“Porter. What’s going on?”
“You forgot to call me last night. You were going to tell me what happened on the last day of the trade show.”
“Oh!” He winced. “Sorry about that. It was a lot of exchanging of business cards and making small talk. How are things?”
“Things are great. We did great sales numbers this week, and I have someone who’s interested in buying a fishing boat. We’ll get a commission for the referral.”
“Nice.”
“I’ve already received a few calls from vendors from the trade show. I think a few are worth taking a meeting with and seeing if their merchandise is good for the store. And you were worried it would be a waste of time.”
“John Jacob said to keep an open mind about networking. As a matter of fact, we’re going to have a chat about the trade show and expansion of the store.”
“I can’t believe our good fortune that a billionaire tycoon wants to mentor you.” Porter laughed. “It was a gift from the heavens. Speaking of gifts, did you find one for Tate yet?”
“I’m still working on it.”
“Your nephews conned you into digging another hole in the backyard?”
“No. Tate, Izzy, and the kids are off visiting Izzy’s parents.”
“It’s not like you to forget to call. What the hell have you been doing?”
“Uh…”
“You met someone in New York.”
“No, not New York.”
“You met someone in Texas? Did you meet her on a previous visit?”
“No, we met last night. It’s complicated.” He rubbed his forehead with his hand. “Right now, I’m on a camping trip with her and her friends.”
“I’d like to meet this enchantress.” Porter laughed. “What’s her name?”
“Shannon.” He sighed. “And it’s not some one-night thing. She’s a friend of the Blakes. Actually, she’s John Jacob’s goddaughter.”
“Are you kidding me? You are playing with fire. It would be easier to go swimming in shark-infested waters with a piece of meat tied around your neck.”
“We’ll talk about it when I get back.” He looked in the direction of the door. Shannon was standing there. “I have to go, Porter. Email me today’s figures.”
After he disconnected, Shannon walked over to him. “You didn’t have to get off the phone on my account.”
“It was my business partner. He’s just filling me in on things.”
“I’m getting tired. I think I’ll turn in.”
“I’ll go up with you. Do you mind if I use the bathroom first?”
“Go ahead.”
They went inside together, and everyone was preparing to go up for the night. As soon as they got into the room, Chance grabbed his duffle bag and made a beeline for the bathroom. He’d brush his teeth and wash his face then he’d go back downstairs when he was sure everyone was in their rooms so he wouldn’t be seen leaving. They were supposed to be a new couple. There was no way he’d sleep alone if this was a real relationship.
But he couldn’t stay here with her tonight. He wanted her too much. He wouldn’t be able to get a wink of sleep all night if he had to sleep in a bed beside her and keep his hands to himself…
Shannon pressed her ear to the bathroom door, curious to know what Chance was doing. He’d been in there a while. She started to imagine he had some weird bathing rituals that took a long time. But then moments later he opened the door and he was still fully dressed.
“I’m sleeping outside in my tent tonight,” he told her flatly.
She hadn’t expected that. “Why?”
“It’s such a lovely night I thought I’d sleep outside under the stars.”
“Is this because of the sleeping arrangement? We can work something out. I’m way smaller. I can take the couch.”
“I think we need some distance tonight.” He picked up his sleeping bag and gear. “I’m still thinking about that kiss in the kitchen.”
“Oh.”
She watched as he moved past her and left. OK. The kiss meant something to him too. So much so, he didn’t want to be in the room with her. Did he ever think of asking if she wanted him to stay? He was being chivalrous. It was commendable.
She picked up the remote and turned on the television, hoping to distract herself. She could watch television and eat snacks until she fell asleep. She could also see if Cheyenne wanted to talk some more. But by the way Cheyenne and Brian had been sending each other lusty looks downstairs, maybe that wasn’t a good idea.
She channel-hopped for a few minutes and was bored to tears. She was with the hottest guy in the lodge, and he was sleeping outside while she milled around her room. Even if they weren’t intimate, she loved talking to him.
Enough was enough. She’d find Chance, and they’d either succumb to their mutual passion and make out or they’d end up talking. Either way, it was a win for her. She put on her jacket, grabbed her room key, and went in search of Chance.
She carefully walked downstairs and out the back door. He’s assembled the tent rather quickly, and she could see a light in there. She walked up to the tent and tapped on the pole.
He opened the flap. “What are you doing out here?”
“You made such a beautiful case for seeing a clear sky, I couldn’t resist.” She swallowed hard. “Mind if I join you?”
“Didn’t I tell you that it was best if we didn’t sleep in the same room?”
“I heard you.” She put her hands on her hips. “Frankly, I didn’t peg you for a coward.”
“Me? A coward?” he growled. “I was trying to be a gentleman and not come off like some hard-up loser. I think you deserve more respect than me thinking with my libido and making some move on you because we’re in close quarters and ruining whatever this is that’s happening between us. Go back to the room.”
“I want to stay.” It was more than attraction. He was interested in her, the total package.
