Chapter 3
Kyle pulled the trailer into the Swift River campground. He parked in his spot, hooked up the RV, and slipped into his swim trunks, a faded T-shirt from his favorite surf shop, and his new river sandals. A pair of dark sunglasses had transformed him into the character of a disenchanted car salesman looking for a change of pace.
He basically was a salesman. He just dealt in companies, not cars. His role wasn’t always easy to explain. Mostly it was to check out small companies, find out in what areas they needed to take their business to the next level, and then present his findings to his boss, mentor, and the man who’d been more of a positive influence on his life than Joe Swift ever even tried to be.
JP Wilson had given Kyle his first job: mowing Wilson’s lawn and hauling trash to the dump. It took him several months before Kyle realized that Mr. Wilson had a full gardening crew, but he must have felt sorry for the kid who’d gone door-to-door looking for work, trying to support his mother in any way he could.
Time to explore his new home for the week. The next few months, if he got hired on after the course ended.
Kyle walked through the campground. The RV spaces were tucked away on one end of the property. Some were close to the river and some more inland. He’d managed to reserve a prime spot only a short distance from the water. From there, he followed a trail past the volleyball court and a group picnic area to where the whitewater school would convene.
He had to admit, it was a beautiful location. Towering pines, steady oaks, and several other trees shaded the campground. Tangles of blackberries sprawled across the ground, along with ferns and grasses and wildflowers.
The individual tent sites were tucked away, offering privacy and a sense of seclusion. There were a few group campsites that were more open, with space for kids to run around and play tag, toss a Frisbee or a ball. Most of the whitewater school students would camp at one of these sites. He could see a few of them already setting up their tents and staking their claim on the large lawn area.
He approached the group, ready to get to know his fellow guides-in-training. He expected to meet mostly college students, and perhaps a few people in their midtwenties, hoping for one last stab at a life of adventure outside the corporate world.
What he didn’t expect was to find her. His strong blonde. She stood with a couple of the students, chatting and laughing with them. She wore a blue Swift River Adventures T-shirt, flowered board shorts, and river sandals. Her hair was in two long braids, and her smile was infectious. When she looked over his direction, her cheeks darkened to a deep pink and her smile faded.
For one brief moment, he thought he might have made a mistake last night. She could become a distraction. A complication he didn’t need.
But then he remembered the way she had responded to his touch. The way she had called out his name. And the way she’d writhed in ecstasy beneath him.
He took two long strides toward her, his smile broadening as he got closer.
“Hi.” He nodded and held his hand out. “Are you one of the instructors?”
“Yes.” She took his hand for a brief shake, but he wouldn’t let go. He couldn’t. “I’m one of the instructors.”
“That makes my day.” He finally released her hand, but not before sliding his middle finger across her palm, making her shiver. Was she remembering all the other places he’d stroked her? He hoped so.
“Well…” She took a step back. “You should meet everyone. This is, um…”
“Nolan.” One of the guys she was talking to stepped forward and offered a quick handshake.
“Brett.” Someone else stepped up.
He was introduced to Dana, Leia, and Chad, but he kept his attention on Fisher. She was even prettier in the light of day. He could tell she’d been surprised to see him. Maybe even a little bit flustered, but she recovered quickly.
“Well, we’re still waiting for a few out-of-town arrivals,” she announced. “We can start with one of the important tasks you’ll be responsible for on every trip. Lunch.”
That got a few chuckles.
“We’ve got deli meats, cheese, and fruit in the cooler here.” She indicated the white ice chest at the end of one of the picnic tables. “And breads, trail mix, and chips are in the ammo can. Could I get one of you to help me haul it up here?”
Kyle rushed to be the first one to get to the table.
He’d always tried to be the best in any situation. He might not be the smartest or most educated guy, but he could be the hardest working. And now he had extra incentive.
He wanted Fisher. One night wasn’t enough. Not with her. Especially now that he realized that her boss, the one she was trying to forget, was one of his brothers.
“What do you need me to do first?” He lifted the metal box to the middle of the table.
“You can start on the sandwiches.” Fisher flipped open the latches on the army surplus ammo can. Inside it was neatly organized with two loaves of bread, a large bag of trail mix, dried fruit, crackers, cutting boards, knives, and oatmeal cookies. There was also a jar of peanut butter, strawberry jam, and a roll of paper towels.
She opened the cooler and someone else stepped up. Dana or Leia, he wasn’t sure which one, pulled out sliced cheese, deli meats, and bunches of red and green grapes. She also pulled out a selection of fresh apple cider.
Soon the rest of them gathered around and started helping themselves to sandwiches, snacks, and juice.
Kyle had made himself a ham and cheese sandwich, then grabbed a handful of trail mix and some red grapes. But then he noticed Fisher didn’t have anything to eat yet.
“What can I make for you?” He came up beside her as she was surveying the group.
“Oh, I’ll just throw together a PB&J.” She moved toward the table.
“I’ll get it for you.” He reached for the peanut butter. “White or wheat?”
“Wheat. But I can do it.” She tried to take the knife from him.
“I don’t mind.” He leaned in close. “Besides, I didn’t get a chance to make you breakfast this morning.”
Her cheeks flamed.
“Don’t worry, no one heard,” Kyle whispered. “But I was sorry you didn’t stick around.”
“Can we not do this here?”
“Okay. My RV is parked in spot six. Come find me when you want to continue this.”
He spread peanut butter and strawberry jam on the bread. He sliced the sandwich diagonally, like his mama used to do, and placed the halves on a paper towel.
“Thank you.” She took the sandwich and met his eyes with a look of thanks, and longing.
