Jon fisted his hands on his hips. “The other two are with the media, then?”
“Yep, we’ll have full TV coverage for this trip. That’s why I asked you and Roman to wear company logo T-shirts. Might as well get a little extra publicity for Wilde Waters in any footage they shoot.”
One gray brow rose. “What, no Secret Service? I’m disappointed. I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around the idea of men in suits, paddling through rapids.”
Sawyer grinned. “I inquired about that in an email. Walton’s aide responded that he’d declined protection when it was offered. Maybe he didn’t feel it fit his common man image.”
“Having someone dog my footsteps would give me the heebie-jeebies. I don’t blame him for blowing off the glorified bodyguards.” Jon shrugged one shoulder. “Well, since the gang’s all here, go give your safety speech so we can shove off. I assume Gregor already left?”
“He took the tents and food with him in the oar boat and should have camp set up by the time we get to our stopping point for the day.” Sawyer glanced behind him at the river. After a recent rainstorm, the water was running high for September. “Let’s hope we don’t have any problems along this stretch.”
Pulling sunglasses from his pocket, Jon cleaned them on the hem of his T-shirt and squinted over at the group as they reached the bottom of the steep trail. “The three and four man rafts are easy enough to manage. How do you intend to divvy up the group?”
“Since no one has any experience, they can divide up however they like. We’ll be doing the lion’s share of the paddling.”
“Fine by me. I’m up for the challenge. Based on appearances and my keen observational powers, I’d guess one of the media hounds, the woman and the brother-in-law will pull their own weight. Maybe split them up to balance the rafts. If the others are useless, it won’t matter so much.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Sawyer grabbed the stack of life vests. “Let’s do this.”
Fifteen minutes later, they pushed off, and Sawyer settled into the rhythm of the river. At the front of the raft, the congressman’s son kicked back and closed his eyes, making no pretense at helping. The journalist, Liam Kennedy, had a white-knuckled grip on his paddle and breathed hard through his mouth. Since they hadn’t even reached the first set of rapids, Sawyer prayed the man wouldn’t hyperventilate before they stopped for lunch.
Devin met his gaze, glanced toward the other two, then rolled her eyes. At least she seemed relaxed. And, she’d been the first to claim a spot in his raft. Since a steady view of those incredible legs for the next few hours wasn’t exactly a hardship, his mood had lightened considerably.
“This is fun. I haven’t been rafting in years, not since my friend Ainslee and I took a daytrip on the Hudson when we were both living in New York.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” He cleared his throat. “How do you like working for Walton?”
She tore her gaze away from the dense evergreen forest surrounding them and smiled. “The man’s a dynamo, which makes the work exhausting at times but never boring.” She shot a glance toward the reporter in the front of the raft then lowered her voice. “I thought Walton was crazy when he decided to run for president, but I honestly think he might pull it off.”
“Presidential aide sounds a lot better than congressional aide. I imagine you’re almost as anxious as he is about the election’s outcome.”
Her nose scrunched up. “You’d think, but if he wins, I’ll probably quit. I’d never be able to take the kind of pressure that revolves around the White House.”
Sawyer adjusted their course to avoid a boulder. “You seem pretty competent to me.”
“Oh, I am. I guess I should have said I don’t want that kind of pressure. Honestly, after four years, I’ve had about enough of DC. All this travel for campaigning is getting old fast.” She sighed. “It was exciting at first, but at this point, I’m tired of living out of a suitcase. And I miss my dog.”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind a nomadic lifestyle, but then I only live this way for a few months each summer. What do you do with your dog when you’re on the road?”
“Tiny hangs out with my parents in Vermont. He’s been up there for a few months now. God only knows when I’ll be able to reclaim him.”
Digging in with the paddle, he sent the raft cruising into the main current. “Tiny? What is he, a Chihuahua?”
Devin snorted with laughter. “Hardly, but he was the runt of the litter, hence his name. Tiny’s a Harlequin Great Dane. Outweighs me by about thirty pounds.”
“Good God.”
