Jill Shalvis: Just Try Me…

“Looks heavy.”

Craning her neck, her gaze collided with Jared’s. “Not too heavy.”

He’d lost the business wear but was no less put together in his expensive-looking jeans and polo shirt. He wore hiking boots, which she sincerely hoped weren’t new, even though they looked it. His designer sunglasses were firmly in place. “Need any help?” he asked.

“Not yet, thanks.”

“How did I know you’d say that?” He gestured to the goods. “Looks like a lot of stuff to carry.”

“If you’re not up for it, you could always try a different type of vacation. Say a dude ranch.”

Uninsulted, he let out a soft laugh, then shoved his sunglasses to the top of his head, revealing that mesmerizing hazel gaze as he slid his hands in his pocket. He pulled out a folded piece of paper, stared down at it, then slid it back into his pocket.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“A list.”

She waited for more, but he offered nothing. “A reminder to pick up your dry-cleaning?”

He smiled. “No.”

“Ah. A reminder to have your housekeeper pick up your dry-cleaning.”

His smile spread. “You think I’m going to be a PITA.”

“PITA?”

“Pain in the ass. Your ass.”

Not exactly. She thought he was going to be a distraction. A sexy one. “Caught me.” She went back to separating the supplies into piles, but he didn’t take the hint and leave.

“It bugs you,” he said. “Our attraction.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

He just smiled a little knowingly, and she let out a sound that she hoped managed to convey her annoyance as she went back to her work.

Okay, so despite his pretty-boy appearance, he wasn’t prissy, or afraid of confrontation. Damn it. It didn’t help that he was right.

Their attraction bugged the hell out of her.

Fine. She’d get her revenge soon enough, when she planned to see him plenty rumpled, wrinkled and pushed outside his comfort zone. “One thing’s for sure,” she said. “You’re going to get those boots dirty.”

He looked down. “I’m not going to melt with a little dirt.”

“Okay.”

He lifted his head, his eyes locked on hers. Normally she appreciated direct eye contact, but with him, the look went deeper than casual, and pushed her from her comfort zone.

“You don’t believe me,” he said.

She lifted a shoulder, and looked away because she had the uncomfortable feeling he saw far more than she allowed anyone to see. “It’s your job to have a good time,” she said. “It’s my job to make sure you get that good time. I’ll do my job.”

“And I’ll do mine,” he promised. “I signed up for this trip willingly, Lily.” He gestured with his chin toward the mountains. “I want to do this.”

“Well, then let’s get the show on the road. Oh, and though there’s no rain or snow in the forecast-”

“Snow? In July?”

“It happens. Just make sure you packed everything on the list. Including raingear.”

“Got it.”

“And spray yourself with insect repellent. You got stuff with deet?”

“Yes, ma’am, just like the list said.”

She ignored the gentle sarcasm. “It should be plenty dry, but the mosquitoes don’t seem to care one way or another. They’re vicious. Trust me, you’ll get bites everywhere.”

“Everywhere?” He asked this evenly but the humor was still swimming in his gaze, and also that unsettling heat.

Damn, he had quite the sense of humor. She loved a sense of humor. “Bites in certain places aren’t funny,” she said in the uppiest voice she could muster.

He stopped fighting his grin and let it fly.

Ah, man, he was something to look at, but she rolled her eyes and turned back to the truck. “Fine. But when you’re walking bowlegged because your bites are chafing, I’ll be getting the last laugh.”

“I’ll remember that,” he promised.

“Good.” She put her potion of the supplies into her pack, and it was a moment before she looked up again. When she did, Jared had moved back to his shiny, pretty car and was messing with something in his pack.

She let out a breath and told herself to concentrate on her fears and doubts. That should keep her nicely occupied.

But she took another peek. He was still fiddling with his stuff, and definitely not taking peeks at her. Good. Great. She went back to work, tossing the marshmallows into the pile. Which reminded her she needed to check the chocolate stash. If there was ever a trip that required extra loads of chocolate, this was it.

A truck with the Outdoor Adventures logo on the sides pulled into the dirt lot. The window went down. “Hey, gorgeous.”

In shock, she stared, waiting for the burst of happy excitement. “Keith?”

He hopped out of the truck and spread his arms wide, looking tanned, fit and mischievous. “In the flesh.”

“What are you doing here?”

He wore cargo shorts and a T-shirt with the logo on a pec, and he looked ready to guide. “You know I like to see a trip off.”

She took in his rugged features, his slight smile, his heated eyes, and knew he wasn’t here just for that. Once upon a time her sun had risen and set on him, a man ten years her senior and a hundred years older in so many other ways. He’d been the first strong male influence in her life, and for that alone, her heart warmed. “You were checking on me.”

He shifted closer and put his hand on her shoulder as he peered past her to the food and supplies she was dividing up. “Just making sure you’re okay. Should be a fairly easy trip.” He gently squeezed. “You sure you’re up for it?”

Why oh why wasn’t she getting wobbly knees? Why weren’t her nipples going happy? “I’m sure.” Liar, liar, pants on fire.

“So tough, like old times.”

She wished.

He touched her cheek and grinned, and she was reminded, vividly, of how, in the past, that grin would have melted her clothes right off. As if he was remembering the same thing, he shifted even closer. “Feels like old times.” Nudging her body with his, he moved her around the side of his truck, where they were now out of view of anyone driving into the parking lot. They were also out of view of the only other car, Jared’s Lexus.

Lily looked into Keith’s smiling eyes, trying like hell to feel it, to feel the heat. “You’re in my space.”

“But it’s such a nice space.” They were toe to toe. He was only a few inches taller than her. It used to be she’d loved that, loved the way they’d lined up.

Everywhere…

Now his close proximity felt a little bit off, especially when compared to another man’s recent close proximity-Jared’s. She’d wanted to jump Jared’s bones, which still made no sense. “Keith-”

“Hush a second.” Cupping her face, he tilted it up and stared into her eyes. “I’m trying to see something.”

“See what?”

“If it’s still there.”

“If what-”

“Shut up a sec, Lil.” And he touched his mouth to hers.

She went very still. Not because she couldn’t move away, but because she wanted to see, too. Please turn me on…

But no, nothing. Damn it. She cleared her mind and tried again, because surely it would come.

Keith slanted his head for better access, and touched his tongue to hers.

No fireworks.

No molten hot lava flowing through her veins instead of blood.

What was that about?

But deep down, she knew. It was about Jared, because he was the one she wanted. Oh, boy.

Keith lifted his head, staring sleepy-eyed down at her mouth. “That’s how I should have greeted you yesterday.” He stroked his thumb over her lip and smiled. “Have a safe journey, Lil.”

And then he got back into his truck.