Risky (Adventures in Love 2)

“I don’t think that’s smart,” I inform him, and he laughs.

“You’ll be fine. You’ve been in charge this whole time.”

“Oh.” I glance down at our hands and notice that his covering mine are relaxed, and I really am the one regulating how fast we’re going.

“We’re going to start slowing down so we can pull over up ahead,” he says, and I bring us to a stop at a small clearing a couple of minutes later.

“You did good,” he tells me, resting his hand on my hip as he gets off from behind me. “This is one of the spots guests stop at for lunch on the first day of their trip. Normally, we don’t need to come up here, but there are some great views.”

“It’s so pretty. I’ve actually never been up here before.”

“You haven’t?” he asks as I step up next to him and look through the trees.

“I was never much of an outside-activities kind of girl growing up. I was too busy doing nerd-girl things, like lying in bed reading.”

“I can’t imagine you as a nerd.” His gaze travels over my hair and face.

“I was.” I shift on my feet and drop my eyes from his. “Or I still am. I just don’t spend all my time reading anymore.”

“Having a kid will do that.”

“You’re right about that,” I say. “So where are we going now?”

“To the campsite we use.”

“What will I be doing if I have to drive up here alone?” The idea is a little nerve racking to even think about.

“Just dropping off supplies for the day’s activities or meals if needed. And we’ll try our best to not let that happen. It’s just going to be tricky on days when the canoes need to be dropped off or if we need to meet the guests with the bus.”

“I don’t mind helping however you need me to,” I tell him. The last thing I want him, Maverick, or Tanner to think is that I’m not pulling my weight and then let me go.

“I know your son is a priority.”

“He is, but my mom is totally okay with watching him. Believe me, I mentioned putting him in day care once, and she just about lost her mind.”

“I bet she did. He’s a sweet kid.” He smiles, then turns toward me and reaches up to my face. I hold my breath as he slides his fingers through the hair at the side of my head. “Something’s in your hair,” he says quietly; then his eyes lock with mine, and I swear electricity fills the air between us as his hand curves around my ear. Lost in the contact, I drop my gaze to his mouth and lick my bottom lip, wondering what his mouth would feel like against mine. When I lift my eyes back up to his, I notice the sea-green color has darkened to match the forest around us as his fingers slide back into my hair. I automatically start to lean into him, then jump when a bird screeches nearby. How close we are standing and what I’m doing registers, and I take a step back, tucking my hands into the front pocket of my vest.

“Thanks.” I clear my throat. “Well, should we go?” I don’t wait for him to answer; I turn for the four-wheeler, reminding myself over and over to not let my hormones make me into an idiot and to focus on the job.

Chapter 7

EVERLY

Sitting on the top step of the lodge, I type a quick message to my mom to let her know that I should be home soon and that I’m just waiting for my cab. One thing I didn’t think about when Blake said he was going to pick me up this morning was that I wouldn’t have my car with me when work was done.

“I was looking for you,” Blake says from behind me, and I look over my shoulder and watch him walk across the deck after locking the door. “Are you ready to leave?”

“Yeah, I finished up everything in the office. My ride should be here soon.”

“What?” He frowns at me, and I frown back. Lord, with him around, I will need Botox before I know it.

“What do you mean what?”

“What ride?” His frown grows deeper.

“My cab.”

“Why would you call a cab to come pick you up when I’m going to take you home?”

“I didn’t know you were going to take me home. You never mentioned it,” I say, pointing out the obvious.

“Why would I drive you to work, then leave you stranded?” he asks, sounding annoyed. “And if you hadn’t been ignoring me all morning, you would have heard me tell you when we got back here that you should come find me when you were ready to go.”

Did he? I don’t remember that. Then again, I was working extra hard to block him out, which wasn’t easy after whatever that was that happened between us.