“You can understand why I don’t travel with him.” Another sigh slipped out, and her eyes darkened. “The problem isn’t just my schedule. Most of the people I’ve met in Washington aren’t as genuine as Walton. After November, I may just bow out no matter what the outcome of the election.”
“To do what?”
She shrugged. “It would depend on where I find work. I grew up in Small Town, USA, first in Iowa, then later in Vermont. Thank God I escaped my podunk roots to go to college in New York City.” Her sober gaze met his. “I’ll admit I was struggling to make ends meet when I met the congressman. The job with Walton happened kind of by accident, and while I’ve enjoyed the challenge of the last few years, I’m ready for a change.”
“Nothing wrong with small towns.” Sawyer dipped his paddle into the current and leaned into the handle to straighten the raft. “They’re a hell of a lot less stressful than cities.”
“You sound like my dad.” She rolled her eyes. “Small towns might be more practical for dog walking, but they don’t have a lot to offer in the way of culture. Or nightlife. Or decent restaurants. Or—”
“I get your point, or points…but we’ll have to agree to disagree. A few days spent in a city makes me want to run screaming back to the woods. Tell me about your meeting with Walton. A job by accident? I bet an interesting story lurks beneath that statement.”
A smile curved her lips. “Maybe I’ll give you the in-depth version sometime.” She straightened and frowned then hooked a strand of hair behind one ear. “If that roaring means what I think, right now I may need all my concentration to stay in the raft.”
“You’ll do fine.” He poked the congressman’s son with a sandal-clad foot. “Dwight, wake up. Rapids ahead. You might want to hold on.”
“Rapids?” The journalist’s voice quavered as he, too, straightened and stared. “Oh, God.”
The raft jostled and bounced as they entered the whitewater. With a strong grip on his paddle, Sawyer steered to the right, taking the easiest route. “Of course, rapids.” He raised his voice to be heard over the thundering water. “What did you expect on a Class IV river?”
“Not this raging torrent!” Kennedy dropped his paddle in the raft and clamped an arm around the inflated side. “Oh, shit!”
They dipped and bobbed while Sawyer and Devin paddled hard, careening off rocks and swirling through an eddy. A spray of water shot up, drenching all four of them before the raft settled into calmer waters.
“Whoo-hoo!” Devin pushed wet hair out of her eyes. “That was crazy fun!”
“Fun?” Dwight turned and scowled. “Are you insane? I’m soaked.”
“You’ll dry.” Sawyer returned Devin’s grin. “You liked that?”
She let out a sigh. “What a rush.”
Kennedy crawled up out of the bottom of the raft and readjusted his glasses. “I’m just thankful we’re all still alive. Is that the worst of it?”
“Hell…er, heck, no. We’re just getting started.” Sawyer met Devin’s bright blue gaze. Despite his clammy T-shirt and wet hair, a tingle of heat shot straight through him. He released a long breath. “The best is still to come.”
Chapter 2
Devin tossed the chicken bone onto her plate next to the remains of her potato salad and licked barbecue sauce off her fingers. If she wasn’t careful, she’d gain weigh
t on this trip. The food, prepared by a guy named Gregor who had flaming red hair and tattoos covering every square inch of exposed skin, was excellent.
Her gaze strayed toward Sawyer, elbow deep in dishwater as he cleaned up after their meal. Obviously the owner of the rafting company wasn’t above pitching in to do the dirty work. They were an odd team but seemed to work well together. The older man, Jon, with his quick wit and ready smile, gathered dirty plates beside the tattooed cook. The youngest member of the company, Roman, who’d told her he’d been hired temporarily to replace an injured crew member, dried the pot his boss handed him then dropped it into a rubber tub. His hands fisted on his hips as his attention strayed toward the congressman’s son who sat alone down near the water on a large rock. When the boy swore and shoved his phone back in his pocket, the blond guide grinned.
Devin didn’t blame him for his uncharitable attitude. Dwight was irritating as hell ninety-five percent of the time.
