Everywhere
Now his close proximity felt a little bit off, especially when compared to another mans recent close proximity-Jareds. Shed wanted to jump Jareds bones, which still made no sense. Keith-
Hush a second. Cupping her face, he tilted it up and stared into her eyes. Im trying to see something.
See what?
If its still there.
If what-
Shut up a sec, Lil. And he touched his mouth to hers.
She went very still. Not because she couldnt move away, but because she wanted to see, too. Please turn me on
But no, nothing. Damn it. She cleared her mind and tried again, because surely it would come.
Keith slanted his head for better access, and touched his tongue to hers.
No fireworks.
No molten hot lava flowing through her veins instead of blood.
What was that about?
But deep down, she knew. It was about Jared, because he was the one she wanted. Oh, boy.
Keith lifted his head, staring sleepy-eyed down at her mouth. Thats how I should have greeted you yesterday. He stroked his thumb over her lip and smiled. Have a safe journey, Lil.
And then he got back into his truck.
Blowing out a breath, she turned, and
And her gaze locked with Jareds.
Hed moved around the front of her truck, raingear in his hands. Clearly hed come to show her he was prepared, and had caught more than shed intended him to.
Now he stood there watching her with an inscrutable gaze.
Squirming, she shoved her topo maps into her pack. She had the route all marked, had everything planned, and yet suddenly, she feltlost.
As a woman whod always prided herself on knowing who and where she was, she hated the feeling.
When would she find herself, damn it?
Jared turned away, and without another word, walked back to his car. She swallowed the urge to apologize. Damn it, she had nothing to apologize for.
Nothing at all.
WITHIN the next twenty minutes, the rest of the group arrived. Jack and Michelle came in a black Hummer driven by her daddys chauffeur. When they got out and the car drove off, Michelle stared after it longingly.
Its going to be fun, Jack assured her.
Id rather be having fun in Bali.
Jack sighed.
Rock showed up next, in a Jeep, and right after that Rose arrived in a taxi.
How shed gotten a taxi up here, Lily had no idea, but Rose got out of the car, tossed the driver some cash, blew him air kisses, then straightened out her perfectly fitted, and possibly painted-on Daisy Duke shorts and barely-there camisole.
She did have on hiking boots, which she gleefully showed off to Lily by lifting a leg and waggling her foot. Cute, huh? I got a deal.
Her Daisy Dukes slid up an inch, to illegal heights really, revealing cheek, and quite possibly more to anyone off to the side of her.
Rock, in the exact right position off to the side of her, in the middle of an unfortunate sip of water, choked.
Rose smiled at him. You okay, sugar?
Rock choked some more, and Rose stroked a hand up and down his back, which didnt seem to help.
Eyes watering, gasping, he nodded that he was going to live and Rose stopped touching him.
Lily sighed. Rose, youre going to want to change those shorts.
Rock, still hardly able to talk, shook his head. Ah, dont do that.
Lily thought of the cliff theyd be walking along in less than an hour, and pictured the guys watching Roses ass instead of the trail, then falling to their certain deaths. Well How to be diplomatic here? Those shorts arent going to be comfortable.
Honey, these are as comfortable as anything Ive got.
Wasnt that just perfect?
Michelle came close. She slipped into a sunshine-bright yellow rain jacket that required sunglasses just to look at. Which direction are we traveling in? she asked anxiously.
Its not going to rain, at least not today, Lily assured her. You dont have to wear-
Shes never camped before, Jack said. Shes nervous.
So that made two of them, Lily thought.
Which direction? Michelle asked again.
Its going to change quite a bit out on the trail, Lily told her.
Michelle shook her head, her pretty blonde hair artfully layered about her face. Cant you estimate? I want to leave a note here at the trailhead, so that if we get lost-
I can promise you that wont happen if you stick with me, Lily said. I know this trail-
Which direction? Michelles voice came out high-pitched and just a little panicked.
Jared slid a palm-held unit out of his pocket and thumbed a few buttons. North by northwest, he said, and showed Michelle the digital compass hed pulled up. See?
Everyone leaned in to see the new toy, oohing and aahing, and Lily sighed again. I thought the digital stuff was going to stay at home.
He looked right at her, for once his eyes not quite as warm-reminding her that hed witnessed Keiths kiss-and without a word slid the unit back into his pocket.
Something went through Lily at that. Her own regret? Yeah, probably. But she had plenty of other stuff to worry about. If everyone could bring their packs, she said. I have the supplies divvied up for you to put away.
JACK LIFTED Michelles pack for her, and shouldnt have been surprised to find it weighed more than his wife. Damn, Shell. What did you put in here, rocks?
