“Your face!” he said, still snickering like a schoolboy. He placed a new plate and spoon in front of her and joined her at the table. “It took you longer to suss it out than I’d thought. You have so little faith in my cooking, huh?”
“Busted. But that totally looks like real tomato sauce in there.”
“That’s because it is. I accidentally knocked over half a can of it. I was annoyed to have wasted it, so I thought I’d make use of it anyway and have a little fun.”
The aroma of a steaming bowl of sausages and beans in a rich sauce drifted up her nostrils. She tucked in and tasted her first mouthful. Chili and garlic and tangy tomato zapped her tongue. “Shane McDermit, you have skills.”
She hadn’t known what to expect from Shane, though he’d seemed very confident and at ease setting up their camp. As soon as they’d checked in and located their pitch, he’d erected both tents and laid out his cooking gear and ingredients in less than half an hour. He’d declined all her offers of help, and sensing that he might’ve wanted some time alone, Krista had wandered around the campground instead, exploring the facilities and the views.
The campground buzzed with activity, so different to the Banff Spa Resort. This was the Rocky Mountain experience she’d imagined, and the fact that she wasn’t sharing it with Ryan didn’t seem to bother her as much as it had a few hours ago.
Over him so soon?
The true test would be when she saw him again, but right now, Krista remembered her promise. She was going to enjoy herself. She was going to relax. She was going to have fun.
“This really is delicious,” she said, scooping up another bite. “Where did you learn to cook?”
“I just picked it up over the years. My parents are both foodies and often let me help out in the kitchen. Plus, I like eating. I was interested in learning to cook my favorite foods.”
“And here’s me thinking Aussies lived off barbeques.”
“Oh, we do. Nothing like a good barbie, mate,” he drawled.
“Do you miss Australia?”
“Sometimes. But I’ll be home in six months when my post grad is finished, just in time for Christmas.”
“Right, I heard you were only in Canada for a year.” She’d also heard other rumors. “Is it true that you’re thinking of retiring from pro swimming after the next Olympics?”
He stirred the food around on his plate. “It’s been on the cards for a while.”
“Do you think you’ll miss competing when you give it up?”
“Life is always full of competition,” he said evenly. “You should see some of the guys on my course. They study with jetpacks up their backsides and could give any athlete a run for their money when it comes to being competitive.” He shook his head as he chewed. “Studying has never come easy for me. It’s why I loved spending so much time at the pool when I was a kid.”
“Oh, I loved school,” Krista said, spooning up more beans. “I was the swotty one whose hand always shot up to answer questions.”
“I can picture you, sitting up straight in your chair. I bet you had pigtails too.”
“No, Lisa and I had ponytails. With ribbons.”
“Of course.” Shane laughed and ate some more. Swallowing his next mouthful, he added, “I’m dyslexic, so studying takes me a little longer than some people.”
Krista lowered her spoon. “I didn’t know that.”
“Why would you?”
“No reason.” She shrugged then took another bite of Shane’s comforting meal. There was a lot they didn’t know about each other, and yet here they were, on a mini vacation together, having a surprisingly good time after such an awful start. Her gaze drifted to the bowl of sticks and mud.
Shane noticed. “Want another helping?”
“Of the real stuff?”
“What else?” He winked at her. “Jokes are finished for the night.”
“Glad to hear it.” But there was something suspicious about that wink.
Especially when accompanied by the flicker of a mischievous smile.
