“Walton puts up with all the hoopla and negativity that comes with his job because he honestly believes he can make a difference…and maybe heal the divisiveness that’s so rampant in our government.” She lifted one shoulder. “An Independent candidate might be the only hope we have of settling the strife.”
“You could be right.” He rubbed a big hand up and down her back. “Seems like you’ve taken a major portion of his stress upon yourself. Why?”
Ripples of sensation inched along her spine. She fought the need to lean into him for about ten whole seconds before giving in. When her head settled against his shoulder, he wrapped an arm around her to tug her closer still.
“Remember how I told you the congressman and I met by chance?” At his nod, she continued, “Washington, DC and politics was never even remotely on my radar. Art has always been my thing, which is why I can appreciate those little gnomes you carve.”
His chin came to rest atop her head as his hand cupped her hip through the long T-shirt she wore. “Do you paint or sculpt or use some other medium?”
“I paint—but only for my own amusement. I’m not very good.”
His hand squeezed. “Who says?”
“Everyone who’s seen my work.” She grinned. “I don’t take offense since I’m well aware I suck.”
“I don’t know if I could be that blasé about someone insulting my art.”
“That’s because your work is good. Better than good. Exceptional. Unique.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I want to hear your story from start to finish. First, though, let’s get better situated.”
She tilted her chin to glance up at him. The light from the campfire still burning in the rock ring beyond the tent cast his face in shadows, highlighting the planes and angles. “You aren’t comfortable?”
“There’s comfortable, and then there’s snug and cozy.” Turning, he pulled her big bag of clothes directly behind him and, with a couple of contortionist movements in the small space, shifted her to sit between his legs. When she leaned back against his chest, he settled in and wrapped his arms around her. “There, much better.”
She couldn’t argue with that. If she were any cozier, it’d probably be illegal. The scent of fresh air and something woodsy that was his alone surrounded her. In contrast to the soft pad and sleeping bag beneath her, his chest and arms and thighs were all hard with muscle in a good way as he held her tight. She shifted back even farther, to the realization that his muscles weren’t the only thing hard.
“Um, you’re sure you want to talk?”
His arms squeezed. “I do. This is first and foremost a getting to know each other better session.”
The spark of warmth deep in her chest burned a little brighter. “You really are a nice guy. Thoughtful and considerate.”
“I’m a peach.” His words held an ironic twist. “So, after you determined you weren’t destined to be the next Picasso, then what?”
“I love being around beautiful things, so after college, where I majored in art history, I went to work in a museum. This was while I was still living in New York. Needless to say, as a complete newbie, I was on the very bottom rung of the ladder. A glorified gofer.” She sighed. “Barely scrapping by doesn’t begin to cover my financial situation in a place as expensive as Manhattan, so when Ainslee moved to the city to take a teaching position, I welcomed her as a roommate.”
“Sounds like you made your position work.”
She nodded, and her head brushed against his chin. “I was managing just fine until my immediate supervisor left to have a baby. Her replacement was a total jerk.”
“If you tell me he hit on you—”
“She took an instant dislike to me. Probably because I was smarter and more competent than she was.”
“And prettier.” His breath whispered across her ear as he dropped a kiss against her temple.”
A shiver worked through her, and she squirmed against him. “That, too. Anyway, the museum hosted a week-long, western-themed exhibit, and one of the artists featured in the show was an old friend of Walton’s. He and his wife showed up for the very select opening night party—except Lana the lame brain screwed up the works and forgot to confirm with the caterer.”
“So, you were stuck with a bunch of VIPs and no food?”
She smiled. “Worse. No booze.”
Laughter shook his chest. “Much worse. Did your supervisor get the ax?”
“Here’s where the story gets really good.” Devin gritted her teeth. “Lana blamed me for the mix-up. Told the powers that be she’d been trying her best to delegate more responsibility to me. What a crock!” She heaved out a breath. “I called a caterer I knew, the sister of the guy I was dating at the time, and begged her to bail us out. Ally came through with style, using food she’d prepared for another event scheduled the following day and her backup stock of alcohol. Of course that meant the two of us stayed up the rest of the night cooking our brains out to replenish her pantry.”
“Sounds like it pays to know the right people.”
“You bet it does, but do you know what?”
“Do tell.”
She couldn’t hold back a smile. “Most of the guests were late arriving and didn’t even realize a major disaster had been avoided.”
“How does Walton play into this admittedly fascinating but lengthy tale?”
She smacked his arm. “Hey, you’re the one who wanted to talk. As it happens, the congressman overheard me telling the real story to Ally, who by the way, is still a friend of mine even though I ditched her brother. She got all the brains in that family.”
He choked on a laugh. “If we end up dating for any length of time, do I need to provide you with a notarized copy of my SAT scores? They were pretty damn high. I’d even be willing to take an IQ test to prove I’m not an idiot.”
She grinned in the dark. “Since I seem to be drawn to good-looking men who aren’t necessarily the brightest bulbs in the pack, stellar SAT scores would definitely be a point in your favor.”
