Saving Shelby

by Nicole Taylor Eby

  He should have been ready to see Shelby. It wasn’t like he hadn’t known she would be here. When he had gotten back from Forbidden Plateau, he had seen her name on the student list. He had had three days to get used to the idea. He had had three days to reach out to her and put things right, before they had to face each other every day for a week.

  He had done nothing. He hadn’t reached out to her, and he hadn’t asked Jade if he could be removed from the course. He had been afraid that if he called her, she would change her mind about coming on the course, and he didn’t want to be responsible for her missing out on this chance to chase her dream. Shelby deserved this chance, and she didn’t need him standing in her way.

  Except that wasn’t the whole truth; the real truth was that despite the fact that he knew it wasn’t good for either of them, he had wanted to see her.

  Ian leaned his hand against the trunk of the cedar. The feel of the rough bark grounded him, bringing him back to the present moment. It had been a shock to see her in the parking lot, looking carefree and happy with Ginny. He hadn’t been ready, and he had blown that first meeting. He winced at the thought of his “cool” greeting.

  He hadn’t missed the hurt in her blue eyes. He owed her an explanation for his behaviour at the Strath.

  He could try and tell himself that nothing had happened between them; that it was just a sensual dance that could have happened with any woman. But it would be a lie. The things he had felt had only been for Shelby.

  And it scared the hell out of him.

  “You look tired.” Jade’s sharp voice brought Ian’s rumination to a quick halt.

  He pushed himself away from the tree. “A bit. Last week was gruelling, but I’ll be fine.” Gruelling was an understatement. Ian had pushed himself and the clients hard. They had wanted an extreme backcountry adventure, and he had given it to them.

  Jade raised her eyebrows at him. “You sure?” The tone of her question left no doubt that she was talking about more than just his physical well-being. “You pushed those guys pretty hard from what I hear.”

  “It’s what they wanted,” he mumbled. “I’m fine, Jade. Don’t worry about me.”

  “I can’t help it. You’ve got a reckless streak that makes me nervous. And I need you at your best.” Jade walked away, leaving her words hanging heavy in the air.

  Ian shoved at the tree, wishing he could punch something but not willing to risk hurting his hand. He couldn’t afford to be injured, and he couldn’t afford to be angry at Jade. She was the only reason he still had a job as a guide.

  After Charlene’s accident, he had been unable to work. He hadn’t been up to much more than chasing the bottom of the next bottle, trying to drown his guilt. Natalie had blamed him for Charlene’s death, and he couldn’t blame her. Charlene’s safety had been his responsibility.

  When he had resurfaced from his alcoholic haze, nobody had wanted to hire him. Between his breakdown and the death of a client, he had basically been blackballed in the industry. Jade had been the only one willing to give him a chance. It had come with conditions; conditions that had been damn hard to swallow, but at least he was still employed as a wilderness guide—even if his morals felt a little shaky at times.

  He needed to respect that Jade had taken a huge chance hiring him and get back to doing his job.

  He hid behind the tree for a few moments longer, hiding from the fact that Shelby was in his life, and he couldn’t just walk away and forget her. He was going to have to face his feelings head on, and he wasn’t ready for it—not by a long shot.

  Jade was right. He had a history of making the wrong decision. He needed to get his head on straight—people’s lives were depending on him. He couldn’t forget that there was more than just student safety riding on him this week. Jade needed this venture to bring in money. The Survival Spa idea was a huge risk. It had cost a fair bit of money to set up, and there was no guarantee the idea would catch on.

  He straight up owed Jade. She had shown herself to be a true friend when he needed one. She had taken a risk on him when everyone else in the business had turned their backs. He would not let her down—no matter how distasteful his work might become.

  It was his responsibility to make sure the students had a peaceful and relaxing experience while learning to survive, so there was a bit of irony that this would likely be the most challenging course he had ever run.

  And just to add a little bit more stress to the whole situation, Jade had managed to set up a special guest for the Survival Spa Week, and it was up to Ian to make sure the guest had the most amazing experience possible—no matter what it took.