Next to her, Walton let out a sigh. “I was hoping my son would enjoy this week, that the trip would bring us closer.”
“Only having sporadic cell service and no Wi-Fi is already taking a toll on him.”
“Damn kids can’t survive five minutes without all their devices.” The congressman stretched his legs out in front of him. “Honestly, I’m enjoying the freedom of being disconnected.”
Devin smiled. “I am, too. No ringing phones. No emails to answer. No Syd barking orders. I think I’m in heaven.”
“You can bet my campaign manager will be in touch the second we have service again. But, I agree, maybe we are in heaven.” Walton waved toward the thick pine and spruce forest surrounding their camp on the river’s edge. “Looks like God’s country to me.”
Devin glanced toward the river. Gathering dusk cast long shadows across the water. “This place is beautiful in a primitive sort of way. I don’t imagine the land has changed much in the last millennium.”
“Probably not.” Hands pressed to his thighs, her boss rose to his feet. “I promised that weasely reporter I’d answer a few of his questions after dinner. May as well get it over with.”
“His name’s Liam. Be nice. Should I sit in on the interview, just to make sure he doesn’t ask anything you shouldn’t answer?”
“I’ve got this under control. Stay here and relax.” With a wink, Walton strolled away.
“You finished?” The older guide paused in front of her.
“We are.” Devin stacked her dirty plate on top of the congressman’s then handed Jon both. “Thanks, dinner was delicious.”
“You’re welcome.” He offered a pleasant grin. “We aim to please. Especially Sawyer. He’s all about accommodating our guests.”
One brow shot up. “Oh?”
Jon nodded. “Just ask if you need anything at all.”
As he walked away, Devin’s gaze drifted back to the man scrubbing a grill crusted with barbecue sauce, forehead creased, biceps bulging. A few personal needs he might satisfy came to mind, and her cheeks heated. Sawyer Wilde was too damned gorgeous for any woman’s peace of mind. After Porter had stomped all over her heart then given it a few additional kicks for good measure, she’d sworn not to jump into another relationship until she’d had some serious downtime to reflect on exactly why she was so awful at judging men.
Devin chewed her lip as her gaze narrowed on the object of a few of her more creative fantasies. However, a quick fling might not be such a bad idea. During a wild ride through one set of rapids after another as they’d plunged down the river that afternoon, those strong arms had strained to keep the raft from capsizing. She’d been so busy watching every muscle in Sawyer’s body flex, she’d completely forgotten to paddle a few times. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. The man was all wrong for her, but apparently her hormones hadn’t gotten the newsflash.
Finished with the dishes, Sawyer bent over to pick up an armful of dead limbs. Old sweatpants had never looked so fine. He turned to place the branches carefully on the campfire then dusted his hands on his thighs.
Devin swallowed then looked away.
A few days spent cozying up to their hunky guide would surely go a long way toward making her forget she’d ever been stupid enough to fall for a man who cared only about himself…and how far she could advance his career. Just as soon as she worked up the energy to initiate a conversation, she’d get to know Sawyer a little better and find out where their week together might lead.
At least she’d seen Porter for the jerk he was before he’d done too much damage to her ego. It felt good to know she’d been the one to dump him. Giving herself a mental pat on the back for that, she let go of some of the tension she’d been harboring for the last couple of weeks since her big break up. Devin relaxed into the camp chair and sighed. After a hard day of paddling, the melodic lapping of the river against the shore had an almost hypnotic effect. Her lids drooped.
“You falling asleep?”
Her eyes popped open. “Hmm? Uh, I guess so.” Straightening, she yawned then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Wow, all that paddling makes a person tired.”
Sawyer lowered onto the chair beside her and smiled. “Riding rapids is a good workout. I imagine you’ll sleep well tonight.”
She made a face. “In a sleeping bag on the ground?”
“The pads are nice and thick. What, you don’t like camping?”
“I did when I was a little kid, if you call outdoor sleepovers camping.” Devin smiled. “My best friend and I used to pitch a tent in the yard and tell each other ghost stories after it got dark. We scared ourselves silly.”
