by Debra Kayn
If she had, he never would've been able to hold out as long as he had. She was beautiful, and her gown left nothing to his imagination.
"Was there a problem in the campground?" she asked.
"I don't know." He swallowed, dragging his gaze up to her face. "I sent Jared over to find out why the dogs are riled up. I'm sure he'll call if there's trouble."
She pointed to the kitchen. "Do you want to try a brownie now?"
"Sure." He tossed the keys on the counter, eyeing the back of Katelynn.
He now knew her ass fit in his hands and her waist indented, giving him something to hold.
She whirled around and caught him looking. A blush tinted her cheeks, reminding him of how young she was compared to him.
The other women he'd been with through the years tended to be closer to his age and more experienced. Each of them had long ago lost the ability to feel self-conscious or shy.
He took the offered brownie and bit into it. The thick cake-like consistency had a slight crunch on the top. The details unimportant as the chocolate sensation hit him.
"Does it taste okay?" she asked.
He nodded, taking another bite. "Excellent, Katelynn."
She turned, but not before he caught her pleased smile. He put the rest of the brownie in his mouth and held out his hand for more. She indulged him, handing over another square piece, and he moved over to the fridge and grabbed the milk, pouring two glasses.
Giving her one of the drinks, he leaned against the counter and took his time eating the treat. He had a cupboard full of snack food but none of them compared to what Katelynn had made.
"Do you want to hear something weird?" She brushed her hands free of crumbs over the sink.
He grunted. His whole life was made up of weird shit happening. He'd take calm and uneventful.
"Before I left Vancouver, my life centered around work and social media." She glanced at him. "I would've taken a picture of the brownies I made and posted it on Instagram. Then, spent the next hour looking forward to how many people liked the post or commented."
"I don't get it." He wiped his mouth off with his hand, brushing the crumbs from his beard. "Why is it anyone's business what you eat?"
She shook her head. "It's not. I did it for attention and conversation. Being online had become my social life. I rarely went out after work. It was easy to sit at home and meet people online. I guess it made me feel as if I wasn't alone."
He studied her, trying to wrap his head around how she could believe relationships with people she'd never met in real life could fulfill her.
She paused and her brows lowered. "Though my experience with Cord will be one of my biggest regrets. I'll never go back online, not to seek friendships. There's not an hour in the day that I don't feel the pain of what I did—"
"Don't think about him." He gritted his teeth.
"No, I want to say this." She inhaled. "Being here with you and working in the office allows me to appreciate the people around me. I couldn't see that before when I was working at the Emporium because I had become obsessed with a life that I can now see was fake and unimportant. And, I've realized I became that way because I could keep my distance from those who were in my life. That way, no one could ever use me or hurt me, the way my mom and stepdad had. I know that's messed up."
"I get it," he murmured.
"I don't miss not having a phone or checking it every few minutes to see if someone wants to talk to me." She looked at him. "I enjoy being with you more."
He understood her habit of being connected to her phone. Every summer when he brought on new hires, he had trouble getting them to do the work required because they preferred to look at their screen all day.
But he'd never had that problem with Katelynn because she came to him with nothing. Knowing her now, he couldn't imagine her wasting her life with online strangers when she gave one-hundred percent of herself to him and the campers when she worked.
"I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate what you've provided for me here." She jerked her gaze up. "Not that I'm talking about what happened between us earlier. The sex, I mean. Actually, I do want to talk about that."
"Shoot," he said, remaining calm for her sake.
"I hope what happened between us wasn't something meaningless, or I'm just a responsibility to you because I care about you, and I hope that you care about me. A little. Maybe?"
He'd heard women confess to wanting him. He'd heard women admit he made them feel good. He'd heard women ask him outright for another night.
But he'd never heard a woman ask how he was feeling or been able to witness how much courage it took for her to ask him that question.
She came to him vulnerable and hopeful. Two things that had hardened in him years ago.
He hooked her neck, bringing her to his chest. "I wouldn't have had sex with you if I didn't care about you."
Katelynn wrapped her arms around him as if he'd handed her the secrets to life. He had nothing to give her but a campground with hidden dangers and a lie. Staring over her head, he struggled with what to tell her to excuse his behavior.
He should never have touched her.
She deserved the kind of soul-crushing love she sought from Cord and the online conversations she participated in, not a life with him. He held her tightly and fought against telling her exactly why it wasn't smart to make having sex with him into something bigger.
She tilted her head. "Thank you."
"For what?"
She stretched and kissed him. "For being you."
He kissed her back, knowing he had to keep their relationship out in the open between them. To get her hopes up, believing there was more developing between them would only hurt her when it was time for her to leave.
"Katelynn?" He leaned back to see her face. "You realize I'm forty-six years old. I'm not looking to change my life."
She opened her mouth. He put his thumb over her lips, stopping her from saying anything.
"I do care about you." He waited until she fully looked into his eyes. "But, when the season is over, and the campground closes for the winter, you're going to leave."
