She smiles up at me and we both stop. Lost in her eyes for a moment. I feel a strong connection between us. An understanding. I went through a similar thing after I left the army. And again when I decided to move back to the mountains.
For my own sanity and my determination to remain professional and not grab her and kiss her, I leave Josie to move back up to the front of the pack.
It’s a hot, long trek up the mountain, but the camping ground is near a lake and the boys are all eager for a swim. But first they have to set up camp and their tents. Clayton and Maggie have things covered and so I follow Josie to the end of the lake where she has removed her shoes and is walking ankle deep in the cold water.
“I couldn’t resist.” She smiles up at me. Her face is a little red from the sun and the trek.
I pass her my water bottle. “You should jump in. It’s very refreshing.”
“I didn’t bring a swim suit.” She playfully kicks some water towards me.
If the boys were nearby I would resist. I would have to be professional. But I’ve been trying to resist Josie all day and with her cheeky grin, and since we are out of sight of the boys, I act on instinct. In one sweeping motion I pick Josie up and walk her into the water.
She lets out a little squeal but she is laughing as we both fall into the water. It is gloriously cold. She comes up sputtering and splashes a wave of water my way. I grin, watching water droplets run down her check to her pink lips. Water glistening off her eye lashes and that sparkle of joy in her eyes. It takes all of my will power not to pull her to me and kiss her.
I might have, if Maggie hadn’t appeared at the shore waving us in. But one day, I promise myself, I’m going to bring Josie up here on our own.
Chapter 6
Josie
I am in all sorts of trouble. Here I am, deciding to make the best of this situation. And all this physical activity and fresh air has me feeling like I could be a new person. I don’t feel so lost. Instead, this camp, designed to give a group of boys more confidence, is starting to work on me. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I feel excited about it.
Or, is it one big, burly lumberjack named Maverick creating this excited buzz? Making me feel more alive than I ever have before? I love just watching him, the way he moves, his deep voice. He is great with the boys and they seem to really respect him.
I caught myself fixating on Maverick’s hands as he showed the group how to tie different knots. He has such big hands. Long fingers. He could have been a piano player. And then I found myself imagining those hands on my body.
When he did pick me up and carry me into the water I was shocked and then I couldn’t help feeling all giggly and girly. Never has a man picked me up and carried me. Those strong arms. Those big hands. Holding me tight against his rock hard chest. His beard tickling my neck. I needed the dunking in cold water after that.
When we emerged out of the water, I really did try to hide my happy grin from a stern looking Maggie. But I didn’t think I was doing a very good job.
“We have a problem.” Maggie says, looking up at Maverick. “We’ve been putting up the tents but there is a big hole in Josie’s tent. I don’t know what happened. I think possums got into it.”
That managed to wipe the grin from my face. I don’t fancy sleeping out in the elements being bitten by bugs.
“Josie could sleep with me.” Maggie continues, “But with the reporter along, she is already sleeping in my tent and it’s not really big enough for a third person.”
“She can bunk with me.” Maverick looks like this is a perfectly normal suggestion whereas his words have a fire racing through my veins and my heart pounding.
“What?” I blink up at him.
He nods. “There is really nowhere else. That’s not a problem for you Josie, is it?”
He frames it like a challenge. Like he would see it as a typical city girl thing to demand a tent to myself. Shoulders back. Chin out. I answer. “No problem at all.”
“Okay, good, that is settled then. I’ll get a fire going and Josie, you should probably change out of those wet clothes.” His voice is even and clear. Acting as though this is just a normal part of camping. But swear I see a little uplift of his lips. The slightest hint of a smile just before he turns and walks off.
After Maggie has let me dry off and get changed in her tent, I find myself seated by the fire on a stump of wood. And since there is not much else going on, with the boys out exploring the forest, I find myself watching Maverick chop wood. Shirtless.And it is beautiful. The swing of his arms. Watching muscles stretch and contract. It’s like an erotic treat for my eyes.
“Enjoying the view?” His deep voice breaks into my thoughts.
“Is it completely necessary to do that shirtless?”
He grins. “The shirt hinders my movement. Get’s in the way.” He lowers the ax and puts his foot on the blade. “You don’t have to watch.” He is definitely grinning now.
“You know there will be no funny business tonight.” I tell him in my most prim and proper school teacher tone. “I may have to share your tent but it is for sleeping only. And if it wasn’t for the bugs I would just sleep outside.”
“City girl, I have no idea what you are implying. But I am renowned for my will power. Now if you find that you can’t resist me…” With a grin he picks up the ax and swings it through the air again. A perfect slice into the block of wood. Pure arrogant, masculine energy. Fuck, that is so damn sexy.
