With a forced smile, he said, “We should probably get back.”
She stared at him a moment, her expression unreadable, then she nodded.
They began walking, but after only a moment, he said, “Is it okay if we hold hands? I mean, it might look odd for a couple on a moonlight stroll to not be holding hands.”
She hesitated, but finally nodded. “All right.” Then she let him take her hand in his. He savored the feel of her soft skin as they walked back to their campsite, his mind on what it would feel like when he kissed her, when her body relaxed into his arms.
He intended to get that kiss before the week was through.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Looks like we’ll have to go to the other trailhead,” Jeff said the next morning as the six of them stood on a grassy rise and looked at the path they were supposed to follow. Bison were scattered across the meadow, blocking access to the trail.
Brielle was relieved when he didn’t say they should just push on through and take their chances. She’d seen those signs in the bathroom back at camp. The ones that warned about staying at least thirty feet away from the bison. The beasts may look warm and fuzzy, but they were wild animals. Very large wild animals.
“No big deal,” Rob said.
“Where’s the other trailhead?” Brielle asked.
“Just past where we were yesterday,” Tyler said.
He’d been a bit standoffish that morning, and she couldn’t figure out what was going on. Was he mad that she hadn’t leapt at his offer of a kiss the night before? She’d wanted to say yes, but Cara’s phone call had been like a splash of ice water, reminding her why she was really there. Yes, she was attracted to him, but she’d known him less than a week. Much too soon to have fallen for him, right? At least too soon for her to admit it out loud. Besides, she didn’t want to just be a fun diversion for him while he was on his vacation.
They got back in their cars—she and Tyler had driven separately again—and drove a little farther on, parking before walking up the path they’d walked the day before when he’d shown her the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. A short distance beyond that was the beginning of the trail.
“This is it,” Mia said to her. She was walking beside Brielle, and Tyler was walking with his brother.
Glad to have Mia’s company, Brielle smiled at her. “Good. I’m ready to see this fabulous hike.”
Mia laughed, and they walked on, leading the way.
Tyler couldn’t take his eyes off of Brielle. Ever since he’d seen her that morning he’d wanted to kiss her so badly that he’d had to pull back from her completely. Otherwise he feared he would drag her into his arms and kiss her whether she wanted him to or not. And besides the fact that that would be unacceptable in their case, he’d also decided that he needed to let her come to him.
His behavior probably made him come off as aloof, but what was he supposed to do?
He watched her as she chatted with Mia and wondered if she preferred his sister’s company over his. Kind of stung by the thought, he comforted himself with the fact that the next day he would take her to the geyser basin, just the two of them.
“She’s hot, bro,” Rob said in a quiet voice next to him. “If you ever lose interest…” His words trailed off as his eyebrows waggled, and Tyler had the inexplicable desire to punch him.
“I won’t,” he heard himself say.
“Just sayin’…”
Reminding himself to relax his jaw, Tyler continued walking, his gaze locked on Brielle.
“Don’t you just love it?” Mia asked as she walked beside Brielle.
Brielle took in the scenery—tall lodgepole pines creaking in the breeze, fallen logs scattered throughout the area, green grass blanketing the ground. “Yes. It’s so peaceful.”
Mia linked her arm through Brielle’s. “I’m glad you came. It’s fun having another girl along.”
If Tyler and I were really dating, Mia and I could become good friends.
Guilt at her deception swept over her and she had the urge to spill the truth. But she couldn’t do that. She and Tyler had an agreement. An agreement worth five thousand dollars. The amount still staggered her. Five grand for a week’s worth of work. And it wasn’t really work at all. It was a vacation.
Not for the first time, Brielle wondered what kind of person would be willing to pay that much money for such a silly reason. Who could afford that?
She glanced over her shoulder to see what Tyler was doing and saw him staring at her as he trailed her, about twenty feet back. The intensity of his expression sent heat surging through her. Quickly facing front, she had to draw in a deep breath to get herself under control.
“I’m ready for a snack,” Mia said, then she stopped and took her CamelBak off of her shoulders before taking out a granola bar.
Brielle did the same, setting her CamelBak on the ground.
“Look!” Mia whisper-screamed a moment later. “A deer.”
Brielle looked in the direction she pointed and watched a lone deer as it grazed. Its head lifted as it looked in their direction. They continued watching and a moment later Brielle could feel someone behind her. It was Tyler. She didn’t even have to look to know. His magnetism was that strong.
“Very cool,” he said beside her ear.
With him so close to her, she nearly gasped. He was standing right behind her, mere centimeters separating them. Not able to stop herself, she leaned back slightly and felt her back touch his chest. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him, just muscle and strength and pure masculinity.
Struggling to calm her racing heart, when Tyler’s arms went around her, Brielle had to remind herself to breathe. Just breathe. In and out. In and out.
“Is this what you want?” he murmured, the heat from his breath warming her ear.
“Yes,” she whispered. It was as if her mind and body had disconnected and her mouth had taken over without asking permission. She needed to gain control over herself.
