Chapter 7
Today’s lessons would be focused on reading the river. Yesterday was about getting a feel for the experience, for her students to try their hand at paddle captaining, and getting from put-in to take-out. They had all gotten their feet wet, so to speak. Now they needed to start learning how to anticipate how the rafts would respond under different conditions.
It would take weeks, if not months, to learn all the nuances of how a river runs through the canyon, but they’d get a basic understanding of the anatomy and behavior of rapids. She would need them to know how to navigate the current, spot obstacles, and use momentum and angles to get the raft to go where they wanted it to go.
They would do the upper stretch of the river this morning, so they would take the van to put-in shortly after breakfast. Tyler’s crew would handle kitchen duty this morning. They’d all make lunch on the way, and Brooke’s crew would be in charge of tonight’s dinner.
Fisher didn’t need to be here for dinner. In fact, what she needed was a girls’ night. She swung by the office to see if Lily was up for it.
Boy, had things changed in the last year since Lily arrived. Cody’s desk had been moved out of the office, and a portable crib had been put in its place. Baby Brandon was playing happily with a few soft toys and balls while Lily worked on the payroll, bookkeeping, and managing of the business office.
“Hey, Fisher, how’s your whitewater school going?” Lily looked up from her computer and offered her friend a warm smile.
“Good. It’s going really well; I think everyone will be ready to get back on the river today.” So how did she explain why she needed a break after only two days? “It seems like it’s working out having Brandon here in the office with you.”
“Yeah, he does fine until lunchtime, then he gets a little tired of being cooped up. We usually head home for the afternoons and I either finish my work from home, leave him with Carson, or sometimes I’ll drop him off with Miranda so he can play with his cousins after naps.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”
“For now.” Lily laughed. “But I’m sure as he gets older and more mobile, he won’t be as happy to stay in the playpen all morning. I have a feeling he’s going to be quite the handful.”
“But are you loving it? Being a mom?” Fisher leaned against the door, just watching little Brandon chew on one of his toys.
“Yeah. I am.” Lily’s eyes shone with contentment. “But it’s a lot more work than I ever imagined. Even with a job I can bring him to, and a dad who is as involved as Carson is. It’s exhausting. Just when I feel like we’re settling into a routine, he’ll cut a tooth. Or get a growth spurt and want to nurse nonstop.”
“Sounds like you could use a break.” Fisher was happy for her friend, but she had no idea how she managed. Babies scared her a little. No. A lot. “Maybe a night out? With the girls?”
“Yeah. That would be nice.” She looked over at Brandon and sighed. “Okay, so what’s going on? I think maybe you’re the one who could use a girls’ night. Is there something you want to talk about?”
“Yeah. Sorry. I’m not good at this stuff.” Fisher had always been one of the guys. She didn’t have a lot of girlfriends growing up. Even in college, she hung out with more men than women. Lily was one of the first women she’d felt especially close to, but now Lily was married, and had a baby.
“I think Carson would be more than happy to have Brandon to himself. But, give me a clue here, so I know how long to plan on being out. Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no. It’s just that I met someone. The other night after you guys left the Argo.”
“Really?” Lily’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “That’s great. So tell me more. No, wait. I guess that’s what tonight is for, right?”
“Yeah. I guess so. The thing is…” Fisher felt her cheeks warm. “He’s one of my students. And he’s fun and, okay, hot. I just don’t know what I should expect. You know, he’s going to be here all week, and he’s still interested. Very interested. So…”
She pushed off from the wall.
“Well, that’s exciting. Sounds like we could use some backup, though.” Lily sounded excited about going out. “You should invite Brooke and Aubrey.”
“Sure. That would be fun.”
“And, well…how would you feel about me asking Miranda to join us?” Lily had become close to her sister-in-law. They were both new mothers, new wives, and had a lot in common. But Lily knew about Fisher’s feelings for Cody.
“That would be fine. I like Miranda.” It wasn’t a lie. She did like Cody’s wife. And excluding her would be even more awkward than having her come along.