Her brows pinched. "But—"
He kissed her lightly.
"You deserve to put this place behind you," he said against her lips. "No more nightmares."
His heart beat painfully. Everything he'd said was the truth. He believed she'd be better off away from him. But, the truth hurt.
It hurt worse than he'd imagined.
Chapter 22
Katelynn flipped the sign on the door to closed and looked over her shoulder into Quint's office. Curious to what occupied his time, she hung back, hoping he'd tell her what he was doing. He'd come into headquarters a half hour ago and stayed in the room while she'd helped a family buy extra toilet paper and chocolate bars.
The whole time, he concentrated on the map spread out on his desk.
"Hey, Katelynn?" called Quint without looking up.
She walked into his office. "Yes?"
"Is Jared still around?"
"I'm not sure. He mentioned putting signs on the dumpsters about the bear problem and then planned on heading home. I'll call and see if he's still here." She picked up the receiver for the landline and called Jared's cell number. His voicemail came on. "Do you want me to leave a message?"
"No." Quint folded up the map. "I'll catch him tomorrow."
She emptied the cash register and put the money in the canvas pouch, carrying the day's deposit into his office. "Here you go."
He looked up and took the money from her. "Thanks."
She hesitated in his office. He'd been preoccupied all day, going back and forth from the office to outside.
"Is everything okay?" She stayed by the door.
"It will be." He grabbed his hat off the desk and pulled the bill down. "Are you heading back to the cabin?"
She nodded, but when he moved to take the rifle off the wall and still hadn't looked at her, she said, "Yes.
Do you want me to make dinner?"
Usually, they left together at the end of the day. Quint was a better cook than her, so he mostly made their meals. But there were a few times that he stayed behind to work and she was happy to fix something for them.
"Go ahead and make something for yourself. I'll grab something in town." He rounded the desk and stopped in front of her. "You can ride the ATV out front. I'm going to take the truck. Make sure you lock the door."
He was leaving? Her pulse accelerated, and she hooked her finger underneath the button of his flannel shirt. "Where are you going?"
He'd had a map. Wherever he planned to go must be somewhere unfamiliar.
"I need to run into Federal and then go by Will's place." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Don't look so worried. I'll be back tonight."
"Th-this doesn't have anything to do with...me, right?" She looked at his chest. "You haven't changed your mind about turning me in or—?"
"You know what?" His shoulders broadened. "Why don't you come with me?"
She snapped her gaze up to his face. "I can?"
"Yeah." He kissed her upturned lips. "Let's lock up and get out of here."
Since arriving in Idaho, she hadn't gone anywhere but Cord's house, the campground, and Anders' Lair, over in Montana. She followed him outside. She couldn't remember going through a town called Federal and had no idea how far away they'd be traveling.
She climbed up into the truck. Wherever he went, she wanted to go. It no longer mattered where he took her because Quint had proven himself trustworthy.
FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER leaving the campground, Quint pulled into the small parking lot in front of the family-owned grocery store and shut off the engine. "I'd recommend the Fish and chips. It's halibut. Damn good."
Katelynn raised her brows. "At the grocery store?"
"Yeah." He opened the door. "Are you going to sit out here and wait or go—"
"I'll go." She jumped out of the truck and rounded the fender, waiting for him.
Walking with her inside the store—larger than a mini-mart and smaller than a chain store—he strolled down the first aisle to the back and stood in front of the deli counter.
After giving his order, he looked at Katelynn. She ordered the same.
He motioned his chin over to the round, two-person table off to the side. While they waited for the meal to cook, Katelynn looked around the store as if she'd never seen one before.
"Do you need something while we're here?" he asked.
She shook her head and smiled. "I've never seen such a small store."
Amused, he pulled his beard down. "It serves the people on the mountain and in the valley."
"I can see that." She placed her hand on his thigh and leaned closer. "How often do you come here?"
His leg warmed under her touch. "About every other month."
She frowned and sat back, leaving her hand on his leg. Unable to tell if she was aware of what she was doing or not, he stayed still. He enjoyed it when she touched him. He liked that anyone in the store knew she belonged to him by the way she stayed next to him.
He palmed the back of her neck, bringing her closer. "What was that look for?"
"It's the middle of August," she whispered. "The next time you come here, I'll be gone."
He squeezed her nape. There was nothing for him to say. The plan had always been for her to go back to Vancouver.
"Your order is up." The woman behind the deli counter set a sack on the counter. "Do you want to pay here?"
"We'll pay up front. I have a couple things to get yet." He dropped his hand from Katelynn and retrieved the sack.
Picking up some milk and bread, he handed cash to the woman at the first checkout and walked out to the truck. He had one more stop to make. It was the reason for coming to town.
Checking his phone, he had fifteen minutes before the hardware store closed its doors for the day. Not wasting time, he opened Katelynn's door. Once she settled in the seat, he hustled to drive out of the lot.