“Gee, thanks.” His voice dripped sarcasm. “Back to Walton…”
“Oh, he offered me a job on the spot. Told me he could use someone of my caliber who thought on her feet and didn’t let the unexpected throw her for a loop. I thanked him and told him I’d give his proposal some serious consideration.”
His arms tightened around her. “Obviously you decided to take the job.”
“I made the call the next day—right after I got fired from my position at the museum for incompetence.”
“You’re kidding! You didn’t rat out your supervisor?”
Devin shrugged. “What would have been the point? The working environment was pretty unbearable by then. I heard later from a former colleague that Lana got canned after she blew it again and didn’t have me to step in to fix her mess. Karma’s a bitch.”
“I’ll say, and obviously the position with Walton has been a positive move for you. So everything worked out in the end.”
“I’ve enjoyed the challenge of politics, but I do miss my first love. Art.”
His lips trailed down the skin at her nape. “Who was he? A little boy who ate paste and pulled your ponytails?”
“Aren’t you hilarious?” Closing her eyes, she shifted to give him better access to the pulse beating wildly at the side of her neck.
His tongue dipped into a vulnerable spot then traced along her collarbone. “So, do you want to go back to working in a museum?”
Holding in a shiver at his touch, she steadied her voice. “I’ve been thinking about it, but right this minute a career move isn’t my top priority.” She twisted to look up at him, wondering if he could feel her heart beating double-time. “I think we’ve talked enough for one evening, don’t you?”
He nodded then cupped the back of her head to kiss her, a long, slow, drugging caress. When they came up for air, he smiled, a flash of white in the dark. “Good thin
g since I’m past speaking in coherent sentences, and I don’t want you to think I’m just another pretty face.”
“Your face is certainly gorgeous.” She stroked the rough stubble on his cheeks then ran her thumb across his bottom lip. Turning completely around in his arms, she straddled his lap. The hard bulge beneath his sweatpants pressed against the thin protection of her panties. Clenching her teeth, she fought for control as a flood of sensation threatened to drown her. “Oh. My. God.” Her voice was a whisper in the night.
“You realize I’m right on the edge here.” He sounded like he was in pain.
“Me, too.”
“Are we going to…”
Her nod was quick and sure. “We are. Immediately. Pants off.”
“Good thing I like a take-charge woman.” His low laugh rolled over her like a gentle wave before he flipped her onto her back and leaned down to kiss her. “But for our first time, I want to slow things down a bit.”
“I don’t know if I can wait.” She buried her fingers in his hair and pulled him close for another kiss.
“I’ll make it worth your while.”
A smile quivered on her lips. “I bet you will.”
Big hands slid her T-shirt up and off then returned to mold her breasts. “No penguins tonight?”
Her smile grew. “I had a feeling you’d be keeping me warm. An understatement since I may incinerate at any moment.” She fought for breath as he replaced his hands with his mouth. “Oh, my.”
“You like?” His tongue caressed a hard nub.
“Ummm, Sawyer, please…” She opened her eyes to stare into his in the flickering light from the campfire outside. They shone with a hint of desperation in the dim light.
“Okay.” He sat up to rip his shirt off over his head. While she struggled out of her panties, he lifted his hips to tug down his sweatpants. They hit the tent wall before he dropped down to cuddle her close, bare skin sliding against bare skin as he pushed between her legs, hot and hard and…he jerked back. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Her heart beat so fast she could barely breathe.
“I don’t have any protection.” He ran a hand through his hair then let out a lengthy gust of air. “I really am an idiot. IQ of a stump.”
“The fact that you’re putting my safety before your own needs is a huge turn-on. Highly intelligent.”
“Tell that to my blue balls.”
She smoothed her fingers over the hard contours of his chest and smiled. “I don’t have to. No worries in that department because I’m on the pill.”
“You are?”
She nodded. “Not because I jump in and out of bed with a bunch of men, mind you, because I don’t.” She bit her lip.
“Hey, I didn’t think that.”
“Even though we’re here, doing this, after knowing each other for three whole days?”
“Even though.” He stroked the hair back from her face. “Just so you know…I don’t bed-hop either.” He lay back down and gathered her close. “I think it’s been at least four months since my last relationship, which is why I didn’t come prepared.”
“In that case…” She paused to kiss his neck. “Are we good to go?”
“More than good. Jesus, Devin, being with you is sheer heaven.”
Their lips met and clung. Her heart pounded, and a film of perspiration slicked every inch of bare skin, hers and his. When she was positive she wouldn’t survive another minute without the connection her body craved with a dull, throbbing ache, he sank deep inside her. Breaths melding, bodies moving in rhythm to a tempo of their own, they drove together to the ultimate pinnacle…and toppled into space.
When he finally rolled off her onto his side, she drew oxygen into starved lungs and wondered how long she’d been holding her breath. “Wow.”
“Oh, yeah.” His thumb gently stroked the curve of her cheek. “That may have made up for four months of celibacy. And then some.”
She pressed a hand to her lips to keep from laughing out loud. “I guess you’re good for four more, then.”
