Читать книгу Wilde Side - Jannine Gallant - Страница 7

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 weight 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 the 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.”

“Me, either. Every time Griff calls, I wonder if he finally popped the question. My older brother always was a little slow on the uptake.”

“Three months is slow?”

Sawyer shrugged. “When it’s right, it’s right. Why wait?”

“To make sure you aren’t making a colossal mistake.” Her hands clenched in her lap. “Sometimes people aren’t what they seem on the surface. It takes time to ferret out their true nature.”

His eyes narrowed. “Wow, you really have been dating the wrong type of men.” He tapped his chest with one long finger. “What you see should be what you get.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

“So, what do you want to know about the Wilde men?”

Her forehead wrinkled. “Ainslee mentioned Griff is some sort of underwater treasure hunter?”

“He salvages artifacts from sunken ships. So, yeah, treasure hunter pretty much sums it up.”

“That’s kind of cool. What about you? Do you raft year round?”

“May through September are our prime months. I spend winters on the family ranch in Wyoming.”

“Oh, yeah? Doing what?”

Sawyer’s cheeks took on a pink hue—or maybe it was just a glow reflected from the fire. He cleared his throat. “I help with the ranch work…and I whittle.”

Her feet slipped off the edge of the chair and hit the ground. “You whittle?” A mental image of Sawyer in a rocking chair on a wide front porch, pocketknife in hand, a long gray beard…her mind boggled. “Aren’t you a little young to whittle?”

“I don’t believe there’s an age restriction, but I’ll admit my grandpa got me started. I let a harmless hobby grow out of control a few years back when I started a collection of gnomes and goblins—”

“Oh. My. God!” She bounced straight up from the chair and fisted her hands on her hips to stare down at him. “Are you S.A. Wilde?”

“You’ve seen my work?”

“Seen? Try lusted over.” She let out a moan. “There was this little hobbit…adorable. Nearly broke my heart to walk away from that shop without it.”

“So, why did you?”

“Hello, that hobbit cost more than my rent. An S.A. Wilde figurine doesn’t come cheap.”

“They do take a while to make.” His voice took on a defensive edge. “Each one is hand carved and painted, completely unique, not stamped out of a mold.”

She sat back down. “They’re amazing. The expression on that hobbit’s face…” A long sigh slipped out. “You’re very talented. Why do you do this?” She waved toward the river.

“I need the activity. I’d lose my mind if I had to sit still twelve months a year.” He poked one of the sticks in the fire with the toe of his sneaker. “The two sides of my life balance each other and keep me fresh and interested in both careers.”

“You really have your act together. I’m a little envious. I—”

“Sorry to interrupt, but I wasn’t sure which tent…” Charles Monahan stopped beside them and flashed a quick smile. “After a day in the sun, I’m exhausted. I try to stay in shape, but I guess I’m not used to so much fresh air.”

Sawyer stood. “Paddling burns a lot of energy, but after a good night’s sleep, you’ll be ready for another big day.” He glanced toward the congressman who was drinking beer and laughing at something, Yancy, the TV cameraman had said. “You’ll be bunking with Walton in the larger green tent. The two boys can share the red one.” He paused. “If that works for you?”

“Sounds fine.” Charles turned away and nearly ran into Dwight, who’d stepped up behind him. “Whoops, didn’t see you there.”

The kid rolled his eyes. “I have to share a tent?” He tossed a hard look over his shoulder at his cousin, reading a book with a headlamp on the far side of the fire. “With him?”

“Everyone’s sharing except Devin.” Sawyer’s voice was tight. “We don’t have room in the rafts to carry a dozen tents. You can bunk with your dad if you’d prefer.”

“Unbelievable!” Dwight sighed. “I’m not sleeping with my old man. He snores loud enough to wake the dead.”

“He does?” Charles’s tone was resigned.

“Let’s see if we can work this out…” Sawyer headed toward the area where the tents were staked out with Charles and Dwight following.

Rising to her feet, Devin went in the opposite direction to settle on a large rock near the edge of the river where the rushing current partially drowned the sound of raised voices. Not Sawyer’s, whose tone remained low and even. She couldn’t help wondering if anything shook the calm he projected. She would have been tempted to smack Dwight upside the head and tell him to suck it up. If Walton had done it a few times through the years, his son might not be such a self-entitled punk.

