The Runaway Bridesmaid

by Kaitlyn Rice

  The man was driving her mad with his switches from hot to cold and stop to start.

  She was driving herself mad.

  If she didn’t find out what he wanted, she’d go crazier, wondering.

  She should go. Ask questions. Find out.

  At Darla’s suggestion she changed into lightweight pants and hiking boots, then said goodbye to Sam, Darla and Angie before she left for the cabins.

  When she approached the clearing in the path that allowed her to view the gathering of males down at the picnic tables, she picked out the tallest, darkest head and homed in on Trevor’s grin.

  For four days she’d craved that smile. Now it only vexed her. Was he trying to make life difficult?

  The climb would be a challenge. She’d be silly to think it’d be easy. The bigger problem, however, would be understanding Trevor.

  But she would.

  Before she agreed to this climbing trip, she would know what was in that man’s head.

  Chapter Nine

  “I’m glad you decided to come,” Trevor said as he met Isabel on the trail, away from the others.

  “I have to admit I was surprised by the invitation.” She peered past his shoulder at the camp kids. The group was growing louder and larger as the boys finished dressing and met near the picnic tables.

  “Don’t be,” he said. “I just thought you might enjoy a day away from the office and Angie.”

  Isabel held his gaze. “I’m still not sure I’m coming,” she said. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re doing first?”

  He’d forgotten how she cut right to the chase. Hard for a guy to maintain a protective wall when a woman cut right to the chase. “I’m inviting you to come climbing with me and the campers,” he said.

  The easier part of the truth.

  “What’s different about today? Yesterday we didn’t say boo to each other.”

  He shrugged. “Yesterday I didn’t have a group climb planned. It’d be a shame for you to return to Kansas without trying your hand at it.” He tried a smile. “It’s my favorite sport.”

  Isabel kept frowning at him, obviously refusing take the invitation at face value. “Why do I get the feeling you’re always holding something back?”

  She was tough.

  “Honestly? Inviting you was a spur-of-the-moment decision,” he said. “Darla told me that the few lodge guests had checked out this weekend, and that she and Sam were planning to take you and Angie to Boulder. You’ve already been shopping several times.”

  “So you told Darla I should climb with you and the campers. I get that. I still don’t know why you went from goodbye forever to…to this. And I don’t know what this is, other than a climbing trip.”

  And he still wasn’t going to tell her.

  He wasn’t sure.

  Only—

  He took in her eyes—sleepy blue, even though she was angry. He scanned her unbelievably soft lips.

  They parted.

  Was that another invitation?

  Should he kiss her again and distract her from her tough questions? Distract himself from his confusion?

  But Isabel peeked over his shoulder again and stepped backward, as if she was suddenly aware that they weren’t alone. “We should be careful. I didn’t tell Darla about the other night.”

  He hoped not. Sam meddled enough already, and Trevor was still too confused to handle Darla, who’d probably tell him to be good to her friend, or else.

  “So when Darla said you wanted me to come with you today, I couldn’t tell her that it wasn’t a good idea, and I couldn’t ask her if she knew why you keep changing. So I really don’t know what you’re doing.” She paused for a breath and then asked, “What are you doing, Trevor?”

  Okay. So her attention hadn’t been diverted. But he still couldn’t tell her what he was doing.

  He hadn’t forgotten her. Hadn’t done anything but handle what he needed to for the camp, and wonder where she was and what she was thinking.

  But if Isabel complained today about the tough climbs, her scraped ankle or the camp-style lunch they would eat later—anything—he might be able to manage his thoughts about her. He might convince himself to let her go home with regrets that weren’t overwhelming.

  “I realized our goodbye was premature,” he said, offering the truth because she wouldn’t let him get away with anything else. “You’re still around and I can’t pretend you’re not. But realize we’ll have thirty chaperones today.” He shook his head. “No repeats of the other night.”

  “Of course not,” she said, but she glanced at his mouth again, then looked in his eyes, brows lifted.

  Waiting for what? Hadn’t he just explained?

  “We really need to head out or we’ll lose the cool of morning. Do want to come with us or not?”

  She glared at him. “You’re not going to tell me why you invited me, are you?”

  “I did.”

  “You are a very aggravating man, do you know that?”

  He turned on his heel, returning to the clearing and cursing himself for giving in to another stupid impulse. The woman’s tenacity was frustrating.

  Well, hell. She could follow him onto the bus or not. He’d deal with her choice, either way.

  He approached the kids, motioning with a wave of his hand that it was time to hike out to the parking lot and load up. He led the group without allowing himself to peek back and see if she was following. When he reached the bus, he climbed on board and into the driver’s seat.

  As the kids piled on, they made an awful racket. This was the group’s first day together, and apparently they were getting along well. Camaraderie could be earsplitting.

  Trevor watched the door of the bus, cursing himself for doing so. He counted the kids and counselors as they climbed the steps. He knew when every kid was on and had found a seat. He knew when it was time to close the dadgum door.

  But he watched it. Waited. Gave her that last half a minute to change her mind.

  She did.

  He saw her appear from behind the side of the lodge and jog toward the bus. She gave him the slightest nod as she came aboard. Then she greeted some of the guys before she sat down about four seats back, next to a beaming Dusty.

