Floating Into Love (It Happened Up North #5)

Chapter One

Eric stared at his father. The man was out of his ever-loving mind. He must be losing it in his old age. He muffled a snort. Okay, his father wasn’t old, at sixty-five, but it was still possible that his gears were slipping.

“I’m not going. This is for the employees. I am the CEO.” He shoved the heavy duffel bag his gray-haired father had dumped on the desk back toward him.

“You are going,” his dad paused for emphasis, “or I’m firing you.” His frown was intimidating as he pushed the khaki pack at his son for the fourth time. “This has everything you’ll need.” That look was why his father had been so successful in business. Eric hadn’t mastered it yet.

Eric eyed the khaki camouflage bag with distaste. “I’m on the board of directors. You can’t fire me without board approval.” He scraped his fingers across his short-cropped beard. He’d been eighteen the last time his father put his foot down about anything.

“I don’t belong in a canoe. I belong here.” He jabbed a finger at his desk. “The company needs me here.”

“I’ll be here while you’re gone. It’s less than two weeks. You could use the time outside. You’re so colorless, people are beginning to question if you’ve fallen ill.”

“Dad, I’m fine.” He had too much to do to spend time outside, let alone ten days.

Varner Industries wasn’t going to run itself.

He couldn’t recall the last time he’d worked less than an eighteen-hour day.

Or when he had taken a day off. He usually worked through the weekend, either at the office or at home.

The company office housed almost a hundred employees in sales and design. They had eight production plants scattered across Canada, and they were opening two more in the U.S., one in Montana, one in Texas. He couldn’t facilitate those openings from a canoe.

“Look, son. Years ago, I was where you are. If I hadn’t gotten out of the office, you wouldn’t exist. You’re my only child.

I want you to go on this trip and enjoy yourself.

I’ll take care of the office. We’ve got more going on than one man can handle.

And though that’s great for the company, it’s not so great for you.

When you get back, we’ll work together on hiring you an assistant. ”

“The fact that I need a junior CEO, or whatever you want to call them is exactly why I can’t go!

” He slammed his fist on the desk. A towering stack of papers slid over and onto the floor.

How did he have so much paper in the digital age?

He had to remind his office manager to use email and not to print everything.

Unfortunately, Betty, his father’s former assistant, was pushing toward retirement and preferred things in print.

Still, he wouldn’t trade her for anything.

“Look, Eric. I’m not backing down on this.”

“I won’t let him.” His mother strolled into his office without knocking.

As always she was elegantly, but casually, dressed, and looked like she’d just stepped out of a magazine with her perfectly styled hair, fashionable skirt and blouse, and demure low heels.

“Eric, baby, I’m worried about you.” She walked over and kissed his cheek.

Her soft rose scent washed over him, and his anger fled.

He couldn’t remember a time when being near his mother didn’t calm him.

She had the exact same effect on his father.

Comprehension dawned. This was his mother’s idea, not his father’s. Good old Dad was just doing her bidding.

He swallowed a frustrated sigh. After his mother’s cancer scare four years ago, neither he nor his father had been able to deny her anything.

He was stuck. “Fine. I’ll go. But I won’t enjoy myself.

” He stood and paced his large office, pausing to stroke the leaf of a large plant sitting in front of his massive window.

Briefly, he wondered who looked after it, because it sure wasn’t him.

His mom’s light laugh made him feel guilty for being surly.

“I don’t believe we asked you to enjoy yourself.

Just get outside in the sunshine for a few days.

The weather’s perfect. It’s supposed to be in the low twenties all week.

Warm enough to be comfortable while paddling, but not hot enough to overheat, or cold enough to freeze. ”

Twenties–he mentally converted twenty Celsius to high sixties, low seventies Fahrenheit. He was trying to work equally well in both systems to make it easier to work in the U.S. offices.

“The bus leaves in twenty minutes,” she warned with a stern look. “Don’t be late.”

“I can’t be ready in twenty minutes.”

“You can and you will.” His father stepped around the desk and sat down, propping his feet on the desk between piles of paper.

“There are jeans and a T-shirt in your private bathroom, and the latest in high-tech outdoor gear in your pack. Your meals will be provided at each stop. Go. Have fun. Enjoy yourself.”

Muttering to himself, he went to change. He hoped his dad didn’t do anything crazy while he was gone. Sure, his dad had taken Eric’s grandfather’s company from small to giant, but he’d been out of the game for nearly seven years, ever since Eric had taken over. A lot had changed since then.

