Wanda?Was that her name?He’d suddenly forgotten because he’d only been half listening after they called him; his mind was still in the office.She stepped forward and dropped into the first row of seats.
“Really?That’s where you want to sit?Only the goodie-two-shoes sit up front.Let’s sit in the back.”Right in the back, away from prying eyes if he had his choice.He didn’t want to be here to begin with, but more than that, he didn’t want half of his staff parading past him.Okay, not half.Twenty-five percent.They’d split the head office staff into four groups.Each group going on a unique adventure.
“This is fine.”She turned to look out the window.
“Come on, partner.Let’s sit at the back.Please.”
“I have a name.”
“As do I.”
“Yes, Mr.Varner.”She stood and waved for him to go first.“Pick a seat.Any seat.”Her voice rang with sarcasm that made him grin.
More of her hair tumbled out of her hair-thingy to drape around her face.He fought the urge to push it back behind her ears.The silky-looking strands were impeding his view of her lovely violet eyes.Reluctantly, he turned away and walked down the aisle.
“Come on, partner.”He led the way to the back of the bus.To the very last row.As a kid in private school, he’d rarely taken the bus and had always wanted to be the guy at the back.The rule breaker.
Behind him, she muttered, “Wanda.My name is Wanda.”He didn’t even try to hide his growing smile.Little Wanda had spunk.This could turn out to be fun after all.
“Really?The last row?Are you kidding me?”She curled her nose up at him.
“Why not?Climb in.I’ll take the outside seat.”
“What if I wanted it?”Her brows dipped together, but he thought he detected a brief hint of a smile gracing the curve of her lovely pink lips.
“My legs are longer.”He glanced at her much shorter legs for emphasis, but quickly returned his eyes to her face.“I need the legroom.”
She rolled her eyes.“Fine.But don’t think you’re going to win every argument.”
“You gonna sit or what?”someone behind him complained.
Wanda muttered something under her breath and made her way to her seat.She pulled out her phone and studiously ignored him.
Banking a laugh, he sat beside her.“You know that we’re going to spend a lot of time in a canoe, right?”
She turned to him.“What?”
“This venture is a canoe trip.That fancy phone will get wet.”
“First, this phone is six years old.Second, it’s in a watertight case.Third, I brought it along in case of emergency.And fourth, I intend to stay out of the water.”
Suddenly, he wished he hadn’t brought it up.His phone wasn’t in a waterproof case.Of course, his parents hadn’t left him any preparation time.
“Why did you choose a canoe trip?”he asked.“You could have gone hang gliding, camping, hiking in the mountains, or stock car racing.”Come to think of it, he should have chosen stock car racing.It was something he’d always wanted to try.
She snorted.“I wasn’t given a choice.I didn’t realize that I had to attend.I’m a contractor, not an employee.Needless to say, I was stunned when HR informed me that if I wanted my contract renewed, I was required to attend, and this was the only remaining spot.Apparently, I was the last holdout.”She gave him a questioning look.“Why did you choose canoeing?”
He laughed sourly.“I didn’t.I had no intention of going.This team building wasn’t my idea.I was not attending.I’m here under coercion.”
“You’re the CEO, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
“And who can coerce the boss?”She leaned closer as the bus filled; excited chatter and laughter were inhibiting their ability to carry on a conversation.
“My father.I might be CEO, but he still owns the majority of the voting stock.I thought the idea came down from HR, but I’m guessing that my father was involved.Though when it comes right down to it, I’m sure Mom put my father up to it.There’s no way I can ignore my mom.”He snapped his mouth shut.Little Miss Wanda was way too easy to talk to.He was sharing as though they were best friends.
“Your mom put your dad up to organizing all this?”Her glance was quizzical.