  Hallelujah!

  And damn it. He’d just realized.

  He’d never have driven away and left Isabel here. He’d have hopped off the bus, kissed her senseless and hauled her onto it. He hadn’t wanted her to come along with him today so he could find some fault that would enable him to keep an emotional distance.

  She’d probably back down once she saw the rock face. A lot of women would, and that didn’t matter.

  He wanted her to come because he enjoyed being around her. He liked her looks, he liked her attitude, and he even liked the way she called him on his bull.

  He’d been disappointed in himself, for giving up so easily. For refusing to accept the challenge of loving a woman who might very well break him of his cynicism.

  Damn it, some part of him still wanted to believe in the fairy tale.

  AS ISABEL WATCHED the scenery through the bus window, the angry buzz in her head was overtaken by excitement about what she was doing today.

  She’d never dreamed she’d have a chance to try climbing. Josie, the most athletic of the Blume sisters, had learned to ride a jet ski and fish and even hunt, but she’d never climbed. And Callie had once lived in Colorado, but she’d only learned to snow ski.

  Isabel couldn’t wait to tell her sisters about this. She’d been amazed, during her stay here, that keeping in touch via telephone calls had been so easy.

  She couldn’t wait to try climbing.

  “Have you climbed before, Dusty?” she asked her seat mate.

  “Sure. I grew up in Boulder,” he said. “My Scout troop took a couple of climbing excursions every year. I can’t wait to see Trevor in action, though. The Walters brothers told me he’s amazing. Can scramble right up the toughest face without a rope.”

&nb
sp; Isabel glanced toward the front of the bus and realized Trevor was watching her in the rearview mirror.

  She averted her gaze. “You use ropes, then,” she said to Dusty. “I wasn’t sure. Except for what I’ve seen in magazine articles, I know very little about climbing. Tell me how it works.”

  Dusty explained that Trevor was taking them to an area known as Button Rock, and that the camp kids had already spent an hour this morning learning how to attach the ropes and clips that would keep them safe from falls.

  She frowned, wishing she’d been in on the training. Would she learn enough at the last minute?

  One of the kids who’d been sitting up front got up and walked down the narrow bus aisle, stopping to crouch down next to Isabel. “Trevor asked me to switch places with you.”

  She looked at Trevor again, but he was concentrating on the road as he steered around a curve.

  Isabel had considered ignoring him today, to pay him back for refusing to answer her question.

  But when Trevor met her eyes in that mirror and simply nodded, she knew she should go up there and hear him out. “See you later, Dusty.”

  She got up, allowing the skinny blond kid to slide into her seat, then walked to the front to sit in the vacant space behind Trevor.

  “I overheard bits of your conversation with Dusty, and I didn’t want you to worry. If I’d thought of inviting you earlier, I’d have involved you in the training.”

  “Then you are planning to let me climb?”

  “Sure. If you still want to try it after you see what it’s like. No pressure.”

  Isabel fell silent. She was comfortable with the thought that Trevor would keep her and everyone else safe from harm. She did trust him in that way. He was sharp, and he seemed to consider every potential problem before he committed himself or anyone else to a plan.

  Maybe that was why he kept changing on her.

  Perhaps he kept thinking about pitfalls.

  “In the three years we’ve been running the camp, we’ve never had a climbing accident,” Trevor said, apparently mistaking her silence for worry. “A few sprained ankles, a snake bite, some mild dehydration—boys are awful about neglecting to drink water—but we’ve always had safe climbs.”

  “Trevor, I’m not worried. I trust you to get us all through this day without so much as a scratch.”

  He said nothing.

  She thought he didn’t believe her. “I can’t wait to try climbing,” she added.

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “Good.” He caught her eye in the mirror and gave her a little wink.

  That simple facial movement was enough to get her going again, about why he’d asked her to come today. As a friend who knew she’d soon be leaving, as he’d suggested, or as a man who still wanted more from her?

  She still wanted more from him, damn it.

  Those thoughts carried her along the highway until finally Trevor made a left turn into a lot, parked the bus and opened the doors so the boys spilling into the aisle had an outlet.

  Isabel hiked to the site between two seventeen-year-old campers who maintained a steady dispute about which one of them was going to climb the toughest face the fastest.

  Within a half hour, three eager boys were strapped into the harnesses and climbing the rock face while most of the group waited at the bottom. Trevor had scrambled up first to attach the rope systems, amazing everyone with his ability to do so without the aid of ropes.

  Isabel had known he was fit, but she was as impressed as everyone else.

  Two counselors had climbed up after Trevor, and they waited for the boys from above, while Dusty and the Walters brothers stayed below to keep a firm grip on the ropes, also making sure the harnesses were secure before the boys started their climbs.

  Climbing was followed by rappelling down, and the boys’ hoots indicated that they were having a blast.

  Isabel was content to wait her turn. After all, the enthusiastic teenagers were the ones who had paid for an outdoor adventure. About a half hour before lunchtime, however, Isabel realized that their day was going to be cut short.

