FIVE
As I stacked pamphlets in the office the next morning, I couldn’t help but think about last night. In fact, since I left Darian’s suite, I hadn’t stopped thinking about last night and I’d barely had any sleep as a result of it. Mindless tasks like pamphlet stacking were about all I was good for.
I jumped when the door dinged behind me, thinking it was him, but it was Cher. She looked hungover and worse for it. A pair of wide dark sunglasses hid her eyes, and her feet dragged as she plopped herself behind Ali’s desk and laid her head down.
“Everything okay?” I asked, pausing mid-air with a stack of her camping flyers.
She held one arm in the air with a thumb up, then let it fall back to the desk.
“Let me put the coffee on,” I offered, moving to the back corner where we kept the machine. After a number of heaping scoops I hit brew, and the wonderful scent of dark roast filled the air.
The door dinged again, this time announcing Ali. She looked more chipper than ever, and had even made time to stop at her favorite smoothie shack before coming to the office. “Good morning, ladies,” she chirped as she set her things on the edge of her desk. “What’s happening here?” she motioned toward Cher.
“Rough night,” I explained.
Ali nodded. “Well, nothing is going to ruin my day. I had the best sleep I’ve had in weeks.”
“You must have got home early.”
“Hmmm.” She shrugged, taking a sip. “Early enough. So what’s the plan for the day? I thought you weren’t scheduled?”
“I’ve got a last minute one-on-one kayak trip,” I announced. “I’m won’t know if it’s a half-day or full-day until the client gets here.”
Ali raised an eyebrow, searching our calendar. “As I said, it was last minute.”
The door dinged again, finally announcing Darian’s arrival. His face lit up when he saw me, and he lifted up a basket. “I’ve brought a picnic for lunch; I hope that’s okay.”
Ali looked from him to me, and back again. “Mmm-hmm.” She nodded. “Sounds like a full day. And I thought you hated these uniforms?”
“It’ll work for now.” I winked before taking the basket from Darian. I mouthed a thank you across the counter, then left him to settle up with Ali. It felt weird that he was paying for our day out, but it was on company time and resources. I loaded everything up in the work Jeep, then pulled it around front and honked for him to meet me.
“Two kayaks?” He looked disappointed when he climbed into the Jeep.
I shrugged. “We can wait and decide when we get to the lake.”
I took him south of town to Kananaskis Country where I knew we’d be less harassed by tourists. It wasn’t that it was an unknown drive, it was just more off the beaten trail and there were a ton of spots we could launch the kayak. I wanted all the privacy we could find. This was my first “second” date in a long time.
On the way out, Darian’s hand reached out and took mine from where it sat on the console between us. His fingers interlaced with mine, and stayed that way for the entire ride.
“I hope you aren’t allergic to anything,” he said. “I had the restaurant do up a basket for us. There are some strawberries, a charcuterie board, and some different cheeses.”
“Sounds fancy,” I said, thinking back to his room. “Just how much money do you plan to throw around while you’re here?”
“Hey,” he said, feigning offense, “I just haven’t had anyone to throw it around at in a long time. Indulge me. I’ve worked my ass off for twenty years; I think it’s time I spend it as I please.”
“Deal,” I said, raising my hand from the wheel in submission.
He quickly grabbed the steering wheel with his free hand, and steadied the Jeep. “That doesn’t mean I’m looking to end things anytime soon.”
“I hope not.” I glanced at him and winked. “Now stop distracting me and let me drive.”
***
We pulled into a small section of gravel that sat at the edge of Goat Pond. We weren’t far from town, but were just far enough to make it feel like we were the only two people in the world. Darian helped me unload a kayak, which we tucked the basket of food inside before taking it out into the water.
“Have you ever kayaked before?” I asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I promise not to capsize us.”
I laughed. “As long as you know how to roll, I won’t be worried.”
“Roger,” he said.
“And don’t ever call me ma’am again.”
We carried the kayak together, setting it in the dark, cold waters. “Shouldn’t we launch from shore?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, a kayak is more stable when it’s all in the water. Are you ready?”
He nodded, and I motioned for him to get in first. Darian proved to be less awkward than I expected, slipping into the boat with ease. I handed him his paddle, and then braced myself with mine, as I lowered my legs into my seat.
“And we’re off!” he announced.