“Okay, good. Because if I’ve got my hands full…”
“She is married to Cody.” Fisher meant to be funny. Not mean, but it probably sounded like she was at least a little bitter. “But they are perfect for each other, and those two babies are so sweet.”
Time to put down the shovel. She was just digging herself into a deeper and deeper hole.
“So do you want to just all meet up, say seven?” Fisher needed to get back to work. “I’ll make a reservation for five of us?”
“Sure. We’ll meet you there.”
“Great.” Fisher now realized that she was both looking forward to and dreading girls’ night. Kind of how she was looking forward to and dreading seeing Kyle this morning.
She wasn’t sure what his reaction would be. Or hers. Could she continue to pretend that there wasn’t this incredible chemistry between them? Could she stay focused on her job when she kept getting distracted by his incredibly wide shoulders and impossibly firm butt? And what if the others thought he was getting special treatment? If Nolan or Brett took dish duty as an insult when Kyle had been charged with slicing and dicing?
This was why she didn’t have a sex life. It just complicated things.
No. That wasn’t why. It was because she’d turned Cody down that night, years ago, and she’d often wondered what would have happened if she’d gone home with him.
She had learned over the years that the most likely scenario would have been that he would have slipped out early the next morning to head into work while Carson would have made pancakes. Many nights, Carson would have had an overnight guest as well, and she would have shared the breakfast table, passing the butter and maple syrup.
And if Cody had passed her off on his brother for breakfast, how awkward would her first day of work have been? Until Miranda, Cody had been the kind of guy who preferred to keep work and recreation separate. Sure, he’d met a lot of women on the river, but he never got too close until he was sure they would be heading home the next day.
Fisher wondered if Kyle was any different. He’d clearly been looking for a one-night stand. Nothing complicated. But since they were stuck together for the next week, did he just think of their hookup as a one-week stand?
Certainly, neither of them were looking to continue a long-distance relationship. He would go back to LA, or wherever he was from. And she would keep on keeping on. Working hard, doing the best she could to keep her river family thriving. Because this was her family. She had relatives. Her parents were decent people who’d worked hard, sacrificing to put her through college, and helped as much as they could to get her through grad school. They didn’t quite understand why she hadn’t done more with her degrees. Why she still lived in communal housing, drove an old Jeep, and lived like “some hippie” down by the river.
Maybe they had hoped she’d finish college, get a high-paying job, and never have to worry about making ends meet.
Well, she had two out of the three dreams her parents had for her. She didn’t worry about expenses. She didn’t have many. And while she might not have a 401(k), she didn’t have any debt, either. No mortgage or credit card bills. She didn’t even have a car payment.
She did have a roof over her head, money in the bank, and the satisfaction that most days she’d shown her passengers a good time. She’d helped them meet physical challenges, overcome fears, and enjoy themselves on the river. There was nothing wrong with having a good time.
She had learned that long ago in her professional life. Maybe she could accept the idea in her personal life, as well. Surely she could live by the concept of work hard, play hard, don’t take life too seriously. You know, like a man.
As soon as she saw Kyle, her heart rate sped up. Her skin flushed and she couldn’t help but think about all the ways they fit together. One advantage of being a woman was that her arousal wasn’t entirely obvious to anyone who happened to glance her way.
She watched him interact with his fellow guide candidates. Talking, smiling, laughing with the men and women who were basically his peers. Yet there was something that set him apart. Something she couldn’t quite determine.
They came from all over the country. Oregon, Texas, Kansas. Some were there just for the experience; others truly wanted to make rafting their career or at least their summer job while putting themselves through school. She wasn’t sure what Kyle’s goal was. They’d never really talked about it. They never really talked much.
He’d mentioned a change of pace, but she couldn’t remember what he did that he needed a change from. Maybe she’d get around to asking him about his job, about his life, his interests, and his family. When they were on the river, there wasn’t a lot of time for personal questions. Most of the conversation was about what they were doing, what they needed to do, and what could go wrong.