He watched her eat quickly and start cleaning up. The two women jumped in to help, and Kyle made sure to be one of the first of the guys to step up.
* * * *
The remaining guide school students arrived just as they’d started cleaning up the lunch. Good. The last thing she needed was to stand around listening to her one-night stand telling her how disappointed he was that she’d left before he woke up. In front of people. Especially her students.
She appreciated the sandwich and the fact that he’d been one of the first to pitch in and help get lunch set up. She liked to start with something simple, just to get a feel for everyone’s comfort zone. See who was more than willing to jump right into the middle of things and who hung back, needing a bit more direction. She had a feeling Kyle was going to be the worst kind. Too eager. And with their added history, albeit a short one, it could get complicated.
Exactly what she didn’t need.
Especially with Cody marching over, probably to check on her. Not that he didn’t trust her, but… She had no idea if he knew how she felt about him and felt bad about it. Or if he had no clue that every time he showed up just to chat, a small piece of her heart eroded away like the granite rocks, slowly being turned into dust.
Either way, she’d have to paste on a smile and do what she always did…her job.
“Hi, I’m Cody Swift.” He greeted their guests, no, their students. Some would become part of the family and stay on for the summer. “Welcome to Swift River Adventures. You’ll work hard, get wet, get dirty, have fun, and learn a lot about the river, including safety, how to read a current, right a flipped raft, and retrieve a swimmer. You’ll also learn a lot about yourselves.”
He got a few chuckles, and he smiled, making eye contact with each of them.
“Listen to Fisher. She’s one of the best. No. I take that back. She is the best.” He looked directly at her, with respect, admiration, and friendship showing in his gaze. Nothing more.
She looked away and noticed that Kyle was watching her. The way he looked at her was something else entirely. It was the way he looked at her last night, at the bar. Only more intense.
Her cheeks heated, and she shifted uncomfortably, wondering if everyone could see the desire in Kyle’s eyes. Why wasn’t he wearing those expensive sunglasses he had hanging from the front of his shirt?
“As I was saying,” Cody continued, “Fisher will be your main instructor. Tyler and Brooke will assist her. And if there’s anything else you need, my twin brother, Carson, and I are usually around.”
He smiled at her and then went around, shaking hands and chatting with each of the newcomers. Except Kyle, who was now standing next to her.
“Are you okay?” He glanced at Cody long enough for her to realize he remembered her mentioning her feelings for her boss.
“Yeah. Everyone’s always a little nervous the first day of school. That’s why I like to start with feeding you.”
“No, I mean him.” He jerked his head in Cody’s direction. “He’s your boss, right?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t look at him. Not when he knew too much about her. Not the least of which was what she looked like naked.
“I can see what you like about him.”
“Can we just drop it?” She did not need two men tormenting her.
“I thought maybe last night helped.” He kept his voice low, the conversation private even in a crowd. “But I can see I’ve got more work to do.”
“Yes. If you could gather up the last of the recycling. There’s a bin right outside the store.” She moved away from him, toward some of the others.
It was going to be a long week. A long week indeed.
* * * *
So that was Cody. His big brother. One of them, anyway. Kyle wasn’t sure how he’d feel upon meeting him. Just because he shared half their DNA didn’t mean they would automatically be connected. And as far as he was concerned, the half they shared wasn’t the better half.
So Kyle watched, trying to scope him out, not getting too friendly, but he knew he couldn’t be too standoffish, either.
And then there was Fisher.
He moved closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. She sighed before pulling away.
“The recycling.” Her voice was somewhat strained as she nodded in the direction of the picnic table, where someone else had already collected the empty juice containers into a bag.
“Looks like it’s under control.” He wanted to touch her again. Taste her. Get tangled up in her long blond hair. A smart man would back off. Let her go. Obviously, her heart belonged to another man. She could never give him more than her body.
But what a body. He let out a low whistle, just loud enough for her to hear.
Kyle smiled, offering her a smoldering look. He wanted her to know that he thought she was sexy as hell, and he was just about to say something when Cody stepped forward.
“Hi, we haven’t met yet. I’m Cody.” His brother extended a hand and Kyle reluctantly shook it.
“Kyle.” He left off his last name, for now. “This is a great place you’ve got here.”
“Thanks.” Cody glanced between him and Fisher and a small, knowing smile spread across his face. “I see you’ve become acquainted with our Fisher.”
Our Fisher?
“We have actually met before.” Fisher blushed deeply.
“Good.” He nodded then eyed Kyle suspiciously. “Well, you do what she says and you’ll be all right. This one knows her stuff. You go against her, and you’ll be sorry.”
Was that a threat?
“On the river, Fisher is the best there is.”
“Stop.” Fisher shoved Cody in a playful, almost sisterly way. “You’ve practically guaranteed I’m going to make a big mistake. I’m not infallible, you know.”
“I know, it’s just that you’re the most trusted, most faithful of all of my guides.” Cody seemed oblivious to the fact that Fisher had a thing for him. Or maybe he knew damn well and was playing her. “You’re in good hands.”
“Just go.” Fisher shoved Cody again. “Miranda probably needs your help with the babies. Isn’t it getting close to naptime?”
“Yeah.” Cody got a goofy grin on his face. Miranda must be his wife. “It is almost naptime. My favorite time of the day.”
Kyle watched Fisher watch Cody walk away. He definitely had his work cut out for him, but he was up for the challenge. He would enjoy distracting Fisher. Taking her mind off Cody as he took her body to new heights. The guy wouldn’t know what hit him. His brother obviously didn’t appreciate Fisher. And he’d really miss her when his company slipped away as well.