As we rode out into the water, I helped paddle to get us going. Eventually, we’d developed an even rhythm, and the current helped to push us along. I couldn’t help but be in awe by our surroundings. The quiet sounds of the lake as the water lapped against our boat and the odd cry of a loon somewhere in the distance; all of this under the shadow of the great Rocky Mountains, that towered far above us in the sky. This was part of what had kept me in Canmore for the last two years, its powerful and untouched beauty where adventures could be found in any corner.
As we toured across the lake, I watched Darian working his paddle, each stroke perfectly timed. The muscles along his arms flexed each time the oar hit the water, working through the stroke until it broke through the surface and rose to enter again up ahead. Sometimes he paused, placing the paddle across his front, and I knew he was looking up at the mountain peaks with the same awe that I had. We might come from two different worlds, but we definitely had the same appreciation for our surroundings.
“Let’s stop up there.” I pointed out a section of beach ahead of us, where the pines lined its back like a fence keeping the area private. We’d been on the water for over an hour by this time, and had yet to see any other signs of human life. I took that as a sign.
I helped Darian steer us toward the shore, and within minutes we were pulling the kayak up onto the rocks with us. Darian retrieved the basket, and I pulled out a blanket I kept for longer trips like this. Mind you it was usually me and a small group when I was kayaking. This was my first one-on-one.
Once our blanket was laid, we sat together with the picnic basket between us. I reached inside and pulled out a container filled with strawberries and popped open the lid. I pulled one of the tiny dark red berries out of the container and held it between us. “I think you forgot to inform me that they were chocolate covered strawberries?”
He leaned forward and took a bite before I could protest. “Hey! I didn’t say I didn’t approve.” I popped the rest of the strawberry in my mouth, enjoying the mix of fruit and chocolate as they blended in my mouth.
Before I finished, he had the rest of the food out of the basket, displayed like a fine dining restaurant. I crinkled my nose at the variety of cheese, unsure which to trust not to make me stink.
“You look unsure.” He laughed. “Is it the food? You never did answer if you were allergic to anything.”
“Not allergic,” I said, reaching out and grabbing a piece of cheese that was shaped like a tiny slice of pie. Its exterior was soft and its interior smooth. “Just inexperienced.” I set it back down and looked up at him with bewilderment.
“All this time in a resort town and you’re stumped by cheese?” I frowned at his comment, and he quickly turned it around. “Here, let me teach you.” One-by-one he held up a sample of each meat on the charcuterie board, matching it with a cheese. I let him feed me, and he watched with excitement as I tried each sample. Some I liked, and some I didn’t, but I didn’t feel bad when I noticed there were a number of things he didn’t like either. Every time he explained something new, his voice got deeper, and his eyes grew more hungry for things that food couldn’t satisfy.
By the time we turned back to the strawberries, I was ready to cast the entire picnic aside and take him right there on the beach. But before casting aside the sweet dessert, I decided to use it to my advantage.
“Here,” I said, taking the container of strawberries from his hand. “It’s my turn to teach you.”
Curiosity played in his eyes as he handed the food over. I took out one strawberry before setting the container down and motioned for Darian to lean back on his arms. Then I got up onto my knees and straddled his lap. I didn’t look down, but could feel the bulge between his legs prominently pressing between mine. Thank God I didn’t wear any underwear today. I shifted gently against him where the thin cotton of my tennis skirt moistened against the friction. He gave me a cocky grin as I lifted the strawberry to his lips. When he tried to bite it, I pulled it away, teasing him.
“Just a moment,” I said, taking a teacher-tone. “Before you eat this, did you know that the chocolate was made right here in the Rocky Mountains.”
“Interesting.” Darian’s eyelids dropped as he stared at the fruit in front of him.
“Yes,” I continued. “And the berries, grown right in these mountains, fed with the freshest water as it melted down from the mountain tops.”
“You don’t say.” He shifted his weight as he sat up and reached an arm around me.
I nodded. “Yes, I do say. You see, not only am I an adventure guide, but I also dabble in a little bit of the culinary arts.”
“Really?” he asked, an eyebrow instantly shooting up.
“Only when it comes to eating.” A flirtatious laugh slipped through my lips. “Especially something as delicious as strawberries and chocolate.” I leaned in closer and ran the dipped end of the strawberry along his lips.
“You’re damn sexy when you laugh like that.” He leaned forward, pressing his lips against mine and reached up with his free hand, running it through my hair until it was entwined in my hair, and pulling my head closer to his. On his lips, I could taste the slightest residue of chocolate. I dropped the strawberry and wrapped my arms around his head, messing up his hair in my embrace. Our picnic had officially ended.