“I thought so.” His voice was deep.
Closing her eyes for a moment, Brielle relished the feel of his strong arms around her. The heat of his body surrounded her, enveloped her, made her want to sink right into him.
I am in trouble. Deep, deep trouble.
Desperate to think about something besides her hopeless attraction, she opened her eyes and searched for the deer. It was walking out of sight.
“Ready?” Jeff asked the group the moment the deer was gone.
Encircled in Tyler’s arms, Brielle could have stood there all day, but at Jeff’s question, Tyler released her. Instantly missing his body pressed against hers, she drew in a slow, deep breath.
“I’m ready,” Tyler said, then he began walking. She watched him go. He took several steps before turning and looking at Brielle, a grin on his face. Then he winked at her.
Whoa. Okay. She would have to grill him about that soon so that he couldn’t claim not to remember. Tossing her CamelBak over her shoulders, her pulse still erratic, Brielle fell into step beside Mia. Though wanting to walk next to Tyler, she wasn’t quite brave enough to make that move. Doing so would make her interest patently obvious. Especially because he was already a good fifteen feet ahead of her. She would have to speed-walk to catch up.
“You guys are so cute together,” Mia said.
“What?” Sometimes Brielle forgot that Tyler’s family was watching them.
Mia smiled. “You guys are crazy about each other.” She took a sip from her CamelBak straw. “Anyone can see it.”
Anyone could see what? That she was falling for Tyler? But Mia had said you guys, not you. Could it be true? Could Tyler be attracted to her too?
Hold on. Have you forgotten that this is a job? A charade? Tyler is obviously very good at pretending if he’s fooled his family into believing he has a thing for you. Just because you’re no longer acting doesn’t mean he’s not playing you. Playing everyone. So get a grip.
Holding back a frown, Brielle wondered if Tyler thought her
leaning against him had been an act.
Of course he does. Why the heck else would you have done it? You’re just doing what he’s paying you to do. Quit your fantasy that there’s anything more there. You’ll just embarrass yourself.
Not wanting to face the reality that this attraction was a one-way thing, Brielle focused on her surroundings as they hiked and did her level best to keep her gaze off of Tyler and to ignore how hot he was.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Who’s hungry?” Mia called out.
Tyler’s gaze went to his sister, but it immediately slid to Brielle, who stood beside Mia. Why did it seem as if Brielle was avoiding him? She certainly hadn’t avoided him when they’d stopped to look at the deer. She’d done the complete opposite. She’d leaned right into him, and when he’d put his arms around her and asked her if that was what she wanted, her answer had been totally unexpected. It had seemed like a green light to move past her no touch policy. So why was she avoiding him now?
He stared at her, daring her to look his way, but she seemed to look everywhere but at him.
He needed to get her alone, talk to her, see what was up. For someone who was supposed to be his girlfriend, she sure wasn’t spending much time with him.
“I’m ready for lunch,” his mother said.
“Hey,” Mia said, “isn’t this the same place we stopped for lunch the last time we went on this hike?”
“Yes it is,” his dad said.
To their right was forest, but to their left was a wide-open dirt area with trees along its edge. The dirt area looked barren and there was a slight scent of sulfur in the air and some rising steam in places.
A log separated the trail from the barren area. Everyone found a place along the log to sit. Everyone but Tyler. He wanted to sit with Brielle, wanted to talk to her.
She’s supposed to be your girlfriend. It’s okay to ask her to sit alone with you.
Gathering his courage, he approached her. She was chatting with Mia, acting oblivious to him, although he knew she must be aware he was walking toward her.
“Mind if I borrow my girlfriend?” he asked, but his eyes were on Brielle.
Brielle’s head jerked up and she met his gaze, her eyes widening when they locked on his face.
“Go right ahead,” Mia said with a smile.
Tyler held out his hand to Brielle. She looked at it for half a second, then she reached out and took it. He pulled her up—she was light as a feather—and when she was standing he held on to her hand while using his free hand to point to a log a short distance from his family. “Okay if we sit over there?”
“Yeah.”
With a nod, he turned, and while still holding her hand, led her to the log he’d pointed out. They sat side by side, setting their CamelBaks at their feet.
“What do you think of the hike so far?” he asked to get the conversation going.
Face brightening, she said, “I love it.”
“Just wait. There are some cool things to come.”
“Really? It’s already cool.”
Chuckling, Tyler took one of his two sandwiches out of his pack and took a large bite. How was he going to move the conversation to the topic he really had in mind—namely, what was going on between them. Turned out he didn’t need to, because she did.
“You winked at me again,” she said. “Why?”
That was right after he’d held her in his arms—something he’d enjoyed immensely. Something she’d initiated. Even so, why had he winked? But he knew why.
“Because I liked the way you backed into me and basically invited me to hold you.”
Her cheeks flamed red and she was suddenly very focused on the bag of Cheetos on her lap.
“Brielle?”
She looked up at him, her green eyes wide. “What?”
She was embarrassed. Why? “Does it bother you that I’m calling you on it?”