  Thunderheads were forming out to the west of the canyon and moving in fast. “Has everyone had at least one turn to climb and rappel?” Trevor called out after two of the older campers had made their way down.

  The consensus was that they had.

  “Good, because we’re going to have to quit now.” As the kids groaned their disappointment, Trevor caught Isabel’s eye and winked again.

  Wow. Two winks in one morning. Was this one a conciliatory wink? A promise of some kind? She really needed to figure out the man’s winking system.

  “We can come out here again on Friday morning, if you aren’t too tired from our overnight trip,” Trevor told the group. “For now, let’s head back to the cabins and get packed. Your lunch is on the bus. Go eat, and I’ll be there in a while.”

  Isabel was disappointed, but she understood Trevor’s dilemma. Maybe she could return with the campers on Friday. One of the counselors began to lead the group to the bus, and Isabel fell into line.

  Trevor caught her shirtsleeve and tugged her backward. “Hey, didn’t you want to try this?” he asked.

  “Now?” She eyed the backs of the others, who were well on their way up the path. “Is that possible, with only the two of us here?”

  “I can handle the belay alone, if you want to try it.” He peered at the clouds. “I’d say we have about a half hour, which is enough time for you to get up and back down.”

  She scanned the tall rock face. “Won’t the group be waiting for us? For you?”

  “The kids will be on that bus eating lunch and bragging about how great they did. Think of a strong peanut butter smell, mix it with the odor of sweat and toss in the collective boasts of thirty seventeen-year-old boys.”

  She grimaced. “Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I don’t have much choice.”

  “Do this if you want to, Isabel. I’m only teasing,” Trevor said. “I’ll just grab the equipment, if you prefer.”

  “I’d be disappointed if I didn’t try this.”

  He nodded, his gaze steady and…something else. Affectionate? Respectful?

  Something.

  She wished she could read his thoughts. He helped her strap into the system, and she was glad the boys weren’t around to watch when he put his hands near her thighs to fasten her into the harness.

  Isabel was intensely aware of her sexuality.

  He finished, giving the rope a soft tug to test it. Then he turned to her, the look in those dazzling green eyes saying the very same thing she was thinking—let’s forget about the climb and continue the touching instead.

  But he stepped away. “Go ahead when you’re ready,” he said. “There’s a good handhold up on the right, and you can go from there. After you get up top, wait for me. You can rappel down, then I’ll unfasten the equipment and follow you.”

  Isabel frowned at the rock, finding the small notch in the boulder that he’d mentioned. She moved up about five feet, then had to study the rock before she found places off to the left to continue.

  She loved the challenge of finding the perfect holds for her hands and feet. Of moving upward, past places where she had to stretch for a tenuous hold to move forward.

  Although she knew Trevor was down below, keeping her safe, she was thrilled when she crawled over the top without once needing him to use the pulley system to catch her.

  The view from the top of the cliff was gorgeous. Behind her, another boulder continued upward. Before her, the face dropped about thirty feet and was surrounded by forest.

  She wanted to shout from her high and lonely perch that she’d just climbed a freakin’ Colorado boulder.

  She would have, too, if she didn’t think the busload of boys could hear her.

  Within minutes Trevor had scrambled up behind her, and he grinned immediately when he saw her face. “Guess I don’t have to ask what you thought a
bout that.”

  “Oh, man! It was wonderful! Almost like finishing a complicated piece of stitching or conquering a difficult math problem.”

  He frowned, cocking his head. “I’ve never heard climbing compared to sewing, but I know what you mean. It’s satisfying. A victory.”

  “Right!”

  “Right.” He studied her, his expression sober. When he moved forward, she recognized the look in his eye.

  She intended to kiss him back.

  His lips were warm, salty, loving. There was nothing tenuous about this kiss. He meant to communicate his desire for her, and she returned the same message to him. She opened her mouth to him, accustomed now to the natural sensuality of his kisses.

  She bit into the firm flesh of his lower lip, then felt her tummy flip when he growled. When his tongue tipped against hers, she met it eagerly. She was hungry for anything this sexy, enigmatic man had to offer.

  Unafraid, in this moment, to take him on.

  His hand moved along the side of her ribs, then gently cupped her breasts. Instead of batting his hands away, she moved her own hands around to his muscled back, leaving herself open to him.

  She wished they were touching bare skin.

  He moved his thumbs across her nipples, teasing them while desire shot through her limbs like lightning.

  After a moment, he stopped kissing and looked down at her breasts. His intent expression weakened her knees.

  “Why do I want you so much?” he whispered. “Why can’t I tell myself we’re wrong together and go on?”

  A fat raindrop splashed against Isabel’s cheek, cool and refreshing. Another hit her arm. Then her wrist. Then the top of her head.

  As if he would be willing to wage a battle with all-powerful nature for this particular moment, Trevor scowled toward the sky.

  A drop clouted him on the nose.

  Isabel chuckled.

  “I don’t think we’ll get these sprinkles for long,” he said, returning his gaze to her. “We’d better hurry down.”

  Even though she was disappointed, Isabel grinned.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Think the heavens are trying to tell us something now?”

  He lifted a brow. “Do you believe in that kind of cosmic message?”