He came toward her. “I am coming dangerously close to liking you. The fact that you’re drop-dead gorgeous has nothing to do with it. There’s much more to you than that.”
She saw the passion in his eyes. She wanted to kiss again, but a line had just been drawn between them. “I want to stay with you.”
The cool night’s air couldn’t rush through her lungs fast enough. The next words he said would define their relationship, which was almost comical because they barely knew each other. Yet, she felt like she knew him best of all the people in the lodge. The moment they met, she had a feeling deep down inside like her life was about to change in some way. Now she knew what that feeling was. She was falling for him. It was illogical but no less true.
“On one condition,” he said. “You’ll need your sleeping bag.”
“OK. I’ll go get it.”
“No need.” He unzipped the tent flap, revealing two sleeping bags.
“Isn’t that convenient?” She bit back a smile. “Were you waiting for me?”
“No. But I like to be prepared for anything. I have to warn you, it’s not as comfortable as that big bed back in the room. I know sleeping on the ground’s not your cup of tea, Fancy Girl.”
“I can stand if you can.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m tougher than I look.”
“I know.” He caressed her cheek.
“It’s a lovely night. Why don’t you teach me about what you see when you look up at night’s sky?”
“Sounds like a deal.”
They removed the cover on the moon net, then got nestled into the sleeping bags. Although they were in separate bags, they nestled close to each other.
“You see that star right there?” Chance pointed to a star shining brightly.
“Yes.”
Shannon listened as Chance talked about the stars and the constellations with such poetic grace in his deep, sinewy voice. The words fell over her like a warm, comforting blanket. The last thing she remembered before she rested her head on his shoulder and her eyes closed was tha
t this was the best she’d felt in a long time.
CHAPTER SIX
Chance did his best to ease out of the sleeping bag and unzip the tent flap without waking Shannon. He liked listening to the world before it got ready to get on with the day.
He’d always been an early riser, and today was no different. It was pretty nice waking up with Shannon next to him this morning. She’d stayed the night even though he had doubts she’d be able to sleep. Boy was he wrong. She’d fallen asleep as he talked to her about the stars. There was always something surprising to learn about a person when you slept with them. He’d observed from the camping outings he’d been on that people were prone to sleepwalking, eating, and a host of other things they weren’t aware they did.
And Shannon was no different. For all her beauty and grace, she snored like a bear cub taking a really good nap. She also talked in her sleep. She rambled on about shoes and the folders on Sam’s desk. But it was when she started mumbling about Paris that’s when it seemed like a nightmare started. He’d nudged her a few times, and she’d woken in a haze only to cuddle closer to him and go back to sleep. He still remembered the look of panic on her face when Janie mentioned their trip to Paris at the restaurant. For all the frivolity they had, Paris had been a different experience for Shannon, but her friends didn’t seem to pick up on the tension.
The sounds of nature coming alive as the day began were like music to him. It gave him a chance to clear his head and think. He’d been so preoccupied with Shannon the last couple of days he’d forgotten to lament about the things going on in his life. Not that he had all that much to complain about. Business was great. The trade show had opened his eyes to new merchandise and services he’d like to offer in the store. Now it was time to make a final decision about whether or not they were ready to open another store. Usually going down his list of professional accomplishments were enough to get his juices flowing, but not this morning. He’d spent the night with a gorgeous woman and didn’t lay a hand on her. It was depressing, but he’d learned something new about himself. He’d resisted previous immature impulses in the name of getting to know Shannon. That was worth more than a hot one-night stand. He had the feeling it could be more than that.
He heard her stirring inside the tent.
“Good morning.” He leaned down, pulled back the flap and reached for her hand to help her up.
“Good morning to you too.” She grasped his hand. She stood and looked around. “What time is it?”
“Five a.m.” He smiled. “I would ask how you slept, but I think your hair tells the whole story.”
“Do I have bed head?”
He reached up and smoothed her hair. “I think you mean sleeping bag head.”
“I need coffee.” She yawned.
“Me too. Let’s go inside. I’ll get the coffee going. Why don’t you go shower and change?”
“OK.” She followed him inside, then went upstairs.
He turned on the coffeemaker, then looked for grounds. Once that was loaded and ready to brew, he looked in the fridge. Brian and Cheyenne were on the chore list for making breakfast, but he was already downstairs. Why not use his time constructively?
An hour later the gang had all wandered downstairs and to the table. Shannon looked cute in her hiking outfit. She’d even put her hair into a loose top knot. They all sat down, and after a quick grace, they ate their food and began plotting out the day. He looked around the table. Everyone had taken his advice and dressed comfortably. Well, everyone except Brooks. He had on some designer sports gear that they mainly sold to the weekend warriors who shopped at the store. Brooks looked like he was ready for a photo shoot instead of a day of fun with friends.
“Shannon, I knocked on your door last night,” Fiona said. “I was in desperate need of a French braid.”
“We slept outside in the tent last night,” Shannon replied.
Everyone stopped eating and stared at her.
“What?” Shannon asked. “We did come here to be around nature.”
