“You were joking. I know that. Forget I opened my big mouth. Talk about unprofessional. Good God, I—”
“Our relationship doesn’t feel professional. You’re family friends with Walton, and we’re very close.” She stiffened. “Please don’t take that out of context. I didn’t mean we’re—”
“No worries. I know how you meant it. Anyway, my godfather isn’t the cheating type, and he loves his wife.” Sawyer gave her a reassuring smile. “There’s also the Griff and Ainslee connection. Maybe all these interlocking relationships are why you don’t seem like just another client on a rafting trip.”
Somewhere in the night, a cricket chirped, breaking the silence that fell between them. At their feet, the fire snapped and popped as the last of the branches he’d added settled into the glowing coals.
“I wasn’t completely kidding.”
He swallowed hard. “You weren’t?”
“Nope, I like your genuineness. A refreshing change.” Her voice hardened. “But let’s give it a couple of days to get to know each other better. Despite the impression I probably gave you, I don’t share a…tent with every good-looking man I meet.”
“I never imagined you did.”
“Good night, Sawyer.” With a final backward glance, she turned and disappeared into the darkness.
“Wow.” The whispered word melted into the night. Sawyer dropped to his knees then crawled into his sleeping bag to stare up at the inky sky. Devin wasn’t the kind of woman he was looking for, but the erratic beat of his heart argued the point despite all the evidence to the contrary. She favored cities and dated men who wore suits. He spent half the year living in a tent and put on a clean pair of jeans when he wanted to dress up. Their lifestyles were polar opposites.
Maybe different wasn’t so bad. Change was good for the soul, wasn’t it? Stimulating. He grimaced. Right now, imagining the soft curves beneath those damn penguin pajamas, he was so stimulated he’d probably never get back to sleep.
Turning on his side, he gave his pillow a couple of whacks then bunched it beneath his head. If Devin was interested, he sure wouldn’t turn her down. Hell no. Like the river behind him, he’d just go with the flow and enjoy her company for the next few days. Not let himself worry about what would happen when the trip ended.
His problem was he thought things to death. This time he’d turn off his brain and go with his gut. A grin slipped out. Or possibly other parts of his anatomy. As long as his heart wasn’t involved, it was all good.
* * * *
Devin stretched her legs out in front of her on the rocky ground, took a sip of her raspberry-flavored drink then closed her eyes to soak in the afternoon sun. Some of the others in the group were talking together while they munched chips and drank sodas, but the details of their conversation were drowned out by the roar of the nearby rapids. Which was just fine with her. She was sorely in need of some alone time. Between the off-color jokes and constant bickering about sports, she was on a testosterone overload.
When her cell rang, she nearly toppled off her perch. Talk about an intrusion… By the time she dug her phone out of the waterproof container in her bag, the call had gone to voicemail. After listening to Syd’s urgent message, she called Walton’s campaign manager back.
When he answered on the first ring, she got straight to the point. “Everything is fine here, honestly. No need to stress out since the media is playing by the rules we set up ahead of time.”
“Glad to hear it.” The gruff voice paused. “When neither you nor Walton responded to my messages, I started to worry.”
“Service is super spotty on the river. I was shocked when my phone rang.”
“Oh. Then we’ll make this quick. How’s Walton handling the rapids? Does he look presidential or like he might cave in under a little pressure?” His voice deepened. “This whole plan could blow up in our faces.”
Devin grinned as she pictured Syd’s mustache twitching while he paced in a circle. “Actually, our boss is handling the river pretty darn well, all things considered.”
“What things?” His voice took on a dire tone.
“Just a touch of food poisoning. He’s fine now.”
“Goddamn it, I knew there’d be adverse consequences to this trip!”
A shout came from upriver. “I see the raft. Get ready to film.” Liam stood atop a boulder, video camera poised.
Devin craned her neck toward the action. “Syd, I have to go. I’ll talk to you next time I have service, but you don’t need to worry. I’m doing my job.”