  As directed by their welcome package, at ten to six, Shelby and Ginny wandered over to the Cookhouse for dinner and the welcome meeting. The delicious scent of a hearty, home-cooked meal wafted out of the open French doors, making Shelby’s stomach grumble. She realized that in all the chaos of getting ready this morning, she hadn’t eaten.

  The Cookhouse had all the charm Shelby loved in an old building. The French doors looked like they had been hewn from logs, and the windows were set with heavy panes of glass. Inside, exposed beams ran along the ceiling, and two long tables stretched the length of the room in parallel lines. Everything about the Cookhouse was homey and welcoming—the complete opposite to the Barracks.

  Ginny nudged Shelby with her elbow. “Hot stuff is standing you up, it seems.”

  Shelby blushed, realizing she had been searching the room for Ian. Was she relieved or disappointed that he wasn’t there? He was a distraction and a complication she didn’t need. She needed to make the most of this course. It wasn’t just a lark for her like it was for Ginny. After all she had gone through to get here, she had to get everything out of it that she possibly could.

  She couldn’t afford to be distracted by Ian and his muscles—no matter how appetizing they were.

  “Come on in, ladies,” said a woman with deeply tanned skin. “I think everyone is here that’s arriving tonight, so grab some stew from the chow line and find a seat.” She gestured towards the long tables. “Once everyone has some eats, we’ll get things started with introductions.”

  “That’s Jade,” Ginny whispered to Shelby, inclining her head to the woman who had greeted them, as they took their places in the food line. “She’s the owner. You want to meet a woman made for the outdoors, let me tell you, she’s it.”

  Shelby’s stomach tightened, as she took a second to look Jade over. Jade would be the person who decided if Shelby was worthy of a scholarship. Jade wore her jet-black hair in two braids, and she looked tough in a sleeveless shirt that revealed arms that were sinewy and muscled.

  “She doesn’t really look like your typical esthetician, does she?” Shelby quipped, trying to calm her nerves with a little humour.

  “No. No, she certainly does not,” Ginny laughed. “I was actually pretty surprised when I realized it was her company putting on this course. I didn’t think Jade knew anything about girly things.”

  “So, you know her?”

  “Not really. I’ve met her once or twice when I was out with Spence, but I wouldn’t say I know her. I don’t think she’s anything to worry about. She might look like a drill sergeant, but she must be all right, if Spence and Ian hang with her. I mean, as long as you don’t give her a reason to take you down.” Ginny winked slyly.

  “I hope so...” Shelby let her voice trail off. She really didn’t want to reveal to Ginny how nervous she was. Ginny was an amazing friend, but she wouldn’t understand how scared Shelby was.

  Once she had her food, Shelby carried her red plastic tray with a steaming bowl of beef stew and a generous slice of cornbread over to the far table, where Ginny had already grabbed a spot on the long bench. Placing her tray on the table, Shelby manoeuvred her legs over the bench, plopping down with a sigh. She was famished, and the aroma wafting from her bowl was making her stomach growl.

  “I’m Waylon,” the man seated to Shelby’s left said, offerin
g his hand. He was an older man with dark hair peppered with silver.

  She smiled. “I’m Shelby, and that’s my friend Ginny.” She inclined her head towards Ginny, as she shook his proffered hand. “Have you done anything like this before?”

  Waylon nodded his head. “I’m a bit of a wanderer, but it’s always good to refresh your skills, and the spa piece kind of intrigued me. Thought I’d give it a go. I’m guessing this is your first?”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  Waylon chuckled, “You might look a little panicked around the edges. This here’s Abe,” he said, gesturing at a younger man sitting across from him. “He’s lucky enough to be bunking in with the old man. Abe this here’s Shelby, and that’s Ginny next to you. They’re newbies.”

  “Hi, ladies, it’s nice to meet you. I’m pretty new myself,” Abe admitted.

  “Oh my God, this stew is so good that it’s almost orgasmic,” Ginny said, waving a piece of corn bread.

  “That sounds like my kind of stew,” a young man with shaggy, surfer-like, blond hair said, as he sat down to Ginny’s right.