Wanda climbed out of her best friend Emma’s ancient Triumph Spitfire and went around to the trunk to grab her backpack.

“Look at me. I’m in jeans. And a T-shirt.” She gestured toward her unusual clothing. “I live in retro-style dresses. When’s the last time I wore jeans, or for that matter, wore pants at all? I mean aside from when I used to kayak.”

“Grade twelve?” Emma shrugged.

“Exactly, and that was a stupid Phys. Ed. canoe trip, too.”

“Take a deep breath. You’re going to have fun.

I know you’re worried about it, but just because you haven’t been on the water since university, it doesn’t mean you won’t do great.

You were on the varsity kayak team, for heaven’s sake.

And you spent every summer in high school teaching canoeing to kids at summer camp. You’ve got this.”

“It isn’t the canoeing I’m worried about.

What about my clients?” Wanda gathered her shoulder-length brown hair into a hair elastic at the base of her neck.

It immediately felt tight and uncomfortable.

She much preferred it loose with flipped-up ends.

A kind of retro-look that matched the retro dresses she adored.

She detested having it bound. She should have worn a cloth headband.

“Your clients will be fine. It’s only two weeks,” Emma reminded her.

“I’d rather be at the greenhouse.”

“I told you I’d keep an eye on your precious plants while you’re gone.”

“Emma, you’ve got a total black thumb. I’ll be fretting the entire time. Those plants are my livelihood. Remember when you babysat my cactus?”

Emma waved the disastrous cactus-sitting episode away.

“I’ll bring my brother. He can grow anything.

I promise it will be fine. It’s not like you have a choice.

Besides, you have great staff, and they’ll be doing your corporate jobs.

And didn’t you say the trip was mandatory?

” She pushed her red hair out of her face and handed Wanda her bag from the trunk.

Wanda set the bag on the curb outside Varner Industries’ head office.

The six-story brick building sat just off Macleod Trail, near Chinook Centre.

Across the parking lot, people were milling around several buses.

She studied them for a moment, looking for familiar faces; she loved meeting new people, but maybe not this many all at once.

Shaking her head, she focused on Emma’s question.

“Technically, I don’t work here. I’m a contractor for Pete’s sake.

I keep their plants healthy and change out the unwell ones, just like I do for twenty other companies. ”

“Are other contractors going?” Typical Emma. Pure logic. So frustrating.

“I guess so. I mean, I assume so. I’ll probably get partnered with an idiot who’s never been in a canoe.” She shuddered, “Or an accountant.” Her stick-in-the-mud ex had been an accountant.

“You’ll be fine.”

A loud screech preceded an announcement. “As I call your name, please board and sit with your partner.”

“I’m supposed to have a partner?” She panicked a little inside.

“Get over there,” Emma grabbed the backpack off the ground, shoved it into Wanda’s arms, and pushed her toward the milling crowd. “I’ll see you in a few days.” As Wanda walked away, she shouted, “Your plants are safe with me.”

Wanda ignored her.

The speaker crackled again as she trudged toward the small crowd. “Wanda Irwin, your partner is Eric Varner.”

“What?” she stumbled to a halt.

“Holy cow,” Emma exclaimed, rushing to Wanda’s side. “Isn’t that the CEO?”

Swallowing hard, Wanda said, “I…I…I think so. This is so not good.”

A tall man with dark hair and a dark, neatly trimmed scruff strode forward and handed his bag to the man loading the luggage compartment. He stepped onto the bus stairs and looked around. Sweet heaven, he was gorgeous. Tall, dark, handsome…just her type. Not that she was actively seeking anyone.

This is work, Wanda, not a dating opportunity. Her mind shot a warning to her over-eager hormones.

“Go,” Emma hissed. “Don’t make the boss mad on the first day.”

“Wanda?” the man with the speaker called out. “Is Wanda here?”

“Here!” Emma shouted and gave Wanda another gentle push.

“Step it up,” the man called out, making the bullhorn squeal again.

Wincing, she hurried forward and handed her bag over to the handler. Eric Varner was still on the steps. He greeted her with a grin and offered his hand. “Howdy, partner. I’m Eric.”

“Wanda.” The word croaked out like she was some kind of exotic frog. She reached for his hand. Their palms met. Electricity jolted through her.

Oh, no way, just no. Hard no! This was not happening. Static. It was just static electricity. It was NOT attraction. No way. No how. And definitely not now.