in the thin but crisp, clean air, she felt great, and even greater when she realized she was way ahead of schedule.
That was old habit, being prepared beyond any shadow of a doubt. She credited that slight anal tendency in an otherwise carefree, wanderlust existence to the two years shed spent as a Girl Scout as a young girl, when shed been directionless and desperate to please. Her mother had worked around the clock, her father had been living in Europe somewhere, which had left her alone much of the time.
Too much of the time.
But shed grown up fine. Or so she told herself. She was her own woman who didnt need approval from anyone. Knowing it, she opened the tailgate on her truck, and also the shell, and began checking through the supplies shed brought, dividing it into piles that she could help her guests load into their packs as well as her own.
Looks heavy.
Craning her neck, her gaze collided with Jareds. Not too heavy.
Hed lost the business wear but was no less put together in his expensive-looking jeans and polo shirt. He wore hiking boots, which she sincerely hoped werent new, even though they looked it. His designer sunglasses were firmly in place. Need any help? he asked.
Not yet, thanks.
How did I know youd say that? He gestured to the goods. Looks like a lot of stuff to carry.
If youre not up for it, you could always try a different type of vacation. Say a dude ranch.
Uninsulted, he let out a soft laugh, then shoved his sunglasses to the top of his head, revealing that mesmerizing hazel gaze as he slid his hands in his pocket. He pulled out a folded piece of paper, stared down at it, then slid it back into his pocket.
Whats that? she asked.
A list.
She waited for more, but he offered nothing. A reminder to pick up your dry-cleaning?
He smiled. No.
Ah. A reminder to have your housekeeper pick up your dry-cleaning.
His smile spread. You think Im going to be a PITA.
PITA?
Pain in the ass. Your ass.
Not exactly. She thought he was going to be a distraction. A sexy one. Caught me. She went back to separating the supplies into piles, but he didnt take the hint and leave.
It bugs you, he said. Our attraction.
No, it doesnt.
He just smiled a little knowingly, and she let out a sound that she hoped managed to convey her annoyance as she went back to her work.
Okay, so despite his pretty-boy appearance, he wasnt prissy, or afraid of confrontation. Damn it. It didnt help that he was right.
Their attraction bugged the hell out of her.
Fine. Shed get her revenge soon enough, when she planned to see him plenty rumpled, wrinkled and pushed outside his comfort zone. One things for sure, she said. Youre going to get those boots dirty.
He looked down. Im not going to melt with a little dirt.
Okay.
He lifted his head, his eyes locked on hers. Normally she appreciated direct eye contact, but with him, the look went deeper than casual, and pushed her from her comfort zone.
You dont believe me, he said.
She lifted a shoulder, and looked away because she had the uncomfortable feeling he saw far more than she allowed anyone to see. Its your job to have a good time, she said. Its my job to make sure you get that good time. Ill do my job.
And Ill do mine, he promised. I signed up for this trip willingly, Lily. He gestured with his chin toward the mountains. I want to do this.
Well, then lets get the show on the road. Oh, and though theres no rain or snow in the forecast-
Snow? In July?
It happens. Just make sure you packed everything on the list. Including raingear.
Got it.
And spray yourself with insect repellent. You got stuff with deet?
Yes, maam, just like the list said.
She ignored the gentle sarcasm. It should be plenty dry, but the mosquitoes dont seem to care one way or another. Theyre vicious. Trust me, youll get bites everywhere.
Everywhere? He asked this evenly but the humor was still swimming in his gaze, and also that unsettling heat.
Damn, he had quite the sense of humor. She loved a sense of humor. Bites in certain places arent funny, she said in the uppiest voice she could muster.
He stopped fighting his grin and let it fly.
Ah, man, he was something to look at, but she rolled her eyes and turned back to the truck. Fine. But when youre walking bowlegged because your bites are chafing, Ill be getting the last laugh.
Ill remember that, he promised.
Good. She put her potion of the supplies into her pack, and it was a moment before she looked up again. When she did, Jared had moved back to his shiny, pretty car and was messing with something in his pack.
She let out a breath and told herself to concentrate on her fears and doubts. That should keep her nicely occupied.
But she took another peek. He was still fiddling with his stuff, and definitely not taking peeks at her. Good. Great. She went back to work, tossing the marshmallows into the pile. Which reminded her she needed to check the chocolate stash. If there was ever a trip that required extra loads of chocolate, this was it.
A truck with the Outdoor Adventures logo on the sides pulled into the dirt lot. The window went down. Hey, gorgeous.
In shock, she stared, waiting for the burst of happy excitement. Keith?
He hopped out of the truck and spread his arms wide, looking tanned, fit and mischievous. In the flesh.
What are you doing here?
He wore cargo shorts and a T-shirt with the logo on a pec, and he looked ready to guide. You know I like to see a trip off.
She took in his rugged features, his slight smile, his heated eyes, and knew he wasnt here just for that. Once upon a time her sun had risen and set on him, a man ten years her senior and a hundred years older in so many other ways. Hed been the first strong male influence in her life, and for that alone, her heart warmed. You were checking on me.
He shifted closer and put his hand on her shoulder as he peered past her to the food and supplies she was dividing up. Just making sure youre okay. Should be a fairly easy trip. He gently squeezed. You sure youre up for it?
Why oh why wasnt she getting wobbly knees? Why werent her nipples going happy? Im sure. Liar, liar, pants on fire.
So tough, like old times.
She wished.
He touched her cheek and grinned, and she was reminded, vividly, of how, in the past, that grin would have melted her clothes right off. As if he was remembering the same thing, he shifted even closer. Feels like old times. Nudging her body with his, he moved her around the side of his truck, where they were now out of view of anyone driving into the parking lot. They were also out of view of the only other car, Jareds Lexus.
Lily looked into Keiths smiling eyes, trying like hell to feel it, to feel the heat. Youre in my space.
But its such a nice space. They were toe to toe. He was only a few inches taller than her. It used to be shed loved that, loved the way theyd lined up.