Chapter 11
Kevin’s eyelids drooped as he snugged Shanna’s naked body tight against his chest and tucked his chin in the crook of her neck. God bless her assertive nature and demand for equality. He might be thoroughly, wonderfully exhausted, but the woman gave as good as she got.
A full day had passed since they’d agreed to give working together a try. So far so good. Better than good, actually.
Her ankle had recovered enough overnight that he hadn’t felt the need to insist they return to civilization for an x-ray. Even so, with their wager nullified and no one in danger of having to quit, he had reluctantly offered to head back early. Her refusal had been a pleasant surprise.
They’d made love that morning and again this evening, after he’d been schooled in how to catch, clean, and cook their fish dinner. She’d started out telling him what to do, then caught herself and waited for him to ask for her input. They made progress on both sides, since he was so used to automatically opposing her on principal.
Team building turned out to be the best damn idea Nash had ever had. Well, Nash and Butch Walsh. He and Shanna were an unlikely pair, and yet once they got the rest of the crap out of the way, they fit. He smiled in the dark as a comparison sparked in his tired brain.
“You ever see the movie The Cutting Edge?”
“Hmm?” Sleep softened the sound as she turned her head the slightest bit. “What movie?”
“That one about the hockey player and the figure skater. My mom loves that movie.”
Her lips curved in a smile as she murmured, “Toe-pick.”
“Yep. We’re like those two.”
She rested her head on the pillow once more. “I don’t ice skate. Do you?”
He chuckled. “I mean with the foreplay. Seems our years of hating each other was nothing but a mask for this crazy chemistry between us.”
“Mmm.” Her voice was tired, sluggish. “Well, they do say it’s a thin line between love and hate.”
His breath seized in his lungs. He swallowed hard before asking, “What?”
“Lust and hate,” she mumbled. “It’s a very thin line.”
No, she’d said love. He’d bet his life on it.
He listened to her breathing even out, their bodies twined close atop their sleeping bags in the warm August night. Was it possible she had feelings for him as he did for her? Hope soared as he considered the woman he’d known for years along with the one he’d fallen for all over again the past couple of days. Could they have a future together beyond this week and work?
Kevin woke early and alone, but the heavenly smell of fresh coffee wafted in through the open tent flap. After a leisurely stretch, he dressed, scrubbed some toothpaste over his teeth, and spit his mouthful of rinse water off to the side while exiting the tent.
Shanna glanced over as she finished filling a tin mug with coffee. Her smile held a hint of shyness he hadn’t seen before. After having woken up alone, his stomach gave a little lurch of unease.
“Good morning,” she greeted.
“Morning.” He stopped next to the fire by her. “Everything okay?”
She averted her gaze while setting the tin pot back. “Yeah. I just woke up early and figured I’d get the coffee ready. Want some?”
“I can get it.” He bent to grab the other mug when what he really wanted to do was pull her into his arms for a kiss. But she had that full cup of coffee, and he was feeling super nervous all of a sudden. He tightened his fingers on his own mug to stop a slight tremble while pouring his coffee. “How’s the ankle?”
“A little stiff, but better, I think.” She rotated it slowly to demonstrate her increased mobility.
Setting the pot down, he asked, “Still want to stay?”
“Yes.”
His heart warmed at her lack of hesitation in answering. Good. Things were still okay. He could relax.
Her gaze met his over the rim of her cup, her brows dipping down. “I thought we settled this yesterday?”
“We did. I just thought I’d double check.”
“I’d tell you if I wanted to leave.”
A smile tugged at his mouth. “Yes, you would.”
“Do you want to leave?” she asked, a frown still marring her forehead.
“No.” In fact, he kinda wished the weekend would never come. Except he wouldn’t mind taking a hot shower. With Shanna would be even better.
And shaving would be nice. He was starting to feel scruffy, though she didn’t seem to mind.
She turned to glance behind her, then backed up to sit on one of the log seats. “I was thinking, since hiking is still out of the question, maybe we could go for a canoe ride.”
“Sure.”
They talked about exploring the lake and things to get done during the day, while sipping their coffee and making breakfast. He picked fresh blueberries from the nearby bushes to add to the bowls of instant oatmeal she made.
Once they were done eating, Shanna gathered the dishes to take them down to the shore for washing. “Time I start pulling my weight again,” she said before turning for the lake.
She’d never actually stopped, which only reinforced what a great partner she was. He wanted to do this with her every year for vacation, like she’d done with her grandparents. He wanted to do it with their kids, to give them good memories like she had. He wanted to do it with her when they were old and gray—maybe in a nice camper with a bed and shower.