“You’d better. I—”
She clicked the phone off and dropped it in her bag.
Yancy, the older member of the two-man media team, hefted a camera to his shoulder and pointed it at the heart-stopping Pistol Creek rapids. They’d all managed to survive the descent before taking a short break. Most of the group had survived, anyway. The jury was still out on the fate of her boss, Dwight and Alex, who were in Sawyer’s raft coming through now. Liam had insisted on filming a segment featuring Walton and the two boys, guaranteed to entertain and excite the viewing public.
Devin had complete faith in Sawyer’s ability to muscle the raft through the drops and turns in the long set of rapids with style. She wished she was as certain Walton and the two teens would master the experience without disgracing themselves. Expressions of extreme terror in the face of nature in the raw were the exact images the campaign manager feared most.
“Whoo-hoo! This is epic. When they get closer, focus on Hinsdale’s face if you can. I’m getting background footage.” Liam’s shout was barely audible over the roaring river.
“You know it!” Yancy anchored his feet on the river’s edge and swung the camera, presumably to better follow the raft’s progress as it careened through the rapids.
Bouncing and dipping, the occupants paddled hard at Sawyer’s barked instruction. Even Dwight was putting in maximum effort. Devin grinned. Apparently the kid didn’t want to look lame on national television. The congressman sat erect, face composed, though she sensed a nervous tension in the way his jaw clenched as they dropped down the final chute into calmer waters. Below her, the others cheered as the raft nudged up to the shore.
“Nicely done.” Jon held the front of the raft while the two boys scrambled onto the rocky beach. “You looked like pros out there.”
“Scared the crap out of me.” Walton let out a long breath then glanced her way. “Did it show?”
“Not at all. America will be impressed.”
“Let’s hope. What a day.” He climbed up to her viewpoint and collapsed beside her.
Devin forced her gaze away from Sawyer, who’d just pulled his soaking wet shirt off to wring it out, and focused on her boss. “How’re you feeling?”
“Not my best. All that heaving last night made me sore.” He pressed a hand to his stomach. “Whatever it was, I got it out of my system.”
“Be thankful you did. I’m not sure how medical emergencies are handled out here in the middle of nowhere.” She frowned. “Still, it’s odd you were the only one to get sick.”
“I’ve never been able to tolerate spicy food. Maybe it was the barbecue sauce, not the potato salad.” He let out a sigh. “It’s over. I’m sure it’ll be smooth sailing—or should I say rafting—from here on out.”
“Let’s hope.” Her attention returned to Sawyer, who was talking to Jon. The object of her midnight fantasies shook his head then pulled his shirt back on. Too bad. Sawyer had abs to die for. She looked away and nudged her boss. “Um, you’d better go grab a snack if you want one. I imagine we’ll be heading back down the river shortly.”
“Not hungry.” Walton leaned against a rock and closed his eyes. “I just want to rest in the sun until we leave.”
“I got a call from Syd.”
Her boss didn’t even blink. “Did you assure him all is fine?”
“I did.” Devin rose to her feet. “I’ll leave you to snooz
e in the sun. By the way, great job on those rapids. You really did look impressive, and I know that took some effort.”
He cracked open one lid. “It was a rush in the same terrifying way rollercoasters are. Never could understand why people enjoy those things.”
“I adore rollercoasters and bungee jumping and hang gliding and—”
He closed his eye again. “You’re crazy.”
“So I’ve been told. Have a nice nap.” Stepping carefully across the slippery ledge, Devin made her way over to the guides.
The men broke off their conversation and turned to face her. Jon spoke first. “Something we can do to help you?”
Her gaze flicked from the older man’s wide grin to Sawyer’s closed expression. He was definitely hard to read, and after their conversation the previous night, she wasn’t at all sure what he thought of her.
She cleared her throat. “I was wondering how long we’ll stay here.”