  Ginny blushed and put her hand over her mouth to block her chewing.

  “I’m Luke and these are my buddies, Tyler and Leo,” Surfer Guy said, waving at the two men settling in beside Shelby. “And this is JP. He’s bunking with Tyler, which means he gets to be an honorary member of our posse.”

  The three newcomers nodded and smiled at everyone but didn’t waste a moment in conversation before dipping into their stew. The atmosphere of the Cookhouse was friendly, and Shelby felt herself starting to relax. Focusing on her food instead of her nerves, she dipped her cornbread in the thick stew gravy and took a bite.

  “Wow! Ginny, you’re right. This stew is amazing.”

  “I know, right?” Ginny said, quietly, her eyes fastened on Luke.

  Shelby looked from Luke and back to Ginny. So, it appeared Ginny wasn’t immune to having a little crush herself. Shelby smiled to herself. It was perfect. Ginny couldn’t give her such a rough time about Ian, if she was mooning over Luke, now could she?

  The chatter quieted as everyone dug into their stew. Looking around the room, Shelby saw there were an additional five students seated at the other table—two men and three women. With a start, she realized one of the women was Piper, her first-aid partner from the Adventure Safe course.

  Shelby gave Piper a small wave. It was nice to see another friendly face.

  “Welcome to the Survival Spa Week,” Jade said, interrupting Shelby’s thoughts. “I’m Jade Anderson, owner of Alfresco Adventures. While you’re enjoying your stew, I’m going to introduce you to the staff and give you a bit of a rundown of tomorrow’s activities. So, dig in and enjoy.”

  Seemingly of their own accord, Shelby’s eyes slid right past Jade to Ian, who was now leaning against the wall with Annabeth and a man Shelby hadn’t met yet. Just like usual, Ian was hotter than sin—this time in grey cargo pants and a red technical hoody.

  “First up is Ian McLean. He’s our senior instructor and overall in charge of your course,” Jade said.

  Ian pushed himself away from the wall and raised his hand in greeting. Shelby felt her core tighten and start to warm. Even though his eyes took in the entire room, it felt like he was looking straight at her. How on earth was she going to focus on learning anything with Ian here?

  “Ian’s been guiding and instructing for about as long as there’s been a forest to explore.” Jade turned to Ian, smirking. The corners of Ian’s mouth quirked. Jade turned back to look at the students. “Not quite as seasoned but equally competent is Kirk Hamilton, your assistant instructor.”

  The other man stepped forward and gave a wave. He was younger, maybe in his mid-twenties. He was strong and good looking, but Shelby’s body didn’t respond to Kirk the way it did to Ian, so it wasn’t just that she had been lonely for a long time, that was making it impossible to get control of her libido. It definitely had something to do with Ian.

  “You’ve already all met Annabeth Martin. She wears a few hats at Alfresco Adventures. She keeps our office running, but don’t let her talent with the schedule fool you. She’s a trained guide and instructor and will be assisting Ian and Kirk on any excursions that take you away from the Base Camp areas,” Jade continued.

  Annabeth stepped forward and smiled. Her curly auburn hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but a dozen or so curls had escaped and framed her face.

  “And last, but not least is our cook, Adrien Ward. He keeps us well fed and happy.”

  Luke, Tyler, and Leo hooted and pumped their fists in the air, as Adrien poked his head out of the small galley-style kitchen.

  Jade chuckled. “I like your enthusiasm. He also plies his skills in the medical hut, should any of you need a Band-Aid.” Jade paused to allow for the chuckles erupting around the tables. “I checked the weather, and it looks like Mother Nature is going to hold off the spring rain for us tomorrow, which is good news. You might all be wondering why on earth we’d bring you out into the forest at this time of the year. Believe me, it was by design. I believe, and I think my staff would back me up, that you have to test your skills in less than ideal conditions. And there’s nothing like a cold and rainy west coast day to test you.”

  Shelby wasn’t sure she agreed with Jade on that point. Maybe being eased into survival situations was a better way to go. She didn’t want to die of hypothermia on her first attempt.