He drove around the block and parked behind the brick building. "I'll just be a few minutes. Go ahead and get our food out. We can eat when I get back, and we're on our way to Will's house."
Shutting the door, he hit the automatic lock on his keychain and strode into the building. He took the stairs and went downstairs below the hardware store where they sold guns and ammo.
Charlie looked up from the counter and waved him in. "I've got your order right here."
"Appreciate the rush."
"Not a problem." Charlie picked up a box, grunting under the weight. "Do you want me to break this up into a couple of boxes? It's heavier than a son of a bitch."
"No, I can take it that way. I parked by the back door, so I don't have far to go." He pulled his wallet out of his pocket. "How much do I owe you?"
"Seven hundred and thirty-four dollars and ninety-eight cents. The damn tax, you know."
"Someone has got to pay for the road construction in the summer." Quint flipped through the bills, making the total. "It might as well be me."
It was getting harder to buy in bulk. Charlie was the only one able to get him unmarked hollow points without raising the government's eyebrows. Quint took his change, picked up the box, and left. Setting the supply of ammo in the truck bed, he unlocked the doors and climbed into the cab, and drove away.
"Did you want to eat while you drive?" Katelynn wiped her hands on the paper napkin, balancing the Styrofoam container on her lap.
"Yeah." He pulled back on the highway. "We have enough time."
"Okay." She removed his fish and chips from the sack and set the basket on the console between them.
He glanced at her. No questions, no curiosity, she was only along for the ride. While he should've left her at the campground, he enjoyed her company. He wished the business he had to take care of next was gone from his life. Maybe then, he wouldn't have the thought of her leaving in three weeks at the forefront his mind.
Chapter 23
Quint stopped next to a cabin after going over Moon Pass, a rocky road that seemed daunting in the setting sun. Katelynn sat straighter, straining to see through the dusty windshield. Antlers hung all over the outside of the cabin, canoes were tipped and lined up in the yard, and there were more off-road vehicles than she'd ever seen in one place taking up the whole side of the building.
"His house is...interesting." She looked at Quint. "Like out of some documentary about a mountain man and his sidekick, a grizzly bear."
Quint chuckled, rolling down his window. "It's Will's place. No bear. At least not alive."
"He lives here all the time or is it a vacation house?"
"Full time." He opened the door at the same time Mark, Will, and Anders walked out of the cabin. "I'm going to drop off the box, and then we'll head back to the campground."
"No hurry." She waved at the group. "I'm just along for the ride."
He hesitated, glancing between her and the others. She closed the food container on her lap and smiled. Getting away from the campground excited her. Being with Quint while away exhilarated her.
"I'll leave the truck running, so the A/C stays on." Quint stepped out and shut the door. She sighed, watching him stride forward.
Her stomach fluttered. She pressed a hand to her chest, knowing it wasn't the amount of food she'd consumed that left her excited.
No matter how many times she reminded herself that staying with Quint was temporary and what happened between them came from a mutual attraction, she found herself wishing she had more time with him.
Quint put the box he carried on the porch of the cabin. She moistened her lips, hit by how he moved like some Greek god. She laughed softly. Not that she remembered any of the mythological names or what they looked like in a book. She only remembered thinking they were bigger than life, unreal, and perfect with all their strengths and power.
With his back toward her, she appreciated the view. The hard cords of muscles in his thighs. The broa
d straight back. The tight, solid ass.
God, she'd had all that and loved every second.
More than anything, she wanted Quint again. She wanted to have him hold her in his arms and fill her body. There was nothing in her life that compared to how he made her feel.
The completeness he gave her swept her away from everything weighing her down and made her believe everything would be okay.
She slumped in the seat. Her future in Vancouver rattled her. She'd always thought of Southwest Washington as home, but with no job waiting for her, no place to live, and needing to find a way to make money and put a roof over her head reminded her of the struggles she'd already battled the first time she moved out on her own.
It hadn't been easy. The fear of failing and being one day away from homelessness scared her to death. The only plan she had was to find a motel that let her pay by the day and hope she could make everything happen before she ran out of money.
Quint's friends continued to talk to him. She swallowed over the tightening of her throat. The thought of leaving Quint, the campground, and the mountains saddened her.
She would never have thought that at the beginning of the summer or when she stayed with Cord that Idaho would speak to her soul.
Quint had changed her first impression of the Bitterroot Mountains. There were good people around here, and four of them were standing in front of the cabin.
Mark removed a piece of paper from his pocket and passed it to Will, who handed it to Anders, and then Quint. Growing restless and left out of the little chitchat circle in front of her, she gazed out the side window.
A gap in the pine trees showed a river in the distance. A worn path leading from the cabin to the water caught her eye, and she found it interesting that it was only a long single line and not two. Will must walk to the bank a lot instead of taking one of the ATVs.
The squawk of a bird over the hum of the air conditioner startled her. She gazed up at the sky and found two large black birds flying over the river.