Then again, being single and childless, what did she know about parenting? If her biological clock had ever started to tick, observing Dwight in action would have turned it off in a hurry. Tilting her head back, she gazed up at the stars and counted her blessings. Not the least of which was fate bringing her here to introduce her to S.A. Wilde, of all people. Talent and strength, all in the same impressive package. A smile curved her lips. Getting to know him much better was even more attractive now.

By the time their river adventure was over, she’d be hard pressed to even remember Porter’s name—if the man now defusing what could become a nasty situation among his customers lived up to her undoubtedly unrealistic expectations about what could be done in a sleeping bag. After the rafting trip ended, she’d walk away with a satisfied smile on her face and put in the soul-searching she’d promised herself before she thought about seriously dating again.

Without a doubt, one of her more brilliant plans.

Based on a couple of heated glances she’d intercepted today, she was pretty sure Sawyer would be happy to accommodate her.

“Should I leave you to your meditation, or are you in the mood for company?”

She jumped then gripped the rock to keep from tumbling into the river. “Oh, wow. You startled me.”

“Sorry.” The young guide, Roman, didn’t look sorry. His lips curled up in a smile as he planted his feet and crossed his arms over a down vest patched in spots with duct tape.

“Avoiding the fracas?” She angled her chin back toward the campsite.

“They’re playing musical tents. I figure I’ll sleep wherever they dump my gear, so why contribute to the confusion?”

“I’m sure Sawyer will come up with a solution. He seems good at smoothing over problems.”

“Him and the congressman, both. The guy went into immediate diplomatic mode to deactivate the situation. He probably doesn’t want that journalist telling the whole world his number one son is a little shit.”

“You don’t like Dwight?”

Roman shrugged. “I don’t like his type. I always had to work for everything I ever wanted. My…dad sure as hell didn’t baby me. That kid gets the world served up on a platter.”

“True enough.” Devin studied the tight line of his mouth. “It may be a little clichéd, but you’ll undoubtedly be the better man for it.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have appreciated a few breaks now and then.” He let out a breath. “Whatever. I probably shouldn’t make rude remarks about your boss’s son. My boss would probably fire my ass if he knew.”

“Then I won’t tell him.” Devin rubbed her arms as the evening chill penetrated her sweatshirt. “Do you enjoy your job?”

“It has its perks.” He pushed shoulder-length blond hair out of his eyes and gave her an up and down look. “Want to ride in my raft tomorrow?”

She glanced past him, and her gaze landed on Sawyer heading their way. “Nope.”

Roman’s snort of laughter caught her off guard. She returned her attention to him and smiled.

“Gotta love a woman who knows her own mind and isn’t afraid to speak it.”

“Glad you aren’t offended.”

He took a few steps back. “Why would I be? I only go after what I want when I stand a shot at getting it. Good night, Devin. Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

Sawyer spoke quietly to his employee as they passed then continued down to the river’s edge. “Everything okay?”

“Sure.” She scooted over on the rock and patted the spot beside her. “Are the sleeping arrangements worked out?”

“Jon is now bunking with Gregor and Roman in the largest tent, and I gave the one we vacated to Walton and moved it out of earshot of the others.”

She frowned. “So, you’re sleeping with the brother-in-law?”

“Charles is sharing a tent with his son. Said he doesn’t see Alex enough since his divorce, apparently a bone of contention with his ex-wife. Dwight has his own digs. Everyone’s happy.”

“Maybe my math is shaky, but…”

His teeth gleamed in the moonlight. “Nothing wrong with your addition. I’ll be bunking by the campfire. Sure as hell beats sharing with Dwight. I’ve known that kid since the day he was born. Let’s just say he hasn’t improved with age.”

“Geez, something we all agree on. If you get cold—”

“I won’t.”

She slid off the rock and gave him a long look. “Then I guess I won’t offer to share my tent with you.” She squeezed his shoulder then stepped away. “Good night, Sawyer. Sweet dreams.”