Chapter 1
GRAE
PRESENT, ELEVEN YEARS LATER
I adjusted the backpack on my shoulder as I strode toward the small cottage on the edge of downtown.
My boss, Jordan, had turned the house into his base of operations for Cedar Ridge Vacation Adventures.
The company ran day trips for everything from hiking to white water rafting, and Jordan had a bunch of cabin rentals on top of it.
Opening the screen door, I stepped inside. A whistle sounded, and Eddie grinned as he leaned back on one of the sofas. “Back and looking a little worse for wear.”
I scowled in his direction. “How would you look if you had two couples who insisted they were expert hikers but started moaning and complaining one mile in?”
Noel’s lips twitched as he looked up from his desk, flicking his shaggy, dark hair out of his eyes. “Should’ve turned around.”
“I tried, but one of the damn husbands was determined to finish the loop. I’m pretty sure his wife is going to file for divorce when they get home.”
Eddie chuckled, his amber eyes lightening with the action. “Nothing like finding out your hubby wants to off you because his man card gets threatened on a hike.”
“Love is a con,” Noel grumbled.
Jordan popped his head out of his office, his gaze running over me. “That bad?”
I grimaced. “The fact that I’m three hours behind schedule should tell you everything you need to know.”
He winced. “Sorry about that. I had a feeling that guy was overstating his experience level.”
“I’d be surprised if they’d done more walking than between sample sales in Manhattan.”
Jordan chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll try to do a little more recon before we send another group on the Upper Ridge Trail.”
I sank into my chair and pulled out my phone to check my glucose monitoring app.
While on the trail, I’d tried to manage things the best I could, but my clients hadn’t made it easy.
Opening my desk drawer, I pulled out my peanut butter and some M I think we’re better as friends.”
Rance sent me a sheepish smile. “I know, but you can’t get what you don’t fight for. And I think we could be good together, Grae. Just give me a shot.”
My thumbnail pressed into the pad of my forefinger. “I did, and I just didn’t feel that spark.”
A hint of frustration flashed in his expression. “Three dates isn’t a shot; it’s barely getting to know each other.”
I fought the urge to scream. “It’s enough for me to know. I’m sorry, Rance. I just don’t feel the same.”
I hurried back inside before he could argue more.
The screen door slapped behind me, and all three of my coworkers immediately looked as if they were extremely busy. They were horrible actors. Their nosy butts had probably been spying the whole time. I let out a growl of frustration as I headed back to my desk.
Eddie pressed his lips together to keep from laughing, but it only held for so long. His shoulders began to shake, his auburn hair ruffling with the action.
I sent a glare in his direction. “It’s not funny.”
Eddie leaned back in his chair, locking his hands behind his head. “It’s a little funny. He’s like a lost puppy just begging for a home.”
Noel kicked at his chair. “That shit isn’t cool. Grae said no. He needs to leave her be.”
The amusement fled Eddie’s face, and he glanced in my direction. “He freaking you out?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose to stave off the impending headache.
The last thing I needed was to add three surrogate big brothers to the four I already had.
“No, it’s just awkward. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but I just don’t feel that way about him.
I tried, but the chemistry isn’t there.”
It wasn’t there with anyone I wanted to find it with. It only flared to life with the last person on the planet it should have.
Jordan leaned against the wall, studying me carefully. “If he’s making you uncomfortable, I’ll kick him out the next time he stops by.”
“Damn straight,” Eddie agreed, casting a look across the street as Rance disappeared into the station. “He’s a chump anyway. Those teeth are so white they probably glow in the dark.”
Noel snorted at that. “The amount of gel in his hair could probably shellac my boat.”
“You guys are mean. He’s handsome, and he’s kind,” I argued.
Eddie’s lips twitched. “Then why aren’t you going to dinner with him?”
That was the million-dollar question.
The parking lot at the local high school was half-full of familiar vehicles. Not many places were large enough for our entire SAR team to meet, but the high school gymnasium was one of them.
I climbed out of my SUV, my body protesting the movement.
Today’s longer-than-expected hike had done a number on me.
As if to punctuate the point, my phone beeped with an alert—my glucose monitoring app letting me know that I was trending downward.
I shoved it into my pocket and snagged a granola bar from my cupholder, biting off a piece.
Grabbing my bag from the back seat, I slung it over my shoulder and headed toward the gymnasium. My steps faltered as I caught sight of the familiar Mercedes G-Wagon. My back teeth ground together as a flare of pissed-off annoyance surged to life.
He just had to come back here.
Life had been a million times easier when Caden was running one of his family’s hotels in New York.
I only saw him when I caved to temptation and searched his name.
The photos of him with models, socialites, or whatever the flavor of the week was, hurt like hell.
But at least I didn’t have to see it in person.
Now that he was back and working at his family’s fancy resort nestled in the mountains, I had to deal with Caden. But he couldn’t leave it at that. No, he had to infiltrate every area of my life. SAR. My friend group. My family dinners.
I wrenched open the door and stepped into the gym.
Nash let out a low whistle. “Who pissed in your Cheerios?”
I glared at him. “No one.”
He chuckled. “That was real convincing.”
His fiancée, Maddie, moved closer, worry creasing her brow. “You okay?”