  “Get some sleep tonight, as we will hit the ground running tomorrow. There’s a schedule for the whole course in your welcome package, but tomorrow we’re going to meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Meeting Place to go over survival theory and equipment. You’ll also find a map in the welcome package. I think that’s everything from me for now.” Jade turned to look at her staff with an eyebrow raised questioningly.

  Ian stepped forward. “Take a quick read of the safety section of your welcome package. We’ll go over it tomorrow, but it’s good to start getting familiar with it.” Ian’s deep voice rolled over Shelby like warm caramel.

  If his voice affected her this much, she was going to have to work hard to focus. It could be a long week—a long, delicious week.

  A few hours later, with a pleasantly full belly, Shelby lay staring up at the bottom of the bunk above her, wondering what her kids would think of this place. She had never taken them camping. They would probably love it. Except, maybe Bryan would be upset at the lack of WiFi.

  She pulled the white sheet, counterpane, and wool blanket up to her chin to ward off the chill in the air and the loneliness that was washing over her, despite Ginny being right across the room. She hadn’t counted on being homesick. She missed her kids, and she could really use one of Kevin’s bear hugs right now. She would even take Bryan’s sulking over this strange sensation of sleeping in an unfamiliar place.

  Of course, if she was being honest with herself, she would have to admit that a large part of the problem was seeing Ian today; she was still reeling from it.

  After the shock of seeing Ian turn his back and walk out of the club had shattered her illusion of the blissful future they would have together, Shelby had been sure the closest she would come to seeing him again would be in her fantasies—where he featured prominently. The fact that she had heard nothing from him in the two weeks following had only cemented her conviction that whatever tiny chance she had had with Ian McLean was gone; if it had ever been more than a figment of her imagination.

  But here he was, looking and sounding as delicious as ever.

  The springs squeaked loudly in the quiet room, as she flopped over on her side in frustration. She needed to stop obsessing about her non-relationship with Ian and get some sleep. It didn’t matter what he thought, she was an independent woman and not looking to get snagged up with any man right now—no matter how juicy.

  “Oh, what I’d give for a down duvet right now,” Ginny said. “Although, I must admit this wool blanket is not as bad as I thought it would be. It’s kinda soft and
warm. Not as warm as having Ian’s arms wrapped around me in a slow dance would be, but nice.”

  “Ginny!” Shelby protested.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t know he would be here.”

  Shelby sighed. “I guess I was just too caught up in all the details around getting here.”

  “It does make the whole thing just that much more exciting, doesn’t it? I mean he does make your pulse quicken, doesn’t he?”

  “Ginny,” Shelby pleaded.

  “Oh, I’m just kidding. I know you aren’t interested in a man. Not while you’re still dealing with the carnage of your marriage. And if I had any doubts on that matter, your disaster date with Bill would’ve cured me of them...”

  Whether it was the sound of Ginny’s voice, the fact the Ginny had distracted her from being too serious about Ian, or her lack of sleep over the preceding weeks, Shelby began to relax and drift off to sleep.

  She was jolted awake again by Ginny pouncing on her bed.

  “You aren’t falling asleep on me, are you?” Ginny bopped her on the head with her pillow.

  “Hey!” Shelby threw her hands up to block her head from the pillow onslaught.

  “It’s a sleep-over. You can’t sleep yet.”

  “They said we should get some sleep.”

  “They didn’t really mean it.” Ginny continued to thump Shelby with her pillow until they were both giggling.

  “Okay! Okay! I surrender.”

  “You’re damn right you do. We’re going to start this adventure right with girl talk into the wee hours of the night, even though I didn’t bring wine, and we don’t really fit on this bed.”

  “You mean girl talk like why you were getting all googly-eyed over Luke?”

  “What?” Ginny feigned outrage, before collapsing beside Shelby with a sigh. “He is delicious, isn’t he?”

  Shelby whacked her friend with her pillow, glad to have turned the conversation away from her yearning for Ian. “And maybe a bit too young for you?”