Maybe she’d stop by and see him after her night out. But who was she kidding? If she stopped by his RV, they wouldn’t be talking.
“Hey.” Somehow he’d managed to sneak up on her. “Did you sleep well?”
“Fine. I got my notes organized and made sure I have the crews set up for the commercial trips the rest of the week.” Fisher could talk to him. Get to know him with his clothes on. Not that he was wearing much this morning. T-shirt, shorts, and sandals. He was holding two cups of coffee.
“I didn’t know how you like your coffee so I have one black, one with cream and sugar.” Kyle held up both cups.
“Strong and black.” She’d already had one cup but could use another.
“Then I guess I’ll keep the other. Strong and blond and sweet.” He smiled as he handed her a coffee. And grimaced as he took a sip of the sweetened brew.
“A little too sweet?” Fisher figured he took his coffee plain. But she appreciated the fact that he was willing to sacrifice his taste buds for her.
“Yeah. I don’t usually put sugar in my coffee.”
“I guess there’s quite a bit we don’t know about each other.” She took another appreciative sip.
“Other than your dislike for the designated hitter, and now your coffee preference, I don’t know anything about you.” He stepped closer and whispered in her ear, “Except that you taste like heaven.”
A not-so-small shiver ran down her spine. “I have plans to meet friends for dinner tonight. But if you’re a good boy, I could maybe stop by your camper after. So we could, you know, talk.”
“I’m a very good boy.” He kept his mouth right next to her ear, his breath teasing her skin. “But if you come by later, we won’t waste it on conversation. We’ll just have to get to know each other better before then.”
“Yeah.” Fisher found her breath coming at a ragged pace, as if she were just coming off a particularly thrilling rapid. “We should.”
* * * *
Kyle almost gagged on the sweetened coffee, but it was worth it to please Fisher. And tease her. He loved how she was so easily riled when it came to the sexual tension between them. They’d had sex twice, but she blushed like a virgin when he mentioned how good she tasted.
“So, tell me what you do for a living.” She was making small talk. So they could get to know each other better.
“I’m in sales.” He had one of those jobs that wasn’t easy to explain. Unlike a teacher or cop or raft guide. “But I’m tired of the rat race.”
“So are you looking to become a river rat?” Was that hope he heard in her voice?
“I don’t know. Maybe.” He thought he wouldn’t mind spending the summer up here, living the simple life. “Actually, I wasn’t looking for a career change. Just a break, really.”
“And you thought guide school would give you a nice break?”
He tried to think about his cover story. The one he’d concocted on the way up. Before he was distracted by his strong blonde. “I had a buddy who posted some pictures on Facebook of a trip he’d taken with his family. But being a single guy, with no one to go with me, I thought it would seem less unusual for me to take the school instead of booking a trip for one. Plus, I wanted to get a feel for what it’s like to really live it for a week.”
“So you have no interest in staying on as a paid guide?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” He wasn’t going to read too much into her questions. They were just getting to know each other, after all. “A few days ago, I might have, but now… I can see the appeal.”
“And what would that be?”
“Besides you?” He loved making her blush. And he could make her flush all over if they were alone. “It’s hard to put it into words. But I was reading through the guidebook last night, and there was a lot in there that made sense. About being at peace on the river, and how it can shape you, and change you.”
“Yeah.” She sighed.
“Did you write that stuff?”
She shook her head, momentarily looking a little sad. “Miranda wrote it. And the website copy. She had input from Cody and the rest of us, but she’s the one who has a way with words.”
Ah, Miranda. Cody’s wife. He hadn’t met her yet. But he understood that she probably wasn’t Fisher’s favorite person.
“So did you always want to be a raft guide when you grew up?”
“No. I wanted to be a mermaid.” He thought she was teasing, but maybe not.
“And this was as close as you could get?”
“I just sort of stumbled on it. I had a girlfriend who wanted to do guide school because this guy she was into was teaching it. But she didn’t want to go by herself. She even paid for half of it.”