“Hardly.” Wrapping his arms around her and tucking her against his chest, he settled his chin atop her head. “I might not even last four hours.”
Her nose pressed against one hard pec as she inhaled the musky scent of sex. “Are you staying here tonight?”
“Do you mind?”
“I’d be kind of bummed if you left, but won’t the others know we’ve, uh, hooked up if you aren’t asleep by the fire in the morning?”
He shook his head. “I’m always the first one up, so no one will have a clue.”
“Good. Maybe you could flip the sleeping bag over us. Between sweaty skin and cool air…”
“Right.” He reached down to draw up the bag. “Better?”
She nodded and relaxed against him. Eyes drifting closed, she luxuriated in complete satisfaction. “I’m not sure three more nights together is going to be enough.”
“Huh?” The hand stroking her back paused.
“Only two more evenings on the river and then hotel rooms in Salmon at the end of the trip. We fly back to Washington out of Boise mid-day on Friday.”
“I have a trip in Oregon scheduled next week, but I’ll have a few days off in between. Maybe you could—”
“I’d planned to visit my parents over the weekend, and Walton’s schedule is pretty full starting Monday.”
“Well, damn.”
She let out a long sigh. “Our lives don’t exactly mesh.”
“So, what? We go our separate ways with a kiss and a smile?” His voice was rough with emotion…and a hint of irritation.
She pushed back a few inches to look up at him. “What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know. Sorry I snapped at you.” He tugged her closer. “We’ll have to carve out time in our schedules to see each other.”
“Sure.” Her response was positive, but doubt nagged at her. Making any kind of relationship between them work seemed like a remote possibility. Or impossible altogether.
“At least we have the next few days.” His words held a note of hopelessness. Obviously he was thinking the same thing.
“Yes, we do.” Reaching up, she kissed him. “So let’s make the most of them.”
Chapter 7
Raised voices a short distance from camp stopped Sawyer in his tracks. What the hell? The sun was barely up, and he hadn’t even had coffee yet. After a night spent making love to Devin, a satisfied glow still lingered. The last thing he wanted was to break up a fight. If he were smart, he’d move on and leave the combatants, whoever they might be, to their argument.
With a sigh, he dropped the load of dead branches intended for the morning fire and trudged through the pine forest. Undoubtedly the voices belonged to members of their group since there’d been no sign of other campers anywhere in the vicinity. Nipping any disharmony between his clients in the bud was a must, or the rest of the trip would be uncomfortable for everyone. As he drew closer, Walton’s deep tone, sharp with irritation, was unmistakable.
Who the hell pissed him off?
Sawyer stopped near a big fir tree when Charles’s tall frame clad in a green camouflage jacket came into view. Maybe interrupting these two wouldn’t be necessary, after all. In his experience, families argued then got over it.
Walton faced his brother-in-law, brows drawn together in a fierce scowl. “Hell, no, I won’t tell my wife I almost drowned. She’d only be upset and start hovering like a mother bird with one lame chick. Cathy nearly drove me mad when I had that arrhythmia problem.”
Charles snorted. “You know my sister loves you to distraction. You should be grateful for her concern.”
“I am, but I don’t want her getting all worked up over nothing.”
“Hardly nothing. So you intend to keep secrets from her and make me lie as well?”
Walton ran a hand through his hair. “Why’re you making an issue of this?”
“She’s not going to find out because the only scenario that’ll leak to the public is the one I want told.”
“Yeah, right.” Charles fisted his hands on his jean-clad hips. “That kid, Roman, is bound to open his mouth at some point.”
“Not if I pay him to keep it shut.”
Charles’s lips tightened into a thin line. “You think money will solve all your problems?”
“Not all of them.” Walton let out a sigh. “We have the same goal here, don’t we? To keep Cathy from being upset. Let me handle this my way.”
“Maybe you’re right. We both know you’re damn good at keeping secrets.”
Walton’s eyes hardened. “I’m not the only one.”
“You win. I won’t say anything to her. She’s under enough pressure as it is with the campaign really gearing up for the final push. Just make sure no one talks out of turn.”
“No one will.” Walton clapped a hand down on his brother-in-law’s shoulder as they turned toward camp. “Let’s go see if breakfast is ready. I think I smell bacon.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be watching your diet?”
Sawyer ducked behind the tree as the pair moved off, and their voices faded. The argument had obviously been intensely personal, and he wouldn’t embarrass either man by making his presence known. Anyway, their discussion wasn’t his business, and they seemed to have resolved their differences amicably enough. After giving the two a couple minutes head start, he hurried back to retrieve his load of firewood.
The scent of bacon drifting in the morning air set his stomach growling. He’d worked up quite an appetite during the night. A grin crept across his face as he grabbed the pile of branches he’d collected then hustled back to camp. Just the thought of Devin and the night they’d shared made him smile. The smile stretched, and something deep inside warmed when she approached him holding out a cup of coffee.
He dropped the firewood by the pit then took the mug from her. “Thanks.”
“I added cream, no sugar. My powers of observation tell me that’s the way you prefer it.”
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