Chapter 5
T he glare off the lake blinded Mac. He raised his hand, shielding his eyes, as he stood at the edge of the dock, watching the campers splash around in the roped-off section near the shallow end of the lake. Their carefree laughter echoed across the water. They were enjoying their stay.
Children of all ages played in the sand while the mothers sunbathed and chatted.
Some of the male campers were crashed out on towels spread out on the ground, while the other half explored the lake.
There were no itineraries. Bitterroot Mountain Range Campground offered no guided explorations, no paid adventures, just straight-up wilderness for people to explore on their own comfort level.
He squinted against the constant sun. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The kind of day that tricked you into forgetting what was coming.
Thunderstorms were forecasted by nightfall. Lightning strikes on the mountain could spark fires if the ground stayed dry. He'd seen it happen before. One bolt, one tree, and the whole ridge lit up like a matchbook.
The closest fire department was at the base of the mountain. If the worst happened, Wildland firefighters would arrive hours after they were needed. The saving grace was the lake. Helicopters could dip water and contain most remote fires that were out of reach.
The dock swayed under his feet.
"Mac." Cord walked nearer with his usual easy gait. "I informed Avaline to shut down the computer by three, and she was free to go to her cabin. It's best if we get everyone under shelter and away from the water."
Mac nodded. Smart move. Avaline had a habit of staying glued to that computer screen, as if it held the secrets of the universe. She'd soon learn that they couldn't run the generator numerous times a day because they'd run out of propane before the season was over.
Not only was the campground off-grid, but each of them had decided, when they built their cabins, to keep the homes self-sufficient.
They had the generator for the lodge, propane, and paid an outrageous price to have a satellite connection to run the website, which Cord had managed until Avaline started working for them.
The campers expected no power, no lights, no heat, or A/C. Their fun-filled stay could continue as long as they took precautions in case of lightning. He'd need to make sure everyone was out of the water and under cover.
"I'm heading down to pick up the Lowe party." Cord exhaled heavily. "They started up the mountain and decided they couldn't drive it and turned around. Guess the switchbacks spooked them."
"We should start a shuttle service." Mac grunted. "Get Beckett to run it."
"Are you going to be the one to suggest it to him?"
"Hell, no," he mumbled.
Cord gazed up at the clear sky. "You want anything from town?"
"Nah, we're good." Mac pushed his hair back. "Actually, pick up a couple of those Jiffy Pop popcorn containers. Jetter gets a kick out of using those on the fire."
"Speaking of Jetter, I spotted him in the tree house behind the lodge. Asked if he wanted to tag along, but he said he'd rather stay here."
That pleased Mac more than he let on. Jetter was starting to find his rhythm in the woods, choosing quiet over noise, trails over roads. His love for the mountain meant a great deal to him.
After Cord left, Mac lingered by the dock, eyes scanning the lake. A lone kayak drifted out near the center, bobbing gently. He frowned. From this distance, it looked like someone was standing up in the boat.
The kayak rocked dangerously.
Then the figure raised both arms over their head, waving like a damn fool.
Mac's stomach dropped. He knew that voluptuous body. Knew that big bun on the top of her head, even from here.
Lauren.
"Hell," he muttered, already moving.
He jogged to the kayak rack, grabbed the nearest one, and shoved it into the water with practiced ease, jumping in at the last moment to keep his boots from getting wet. His paddle sliced through the lake as he glided forward, muscles bulging from the workout. Efficient. Fast. Focused.
She was going to dump herself in the middle of the lake, and he'd be the one fishing her out.
When he reached her, she was fucking laughing.
Laughing.
Her kayak wobbled beneath her, but she didn't seem to care. She held a selfie stick with a tiny camera on the end, twisting it around to catch the light.
"Oh, hey, Mac." She beamed. "Did you come to rescue me again?"
Mac didn't answer. He was too busy trying to keep his irritation from boiling over.
"I was trying to get a shot of me standing with the lake behind me, so I appeared graceful and athletic," she said, still giggling. "It's harder than it looks because the kayak rocks too much."
"You're going to flip that thing and end up sinking to the bottom of the lake." He scowled, trying to figure out how she managed to stand up in the first place. "Nobody swims in the middle of an alpine lake. Hyperthermia will set in before you can pull yourself out of the water.
"I'm trying my hardest not to fall in." She smiled. "But I do know how to swim, and I have one of the life jackets on." She pointed to her chest.
There was a gap where the top buckle would clasp together, but even with her breasts pushed together and up as far as they would go, it wasn't going to latch. But she was right. At least she had on a life preserver.
"Despite what you're thinking, I'm not unfamiliar with water.
I also know how cold it is because I read the camp brochure.
" Her arms windmilled as she struggled to keep her balance.
"I could use your help." She held out the camera.
"Can you take this and row your way around me while keeping the camera aimed at me?
I want a slow pan of me in the kayak with the mountains behind. "
He stared at her. "You want me to video you."
"Yes," she said sweetly. "You're tall and steady. And you already came out here, so..."
Mac took the camera, muttering, "Damn woman."
He paddled around her in a wide arc, keeping the lens steady as he watched her pose and smile. Despite the short white sundress and pale skin, she looked as if she were born for the wilderness.
And all the while, he wondered why the hell he was doing anything for her?
She was high maintenance wrapped in sunshine. Reckless. Loud. Everything he knew for a fact complicated his life.
And yet, here he was. Filming her like some damn assistant.
Maybe it was the way she laughed. Perhaps it was the way she looked at him, as if he wasn't just a man in the woods, but someone worth knowing.
Or maybe, just maybe, it was because she made the quiet feel a little less lonely.