Page 78 of River Wild

“You sure?”

Another look. “I’m sure. Wait here, and I’ll be back in a minute.”

I watch him walk over to the vendor, shoulders in, head down, avoiding eye contact with people.

Moving back a bit, I rest my butt against a large rock, half-sitting on it.

I’ve not even been sitting there a minute when a guy wanders over. He has short sandy-blond hair and a stocky frame; he’s about six-foot I’d say, and he’s handsome in a pretty-boy way.

He stops before me, a smile on his face, showing gleaming white teeth. “Hey. You work at the diner, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Brad.” He offers his hand to me.

I put my hand in his and shake it. The skin on his hand is soft. Like his hands have never seen a hard day’s work before.

“Carrie.” I pull my hand back.

“So, you’re new to town?”

“Yes.”

“We get a lot of tourists here but not many new residents. What brought you to Canyon Lake?” He moves to lean on the rock beside me.

Discomfort slithers through me. I shift up a bit. Something about this guy doesn’t sit right with me. And I listen to my gut nowadays. It’s always right.

“I fancied a change of scenery.” I shrug.

He laughs. “You don’t give much away, do you?”

I glance at him. His eyes are green. A nice color, but they’re not kind eyes.

I shrug again.

He laughs again.

“Did you enjoy the parade?” he asks me.

“I did. I’ve never seen a Christmas boat parade before. It was fun to watch.”

“So, are you here alone?” he asks, and I don’t like the question.

“I came with friends,” I firmly tell him.

There’s a lull in the conversation, and I really wish he would just go. But he doesn’t.

“So …” He scratches his chin. “I’ve seen you around town a few times and wanted to talk to you. I think you’re a total knockout, Carrie, and I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me sometime.”

Uh.

His direct approach kind of throws me for a moment. I’m about to turn down his offer, but I don’t get a chance.

“No, she doesn’t fucking want to go out with you.”

My head turns at the sound of River, a face like thunder, sans corn dogs. Fire and ire burn in his eyes, and I’m getting the distinct impression River does not like Brad.

Brad stands and faces River. He lets out a laugh, and it’s not a nice sound. “Well, this is the surprise of the century. What the fuck are you doing here? I thought you didn’t leave that mausoleum you call a home.”