Sawyer glanced toward the congressman and back. “We were just discussing that. Walton looks wiped out. I think we’ll hang out for a while before heading down to our campsite. No reason to rush.”
“In that case, maybe I’ll go for a short hike. I’d like to stretch my legs.”
“Why don’t you go with her, Sawyer?” Jon poked his boss with an elbow. “Make sure she doesn’t get lost since there’s not much of a trail to follow.”
Devin backed up a step. “You don’t have to—”
“Actually, I’d love to get in a little exercise.” Sawyer interrupted her protest then flashed a quick smile. “We won’t be gone long.” Laying a hand on her arm, he guided her up the hillside studded with rocks and trees.
“I’m not exactly dressed for a serious hike.” She glanced down at her neon orange bikini top paired with flowered board shorts and water sandals.
“As long as the shoes have decent tread and are comfortable, you’ll be fine. We aren’t scaling any mountains.”
“If you say so.” She waved toward the hillside. “Looks pretty mountainous to me.”
“We aren’t going to the top. A few years ago I discovered a spot with a terrific view only a short climb from here.”
Devin panted a little as she dropped behind him on the trail up the rugged slope. The man had the skills of a mountain goat. She didn’t have any breath left for a conversation and was thankful he didn’t seem to expect one. Pushing her sunglasses up her nose, she wiped sweat off her brow and wondered what his definition of a short climb was.
When they reached a tricky section with a steep pitch and loose gravel, he reached back to take her hand. “Watch your step here.”
“You think?” She inched along, afraid to pry her gaze off her feet. The big hand clamped around hers added a layer of confidence she sorely needed on the open cliff face with its narrow ledge. “I’m glad I’m not afraid of heights. Not much, anyway.”
He hesitated then shot her a concerned glance. “Sorry, the thought never even occurred to me. You seem so ultra-confident about everything.”
“Thanks, but this is a little outside my comfort zone.” She let out a sigh when they reached the other side and the ground leveled out a bit. “However, I’m always up for a challenge.”
“Good to know.”
Devin skipped a step to catch up as the trail widened and they were able to walk side-by-side. “I’ve been missing my dog and feeling guilty for hiking without him, but now I’m glad he isn’t with us.”
Sawyer glanced down at her. “Oh, why’s that?”
“Tiny is a total klutz. He’d have fallen over his own feet and nose-dived off the cliff.”
A grin flashed, and he squeezed the hand he still held. “I thought dogs were supposed to resemble their owners. Nothing uncoordinated about you.”
“Good thing, or I wouldn’t have made it across that ledge.”
“Yeah, you would have. Anyway, we’ve arrived.”
They rounded a bend, and the vista opened up to majestic splendor. Below them, the Salmon River sliced through an evergreen bowl studded with patches of early fall color, bright nuggets in a sea of green.
Devin drew in a breath. “Beautiful.”
His gaze held steady on her face. “Without a doubt.” He motioned toward a low rock. “Want to sit for a while?”
“Sure.” She dropped down then slid over to make room for him. “Thanks for bringing me up here. The view is worth those few minutes of nail-biting.”
He leaned back, one elbow brushing hers. “I needed a little peace and quiet away from the group.”
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing earlier.”
“Until I busted in on your alone time?” He gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that.”
“I’m not. You’re restful to be around. Not a lot of chatter. No drama. No whining.”
His grin sent a flutter through her chest before his expression sobered.
“You’re the opposite of restful.”
She drew back. “I am?”
He nodded then ran a finger down the length of her arm. “When I’m around you, I spend most of my time thinking about only one thing.”
The heat in his eyes stole her breath. Her response was a mere whisper. “What do you think about?”
“This.”
Chapter 4
Sawyer couldn’t help himself. Taking Devin’s chin in his hand, he kissed her. She tasted of raspberry soda, sunshine and woman, and smelled almost as good. A mixture of sunscreen, river water and something uniquely Devin. Those full lips were as soft as he’d imagined while lying awake the night before, and she responded with an enthusiasm that set his heart racing. His fingers threaded through silky hair to cup her head as he deepened the contact.