“You camped outside?” Janie sipped on her orange juice. “I remember you screaming for your dad to come get you one summer.”
“It was such a beautiful night for stargazing and other things,” Chance said as he bit on a piece of bacon. Brooks had been giving him the stare down since he sat down at the table. Brooks looked like he wanted to hurl his fork at him.
“That’s so romantic.” Janie hit Josh. “Why don’t you anything like that for me?”
Josh shook his head. “Because, sweetheart, you have an aversion to everything. Remember last summer when I suggested we get an RV and take a road trip? You said you wouldn’t be caught dead in a studio apartment on wheels.”
“Are we ready to go?” Chance wiped his face with his napkin. “Did anyone look at the trail maps?”
“I like the Talligan trail. It’s not that long, and there’s not a lot of rough terrain,” Fiona said.
Brooks balked. “I think we should do something more aggressive. Let’s go white water rafting. We’re here to get some exercise.”
“I think we should do something that’s not too strenuous,” Liv lamented.
“What’s the fun in that?” Brooks said.
“Remember, we are here to have fun,” Chance said. That was the lie when Brooks set this plan into motion at the restaurant. But he wasn’t going to let Brooks goad the group onto a trail that would exhaust them.
“Boring,” Brooks replied. “Isn’t this supposed to be a fun weekend? It feels more like naptime at a kindergarten class. Guys versus girls.”
“OK. I will take the ladies on my team. Brooks can lead the guys. First group to the end point are the winners,” Chance said.
“This is too easy. Care to make it interesting?” Brooks smirked.
“What do you have in mind?”
“First one to the designated meeting place wins. Punishment to be determined.”
“You’re on.” Chance wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Ladies, we’ll meet on the porch in ten minutes to go over our strategy.”
“My team will be ready to leave an hour after their leave time.” Brooks chuckled. “We’ll do the chivalrous thing and let the ladies go first.”
“Are you saying you’re giving us an hour head start and we’re still going to lose?” Fiona glared at Brooks.
“Come on, Fiona. I’ve known you for a long time. The only time I’ve seen you move your butt was to get to a shoe sale.”
“What are you implying?” Fiona fired back. “I work out every day.”
“Fi.” Zach laughed. “You do yoga. It’s not real exercise.”
Chance watched as everyone around the table started yelling at each other. He couldn’t tell if Fiona was more offended that the idiot said she wasn’t in shape to row in the raft or that Fiona would be caught looking for a sale. At least it was getting the ladies motivated. Brooks may have had brawn on his side, but like all weekend warriors, he’d go full throttle and lose steam three-quarters of the way. They wanted the chauvinists to eat dirt, and that was enough motivation to keep them focused today.
Shannon leaned over to him. “I hope you know what you started.”
“It will be fine.” He winked at her.
“How can you say that?” She looked horrified. “You just challenged a bunch of wannabe jocks to a showdown.”
“I just spent an entire night with you in a tent trying to be a gentleman. I could row that damn raft by myself across the English Channel.”
“Oh.” She smiled. “Well then, the ladies won’t let you down.”
* * *
Chance poured the last of the tequila into the blender, put the cover on, and pressed the start button. It was the last ingredient he needed to make his signature cocktail that he aptly named the Last Chance Saloon. It consisted of a little bit of everything behind the bar with a splash of vermouth. The ladies, who were still riding high from their win this afternoon, were determined to stick by their decision that the chau
vinist men in their lives weren’t invited to the party or inside the lodge.
As he predicted, Brooks and the boys overplayed their hand grandstanding, thinking they had the race in the bag. He kept the ladies focused, paddling in a rhythm that was steady, and kept a cool head whenever the current got rough. But it was their determination to prove the boys wrong that did the trick. Chance was just happy to be with Shannon. They continued to talk and she included him in the antics with her girlfriends. They told him amusing, embarrassing stories of Shannon as a kid, and it was hard to believe she was once skinny with a face full of metal until she began to blossom in her teens.
They were so busy chatting that they sailed across the finish line without breaking a sweat. And their revenge on their boyfriends was ever so sweet. The ladies put their heads together and decided to banish the men to the dog house. They’d been sent outside with their tents and sleeping bags and told to have a nice day.
Janie had one of the Regency security specialists go get pizzas from her favorite restaurant. The ladies had all gone up and changed into pajamas and were looking pretty cozy. It was like something out of a dream, a bunch of women dressed in their evening attire dancing around to music and lavishing attention on him. But he only had eyes for Shannon. She was sporting a top that said Spoiled Rotten and a pair of short shorts.
The doorbell rang.
“Pizza!” Fiona said as she held up her martini glass. They opened the door, and the two specialists must have had twenty boxes between them. The ladies set the table and began eating.
“Girls, we can’t let them starve.” Shannon bit her lip.
“I put a can of beans on the porch a half hour ago,” Janie said.
“I think we should be nice.” Shannon sighed. “Chance, can you take a few boxes to the boys?”
“OK.” He picked up four boxes and headed outside.
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