“That might be.” I yank it back toward me. “But I have things in here that I don’t want you to see.”
“I get that, but I need to make sure you only have the necessities, because as your partner, if you can’t carry your pack, I’m going to be the one lugging it around, and I’d rather not have to carry shit you can’t or won’t ever use.”
“Fine.” I let it go and stand back, crossing my arms over my chest, and he gives me a look that makes my stomach feel funny before he starts to pull everything out. “Do I get to go through your pack?” I ask, tapping my foot.
“If you want.” His dimple pops out, and I quickly grab the waterproof bag with my bras and underwear in it before he can open it. “Have you tried walking around with this on your back since you packed it?”
“Yes.”
“How did it feel?”
“Heavy,” I admit as he stacks all my granola bars in a pile.
“It’s going to feel heavier. After about twenty minutes of hiking, ten pounds will start to feel like a hundred.” His eyes meet mine. “Do you need everything here?” He motions to the piles he’s made.
“Probably not.” I eye my granola bars, not sure I can bear to leave them.
“We got your meal request and know you’re a vegetarian. We have food and snacks for you, so you won’t go hungry. If I were you, I would leave the granola bars behind, along with the extra clothes and the camera.”
“I can’t leave my camera.”
“Okay, bring the camera; leave everything else.” He hands me my bag so I can start to repack it, and I leave out all the extra clothes I packed, and I keep one of the three books and a couple of my granola bars. “Don’t judge me,” I tell him as I shove them in one of the side pockets. “They’re my favorite.”
“In that case, I’ll carry a couple of them in my pack for you, and the rest, I’ll put in the kitchen inside the lodge. You don’t want to come back to find your car’s been broken into by a bear.”
“Yeah, that would suck.” I zip up my bag and then flip it around to my back. Once it’s settled, I realize how much more comfortable it feels without the extra weight. Startling me, he grabs the clips hanging at my sides and pulls them around in front of me, hooking them together around my waist.
“How does that feel now?” He tightens the straps, and my breath lodges in my throat while my stomach dances.
“Good.” I tip my head back, the energy between us seeming to take on a life of its own when our eyes meet.
“Good.” His eyes drop to my mouth, and I lick my lips, watching his pupils dilate, then jump when a horn sounds. Clearing his throat, he steps back and grabs the rest of my granola bars before slamming my trunk. “You can go ahead and get on the bus.”
“Thanks.” I duck my head and rush away. As the bus drives us to our drop-off location, I try to figure out what the hell is going on with me and why Tanner is able to make me feel things I’ve never felt before.
Chapter 4
TANNER
Hearing Cybil laugh, I look to where she’s standing with Jacob and Parker and curse under my breath. When I met her at the bar yesterday, I was stunned stupid by her beauty and wit and caught off guard by the instant attraction that bounced between us—or I hoped it was mutual. I didn’t know I had just gone over her profile for the trip, which is something I do with every client because it gives me a chance to get to know them before I take them out on a retreat. I had no idea I would be spending the next week with her.
“Fuck, I’m so fucked,” I grumble under my breath when I watch her bend over to retie her boots. I didn’t think she could look more gorgeous than she did yesterday. But today, when she got out of her SUV dressed in hiking boots, slouchy socks, leggings, a white tee with a flannel tied around her waist, making her curves even more pronounced, I knew I was in trouble. She even had a handkerchief that matched her flannel tied around her head, her blonde hair in a messy bun.
Blake saw my reaction, too, judging by his constant cursing and the talk he gave me about fraternizing with clients when she went inside the lodge. A reminder I didn’t need. I would never jeopardize my relationship with Blake or Maverick, the only family I’ve ever really had, and I sure as fuck wouldn’t put our business at risk. That said, there has never been a woman to snag my attention the way Cybil has, so when this week is over, if this intense heat between us is still there, all bets are off. I just hope I can use this time to get to know her and keep my hands and my mouth to myself for the next six days and twelve hours.