“And you were immediately hooked?”
“Yeah, I guess you could say that. I ended up moving here to take environmental studies. Then I went to grad school and got a master’s in ecology.”
“Planning on saving the world?”
“Something like that.”
“What happened with your friend? Did her romance work out?’
Fisher laughed and shook her head. “The guy was gay. Great guy, but definitely not interested in my friend. I made it to his wedding a couple years ago.”
“And your friend?”
“Still chasing after guys she can never have.”
He wasn’t going to point out that Fisher had been doing the same. “So do you have enough work to keep you busy through winter?”
“Last year I helped a lot in the store. With Miranda carrying twins, she couldn’t be on her feet too long, but she still would come in for a couple of hours until she was in her last few months.” He had a feeling the other woman’s pregnancy only added to Fisher’s pain. “And before that I was still in school.”
“So what about this year? I know the season’s just getting started, but what happens when the trips dry up?”
“Well, for a lot of the guides, they travel to the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand or South America.” Fisher must have thought he was asking about the off-season for guides in general. “Others work at the ski resorts in Tahoe, or they travel to other states.”
“What will you do once the bookings stop flowing?”
“Well, I’m not sure exactly.” Fisher looked a little concerned. “I’m sure I’ll do whatever they need. If Miranda is ready to come back to the store, I’m sure she’ll get first pick of hours. And the guys have talked about expanding the specialty trips. Maybe pairing up with local wineries to do tastings on the river. Or getting various experts, like having someone from the observatory at the college to do an astronomy trip. Things like that. I suppose there will be a lot of coordination that will need to be done months in advance.”
“So this is a real career for you, then?” He was curious about what it could lead to for her, not just how the knowledge could help his employer.
“Are you wondering if it could be a career for anyone? Or are you just trying to get to know me?”
“Both.” He wasn’t exactly lying. “I mean, this is about as opposite of a lifestyle as I’ve had the last few years. With sales, it’s all about pressure. Getting the next client. Making more money. I know I’ve only been here a few days, but I have to admit, there’s something to be said for just going with the flow. Literally and figuratively. I mean, you can’t jump on the river at the crack of dawn, hoping to beat everyone else down.”
“For one thing, the water is too low.” Fisher laughed. She had explained the first day about how the river was dam controlled, and the water was released to provide hydroelectric power. Even during the leanest water years, they would always release enough water to keep the rafting industry going on the weekends. During dry years, the flow would be reduced to levels necessary to keep the fish population healthy and provide enough energy to sustain the nearby cities and towns. “Besides, it’s not a race. There is no finish line. There’s take-out, and yeah, sometimes there’s a line of trailers, but it’s all good. And when we do the upper, take-out is here at the resort, so you’re that much closer to a cold beverage at the end of the day.”
“Yeah. Totally different.” Kyle could almost picture himself living this lifestyle long term. But the seasonal aspect was too iffy. He didn’t ski, so he couldn’t see himself working at a resort over the winter. Not that he couldn’t fake it, like he’d faked many different jobs, but there was all that snow. And New Zealand or South America was too far away from his mother. He still needed to keep an eye on her. He couldn’t count on his dad to always be there for her. He had left her more than once. Kyle didn’t like the idea of being halfway around the world when she needed him.
“I thought I’d go into teaching,” Fisher added. “Not little kids. Maybe junior college, but I don’t know.”
“You’re a good teacher.” He wasn’t just flattering her. “Really. I’ve learned a lot already.”
“You’ve been my student less than twenty-four hours.” She shook her head. “And I went easy on you yesterday. You might change your mind after today’s lesson.”
With that, she finished off her coffee and tossed him a devious grin. She handed her empty cup over to the dish crew and made her way to the picnic tables, where many of the students were just milling around after breakfast. Even without hearing a word she said, Kyle knew she was getting the troops rallied for the day’s adventure.
He could do this. For as long as it took to close the deal. Was it wrong to hope it took all summer?