She sent him a pout over her shoulder that he recognized well as he buckled her in. Its way too heavy for me.
Uh-huh, he agreed. I told you that you packed too much.
Dont start in on me. You want to please my daddy and his money as much as I do.
Ah, back to their biggest bone of contention, he thought with a sigh-which was that it wasnt just him and her in this marriage, but him, her and her daddy.
He loved Michelle, loved her more than he loved any other thing on this planet, but sometimes she drove him absolutely insane.
How could someone so smart be so incredibly dense? I could care less about his money, he said patiently, for what had to be the bazillionth time in their one-year marriage.
Right.
Jack shook his head. What made him think he could ever win this argument? He was coming to understand that what hed heard was true-sometimes love just wasnt enough. At least take out the ten pounds of makeup and hair products.
I need it.
You dont.
My hair fuzzes at this altitude.
He shook his head. She was gorgeous, at any altitude. So braid it.
Jack.
He groaned and tossed up his hands in defeat. Might as well call back our driver, youll be done by noon.
She looked horrified. You know we cant back out. Daddyll cut us off.
Right. And in her mind, that would be a fate worse than death. Heaven forbid they make this work like the rest of the world-on their own. God, she infuriated him.
But she also loved him as no one else ever had, and for that alone, he intended to give this all he had. Look, just because your father is richer than sin, doesnt mean he can make us-
Hes not making us. He just said that if we wanted to keep spending his money, we had to do this. He thinks we need the togetherness.
Hes making us, Jack said flatly, and turned his back on her to tend to his own pack, frustrated andsad. Damn sad, because as much as he didnt want to believe it, he was afraid they-he-couldnt fix this enough to make it work.
LILY WAS HANDING OUT the supplies for everyones packs when Michelle came up to her, still wearing her sunshine-yellow rain jacket. UmI dont have extra room.
Everyone had read the brochures. Theyd been to the meeting, where theyd gone over the particulars of the trip in minute detail, including the fact theyd be helping carry the supplies. Your portion isnt more than a few extra pounds-
But my packs already too heavy.
Damn right, it is, Jack said dryly, then lifted his hands when Michelle glared at him. Hey, you needed your makeup and hair stuff, right?
Michelle let out a huff and opened her pack. Fine. Bye-bye hair products. But if I look like a Bohemian in a day, you all have no one but yourselves to blame.
Well keep that in mind, Jack told her and winked at Lily.
Michelle took the supplies from Lily. This doesnt look like enough food for four days.
Well be getting two drops with additional supplies, so we dont have to carry it all right now. Just your own things.
Right. Michelle looked at her pack. Thats going to be incredibly taxing.
Jack let out a huffing laugh. For once, baby, were in total agreement.
Yeah, Lily thought, she was going to have her hands full with this group. So far, she had a couple clearly on the outs, a woman on the prowl, and a man who was going to be said womans lunch.
Jared, wearing his pack, moved into her line of vision, an enigmatic man of few words with a set of eyes that made her both yearn and want to run for the hills.
And a man she wanted for lunch.
Lily, honey? This from Rose. I think youre right about the shorts. Im going to change. She leaned in and whispered, Wedgie City. Straightening, she held up two choices; a denim mini-skirt, or a pair of black Spandex short shorts. Which would you suggest?
Lily stared at them. UhI really couldnt say-
No problem, Ill wear one today, and one tomorrow. Twirling away, she spared a moment to wink at Rock.
Rock, looking a little dazzled, shifted closer to Lily. I could take on some extra weight for anyone who cant handle it-
Thats very generous-
For a favor.
Lily looked at him. Which is?
My tent goes next to hers. He nodded toward Rose and grinned, and Lily had to laugh.
Thats not my decision, she said. Its between you and her.
Hopefully, itll be my prize for making it through the day.
She looked him over in surprise. So she wasnt the only one nearly paralyzed with doubt. Why wouldnt you make it through the day? Youre the fittest one here.
Yes, but He grimaced, and spoke even more softly so no one could hear. Im indoor-fit, you know? Gym-rat fit. Ive never spent much time outdoors, and Ive certainly never spent four days straight walking through the woods.
You put down on your application that youve camped.
Guilt flashed over his features. Uh, yeah. Ive camped. In my bathtub with G.I. Joe, when I was seven.
Oh boy. Lily rubbed her forehead while Rock winced.
Yeah, sorry about that, he said. So maybe youd better tell me now. He looked adorably nervous, this big hunk whod camped with action figures. Is this going to be too hard for me?
Are you kidding? Lily gestured to Rose and Michelle. Im going to go out on a limb here and predict youre still way ahead of the game.