“My brothers and I did that, too.” His eyes sparkled in the light cast by the dancing flames of the campfire. “Good memories.”
“I suppose.” She hunched closer to the warmth. “How many brothers?”
“Two brothers and one sister. You?”
“Only child, but Ainslee was like a sister—until we left Iowa to move to Vermont when I was in junior high. Even after so many years apart, we still see each other whenever we can.”
“That’s weird…” His eyes widened as he stared at her. “Unbelievable.”
“What?” She swiped a hand across her mouth. “Do I have barbecue sauce on my face or something?”
He grinned. “No, I was marveling at how small the world is.”
Devin glanced around at the endless forest. “Doesn’t seem so small to me. Did I miss something?”
“It didn’t click the first time you mentioned your friend, Ainslee. A while back, I was discussing this trip with my brother, and Griff told me his girlfriend’s old pal worked for the congressman. I’d completely forgotten until—”
“Griff?” She straightened in her chair. “You know Ainslee’s Griff?”
“I should. He’s my older brother. I’m surprised you didn’t make the connection. Granted, the name Wilde isn’t that unusual, but—”
A smile grew. “Oh, my God, you’re the reason Ainslee thought about dumping Griff last June. We ran into each other in California when Walton was there for a fundraiser and talked for a couple of hours. She wasn’t very happy the man she was so crazy about ditched her to go hang out on a rafting trip with his brother and a bunch of movie stars.”
“I was shorthanded for that trip, and he bailed me out. They were filming scenes for a big blockbuster, and I wanted to impress the studio with my ultra-efficient operation. That kind of repeat business could really enhance Wilde Waters’s reputation.” He let out a breath. “Anyway, Griff totally freaked when he realized Ainslee was in danger out in California, and he couldn’t help her because he was with me in Utah.”
“I didn’t hear about that part until well after the fact. Thank heaven everything worked out. When I called her last month, our conversation got cut short. She sounded really happy, but I honest to God don’t think she ever mentioned Griff’s last name to me.”
“The way my brother talks, those two are in it for th
e long haul. If we hadn’t met on this trip, we would probably have run into each other eventually at some family function.”
Devin wrapped her arms around her legs and leaned her chin on her knees. “I guess it really is a small world.” She narrowed her eyes. “Your brother better be good to Ainslee or I’ll kick his ass.”
“Go for it. I’d back you up, but I don’t think he’ll give you a reason. The guy has it bad for your friend.”
They smiled at each other.
“Good.” A touch of envy stirred deep in her gut. She’d thought Porter was crazy about her, too—until she discovered he just wanted an in with the congressman. “Griff’s a good guy, right? Dependable? Faithful?”
“He’s the best, and I’m not just saying that because we’re brothers.”
The green-eyed monster bit a little harder. “I never meet men like him. The ones I gravitate toward always seem to have an agenda.”
Sawyer leaned back in his chair and studied her. “That’s what you get for hanging out in a city. Country boys know how to treat women.”
A smile built. “You don’t say?”
“I do say.”
The grin grew wider. “So, if I ditch our nation’s capital, I’d be more likely to run into a terrific guy like Griff? Do you suppose he has a brother?”
Sawyer’s laugh drew the interest of the rest of the group as conversations paused. Walton shot her a curious glance before returning his attention to the reporter.
“As a matter of fact, he has two.”
She pressed a hand to her lips to hold back a snicker. “Are they as good looking as Ainslee claims Griff is?”
“Better. Well, Tripp is. He gets all the girls.”
“In that case, I want to meet Tripp.”
“I think he’s in New Zealand right now, but I wouldn’t swear to it.” His eyes gleamed with amusement. “I guess you’ll have to make do with me.”
“A tough job, but I suppose someone has to do it...” The campfire snapped, and sparks shot skyward. Devin settled more comfortably into her chair. “Now I’m curious to hear all about your family since my BFF seems to have signed on for the duration. Honestly, from what Ainslee’s told me, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about an engagement soon.”
Wilde Side Page 2