A blue jay squawking in a nearby tree intruded before what he’d intended as a casual kiss got completely out of control. Reluctantly, he broke away.
She let out a gusty breath. “Wow, I guess I was right.”
He pulled back a little farther to look into sparkling blue eyes. “Huh? Right about what?”
“That you’d make me forget all about—” She clamped her teeth together. “Never mind. That was some kiss.”
The brilliant smile that accompanied her words fogged his brain. He cleared his throat and dragged his gaze away. “Uh, I should apologize. I don’t know why I—”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m not. That kiss was on the horizon from the minute we met, as inevitable as the sunrise. The only thing in question is what we want to do about it.”
“Are you always this straight-forward?”
“Pretty much.”
He grinned. “My godfather did warn me—”
“He what!” Her shriek drowned out the squawking jay.
Sawyer held up both hands. “Not in a bad way. He merely mentioned you tell it like it is…and don’t suffer fools.”
Her eyes narrowed. “A little clichéd but basically true. Why were you discussing me in the first place?”
“Walton may have noticed I’ve…admired you a few times when you weren’t looking.”
“Oh, really?”
He winced at the saccharine sweetness of her tone.
“Hey, in my defense, you have the most incredible legs…” He broke off and shrugged. “I’m probably not helping my case with comments like that.”
“I put in a lot of hours at the gym. Good to know they haven’t been wasted.”
A bit of his tension eased. The woman turned him in circles with her reasoning, but he was thankful she didn’t seem offended to hear he’d been checking her out. “Anyway, I told Walton not to worry since we don’t have a whole lot in common. Chances of a meaningful relationship are nil.”
“Except chemistry.” She gave him a long, lingering look. “We’ve got that going for us. In spades.”
Heat shot through him. “I can’t argue with a statement like that.”
“Which brings me back to my original question. What’re we g
oing to do about it?”
His pulse thrummed in the silence as the seconds ticked away. He entertained visions of Devin stretched out on a sleeping bag, minus the penguin pajamas. “What do you want to do about it?”
She lifted one shoulder. “Different isn’t necessarily bad. Lately, the men I’ve dated could be poster boys for guys to avoid…” She sighed. “This raft trip is kind of like a vacation even though I’m technically working. Have you ever had a holiday romance?”
The memory of a long ski weekend with his brother Tripp flashed through his mind. After helping a petrified beginner down an advanced run where her date had ditched her, he’d wound up spending more time in bed than on the slopes. Then there was the spring break in Mexico with Griff… “A couple of times.”
“How’d those turn out?”
“Not bad. We don’t exchange Christmas cards, but no one was hurt when we parted company.”
“Sounds perfect to me.”
“It does?” His voice cracked like an adolescent boy in the throes of puberty.
“Yep. I’m ready for a change. Someone new and different from my usual relationship candidates. Someone nice who has a brain but isn’t devious.” She gave him another up and down perusal. “I’d say you qualify.”
Hadn’t he just told Jon he was ready for more than a casual fling? Vacation romances led nowhere, so why was he even considering her proposal? His gaze went straight to those amazing legs. Okay, maybe he knew why he was going to say yes. Didn’t mean it was a smart choice on his part.
Sawyer reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Of the three Wilde brothers, I’m definitely the nicest.”
“Well, there you go. Case closed.” Her eyes filled with determination—and maybe a tiny hint of fear—as she met his gaze. Any hesitation was gone in a flash. “We were destined to meet, make mad, passionate, crazy love to forget all our problems, and then go back to the real world with smiles on our faces.”
His heart sank a little while everything south of his waist rose to the challenge. “If you say so, I’m not going to argue.”
“Great.” She jumped to her feet then reached for his hand to pull him up. “I’m ready to take a walk on the wild side. Are you in?”
Wilde Side Page 4