Without looking away, she said, “I was just…you know…doing my job.”
There was nothing she could have said that would have bothered him more. If she was only doing her job, she was really, really good at it. Because it had seemed spontaneous, natural. Real. “Your job?”
She looked at the ground. “That’s what you want, right?” Then she lifted her gaze to his.
What was he supposed to say to that? He had hired her to be his girlfriend for this trip, so of course that was what he wanted. But since he’d gotten to know her he wanted so much more.
She was staring at him, waiting for an answer.
“Yeah,” he said. “That’s right.”
Brielle was so disappointed. In her wildest fantasy she’d imagined him saying that this was no longer a job, that she was amazing, that he was falling for her. But nope. To him it was just a job. Just like Cara had reminded her the night before.
“As part of your job,” he said, and his lips seemed to twist a bit, “you should probably stop avoiding me.”
Had it been so obvious? “Sorry.” The word was nearly a whisper.
“Why are you? Avoiding me, I mean.”
Biting her lip, Brielle tried to form a reasonable answer. She couldn’t tell him the real reason, of course—that the more she was around him, the more she was falling for him. How could she tell him that? It would be like telling her boss that she had a crush on him. No. It would be telling her boss that she had a crush on him. A major, powerful crush. On her boss. Nope. Not gonna do it.
“Why, Brielle?” he asked again when she remained silent.
Scrambling to come up with something but failing miserably, she took a bite of her tuna fish sandwich and slowly chewed.
Audibly sighing, Tyler shook his head. “See? You’re still avoiding me.” He frowned deeply. “I think it’s time for a performance review.”
A performance review? Brielle nearly dropped her sandwich. “What do you mean?”
“Look. I hired you for a job and you’re not doing it. Not when you’re practically glued to my sister’s side.”
“Maybe you and I are going through a rough patch.”
Tyler barked a laugh, and Brielle looked to see if his family noticed, but they were busy doing their own thing.
“Anyway,” she said, “your family believes we’re, you know, together.”
His eyebrows rose. “What makes you say that?”
Would this give away too much? But she had to tell him, had to prove she was doing her job. She needed that money. “It was something Mia said.”
“What did she say?”
“That it’s obvious we’re, uh, crazy about each other.” She couldn’t look at him while she spoke. Not when the truth would be revealed in her eyes—the truth that for her it wasn’t an act.
“Huh.”
His non-response pulled her gaze away from the ground and to his face. “What does huh mean?”
His lips curved into a cocky smile. “It means you’re not telling me something.”
“What?” Did the tone of surprise in her voice sound as forced to him as it did to her? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Okay. What am I not telling you?”
He laughed. “The fact that you haven’t told me means I don’t know.”
That was too bad then, because there was no way she would tell him she was crushing on him. Hard.
Lifting her shoulders in a shrug, she turned back to her pack and took out the baggie that held four cookies, removed one and began nibbling on it.
“I’m going to find out, Brielle,” he said, his voice filled with confidence. “You can count on that.”
That’s what she was afraid of.
Chapter Thirty
Now that he’d put her on notice, told her that she needed to stop avoiding him, Tyler had no choice but to stay by her side. But that was fine with him. He wanted her by his side, wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. And maybe spending time with her would allow him to discover whatever it was she was hiding.
>
In all reality, he hoped she was simply holding back her true feelings for him, because if this attraction he had for her was one-sided he was going to be really unhappy. Yes, she’d claimed that she’d leaned against him because of her job, but he’d sensed it was more than that. Why wouldn’t she admit it?
Deciding to test his theory, as they walked side by side he took her hand in his. He heard her softly gasp. If she was pretending, there would be no reason to gasp, right?
Rob and Mia were a ways ahead of them, leading the way, and his parents were behind them but with enough distance that they wouldn’t be able to overhear a quiet conversation between Tyler and Brielle.
“Is your no touch policy still in effect?” he asked.
Brielle glanced at their clasped hands before looking at him. “Guess not.”
Her expression didn’t give away how she felt about that. He swung their hands up so that they were in view. “Is this okay then?”
Her lips curved into a smirk. “Maybe you should give me a bonus for each time we hold hands.”
The reminder that maybe this was just a job for her, that he was wrong to think it could be more than that, brought him up short and he nearly released her hand.
But no. He needed to keep holding on. Maybe he could win her over.
Keeping his expression business-like, he asked, “What kind of a bonus do you want?”
Her eyebrows rose. “I was just kidding.” Then she looked away, but Tyler could have sworn he saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes.
Interesting. Maybe he wasn’t wrong.
“Tell you what,” he said.
She looked at him, her expression guarded. “What?”
“I will give you a bonus—”
She made a scoffing sound as she shook her head. “You’re already paying me too much.”
What? Where did that come from?
Shut the heck up! Do you want to lose your paycheck? Just because he’s crazy enough to pay you five grand to take a vacation doesn’t mean you have to refuse it. Idiot!
Game On (Fair Catch Series, Book Six) Page 12