The urge to tell her all of that had him calling out her name. “Shanna.”
She paused and glanced back. “Yeah?”
Nerves got the better of him, however, and his pulse pounded in his ears. What if she didn’t feel the same way? What if he’d read too much into a few words he wanted her to have said? She’d been half-asleep. She might not even have a clue what she’d said.
Didn’t matter, he had to do this. Right now. He wiped his hot palms on his shorts.
Worst case scenario, she’d laugh in his face, and they’d go back to hating each other. Nothing new there, right? Except, then he would quit NWR Investments and try to move on somewhere else. Seeing Shanna every day, loving her without being able to touch her after this time together, well, that would be a hell beyond endurance.
As for the best case scenario? He closed his eyes and imagined a life with her beside him for the rest of their days.
Damn…yeah. That was worth every risk in the world.
He opened his eyes and saw her watching him with curiosity, and maybe even a bit of concern. Resolve solidified in his mind and calm settled over his shoulders, seeping deep into his soul.
He strode over and took the dishes from her. The only place to set them was the ground, so he stooped down, then straightened and reached out to grasp her hands. She frowned at the dishes, then looked up at him, uncertainty filling her expression.
He squeezed her fingers. “Last night, you said there’s a thin line between love and hate.”
A flash of panic brightened her eyes.
Ah. So she did know what she’d said.
He wasn’t sure if her reaction was good or bad. She dipped her head, but, with a knuckle under her chin, he tilted her face back up to his before resting his hand on her shoulder.
“I know I said seven years of hating each other, but I’ve never once hated you, Shanna. I was intimidated by you, frustrated at times, but all along, I admired the hell out of you. Respected you, too. And then…about a month ago…”
He heard her breath hitch. Her gaze searched his as he breathed deep for courage.
“About a month ago, I fell for a woman who revealed all of herself in one unexpected, amazing night. Considering our past, it was the last thing I expected, and that’s why I wondered what the hell I was thinking that next morning. I had no clue how to handle what I was feeling, and then when I came back from the bathroom, you nearly bit my head off, so I got the hell out.”
“It sounded like you considered the whole night a mistake.” Husky emotion filled her voice. “Putting up my defenses was the only way I knew to protect myself.”
Knowing he’d caused that pain—however unwittingly—made his chest ache. “That night wasn’t a mistake. Not even close. I was just scared.” He lifted a hand to cup her cheek. “I’m sorry my words hurt you.”
“They hurt because I felt the same way,” she admitted softly, her gaze locked with his. “I’ve had feelings for you almost from the beginning.”
His pulse leapt with hope even as he said, “You called me a jackass almost every day.”
“Because you were a jackass almost every day,” she retorted.
He arched his eyebrows.
“Okay, fine,” she huffed. But a smile ruined the effect. “You weren’t always as horrible as I made out, but again, offense was my only defense. You want to talk about frustrating, I didn’t understand how you could drive me bat-shit crazy and I could still be attracted to you, much less develop feelings for you.”
“Love feelings,” he teased as his heart hammered in his chest.
“Yes. Love feelings.” The admission was still new enough to put a swath of color in her cheeks and brighten her eyes.
Happiness spread his smile wide. He slid his hand to the back of her neck, threading his fingers into her loose blond hair to urge her forward as he bent to capture her mouth with his. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back. After a few heartbeats of sweet emotion, she opened her mouth beneath his and tenderness gave way for passion.
His blood surged hot and fast. After the past two days, he was pretty sure he’d never get enough of her. Knowing she felt the same as him only made him want her more. He pressed a hand to the small of her back, pulling her tight against the proof of his arousal.
“Mmm,” she moaned against his mouth.
The throaty sound triggered a heady throb of anticipation. He shifted his kisses to her neck, his breath ragged against her soft skin as he suggested, “How about we both do the dishes later?”
“Much later,” she agreed breathlessly.
And yet, in a moment of clarity, he lifted his head to lean his forehead against hers. “So…just to confirm we’re on the same page here…we’re going to finish out this week camping, then head back to Atlanta together, right? Work together, be together? Make a go of this?”
“Yes.” She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “All of it together.”
He smiled with a contentment he never would’ve imagined possible. Then he sighed. “Nash is going to gloat his ass off. You know that, right?”
She grinned and shrugged. “I’m okay with that.”
He pretended to consider until she smacked his shoulder. “Yeah, okay, so am I,” he agreed with a laugh before sweeping her up into his arms to carry her back to the tent.
Numerous kisses—and more—sealed the deal.