Fourteen
Max
The back of Dee's head was damn cute. I'd been staring at it for almost two and a half hours, partially annoyed that I hadn't been able to snag the seat next to her. But of course, she'd sit next to her best friend in the office, Mona, and not me during the long bus ride to our retreat in the Catskills.
We were almost there if the scenery outside my window was any indication. It'd been a fascinating drive, watching the city slowly disappear to eventually be replaced by dense forests and winding rivers.
I needed to get out in nature more. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd done something like this. Maybe not since childhood.
Chris, a new guy in graphic design who sat next to me, took out his earbuds and whistled at the sight of one particularly beautiful sunlit valley that we were passing.
"Wow," he said. "You don't see that every day."
"Sure don't." It really was stunning.
"Bet you're glad you're not sick anymore and could make it."
Yeah, after my late night with Dee, I'd lied and called out sick the rest of the week, pushing forward that much needed trip to Paris as Max Sterling. I'd arrived back home yesterday, just in time to unpack then repack for this weekend.
Glancing at Dee for about the millionth time, I forced my gaze back to the view out the window. "Yep, wouldn't miss this."
I would have moved mountains to make this work. Because of one petite little blonde that had gotten into my head, under my skin, and even made it into my dreams. Every fucking night. The woman was haunting me, consuming my thoughts all day, then invading my consciousness each night.
And after working late Monday, I knew she felt the same. She hadn't been able to keep her eyes off me, no matter how much she denied it. I'd caught her countless times. And it'd set me on fire inside, to the point where I was pretty much obsessed with her.
I was desperate to make something of this thing between us, and this weekend was the perfect opportunity. I no longer cared about who I really was because, even though my name was different, I was still the same person. I still acted like myself around Dee. One hundred percent. This was me.
And even if she'd rather chew nails than admit it, I knew she liked me. Obnoxious me. Annoying me. The sad sack who lived with his mom and grandma.
She'd had fun that night after the gala. She liked Nana, practically beamed at her every time she'd spoken. And she'd felt at home in my place too, so much so that she'd fallen asleep and slept just feet away from me.
My chest pinched just thinking about it.
When she'd shrugged and said it was no big deal that I lived with them, well, that had cemented it.
I was ready to throw all caution to the wind to pursue her. She didn't know it yet, but she was mine now. The only problem was I couldn't reconcile how to parlay this potential thing we could have together into something lasting once she knew my real name.
She hated Max Sterling.
My only hope was to make her fall so hard for me as Jared that when I revealed my true identity she wouldn't care. She was attracted to me, or at least my body, and that was a start.
We pulled up to a huge lodge that looked just like you'd imagine, made of timber and stone, surrounded by towering pine trees, with a large porch and a clear blue lake shimmering nearby.
Once we'd all shuffled off the bus and gathered our bags, the inside didn't disappoint either, with a humongous stone fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the mountains.
While they arranged the room situation, each of us with roommates, I hoped there'd be some kind of mix-up, a shortage of beds or something, that would force Dee and me to share a room. But no such luck.
These people were very organized, too organized, and I was apparently stuck with Chris for the weekend.
Looking around, I scoped out the space as best I could, trying to find an opening where I could potentially make some kind of move.
The retreat leader, Ranger Jim, told us to meet back downstairs in the commons in ten for a hike and a few surprises.
Oh, shit. I hadn't really thought about this part of the trip too much, my focus one-hundred percent on Dee and the spark between us.
And now, I was stuck sharing a room with some dude and doing all this outdoorsy stuff. I did like the outdoors, though, it'd just been a while.
After setting up our room and a quick change, we all met in the big lobby area, my eyes immediately searching the vicinity for her . I didn't spot her right away, but then, movement on the stairs caught my attention, and there she was.
She just had on a casual little hiking outfit, but she looked hot, so damn hot it kind of took my breath away... a tight t-shirt and baseball cap paired with short shorts and socks pulled up high, only serving to emphasize her mouthwatering thighs.
Damn .
Uncertainty washed through me as I debated walking over to her and being my usual obnoxious self or leaving her be, giving her some space for once and seeing if she sought me out.
Ah, hell, who was I kidding? I didn't do space.
When good ole Ranger Jim called us all over, I sidled up to Dee and casually nudged her in the side. "So did you miss me the rest of the week?" I whispered near her ear.
If I wasn't mistaken, she flushed—a pretty pink color that infused her pretty cheeks.
Yep, there it was. She was just as infatuated as I was. Well, maybe not quite as much. But it was something.
She nudged me back. And not gently. "No, I didn't miss you," she said, her voice pitched low and her tone harsh. "Not even a little."
"Not buying it," I countered.
But she didn't answer, the leader starting his big talk about how amazing and wonderful this weekend was going to be, how our group would be pushed out of our comfort zones, learn to rely on each other, and come out stronger, more connected, and ready to tackle any challenges together.
I heard Dee sigh as he went on and on and on, and I decided that humor might win her over. So I leaned down again and whispered in her ear. "I wonder if surviving this speech counts as the first challenge."
She huffed out a breath through her nose like she was holding back laughter.
Jolly Ranger Jim said he wouldn't divulge everything we were doing, wanting to surprise us instead, but he did reveal that the nights would be glorious gatherings around the campfire, complete with s'mores, guitars, and singing.
"Ah, yes," I whispered to Dee, "nothing says team-building like off-key campfire songs and sticky fingers."
She covered her mouth, elbowing me at the same time. "Would you stop?" she huffed. "I'm trying to pay attention."
I indulged her and kept quiet for the rest of the speech, practically elbowing everyone out of the way so I could walk near Dee once we finally took off for our hike. She was popular, though, and Mona didn't leave her other side.
The path started out nicely enough, a wide, gentle trail that wound through the trees with that typical forest scent and birds chirping in the background. The team walked in a loose group, chatting and joking with each other, the mood high with anticipation.
As we marched on, the terrain began to shift, subtly at first, turning rockier, the incline steeper and the trees thicker. The only sounds now were footsteps on crunchy leaves as we all navigated the uneven ground, roots, and a few fallen branches.
Ranger Jim, who'd been leading the way with an enthusiastic bounce in his step, suddenly stopped at the edge of a large clearing. He turned to face us as we all looked on.
"Right around the corner, folks, we have our very first challenge."
We walked a little bit more, and a low wooden structure came into view, partially hidden by the undergrowth, but I could just make out some ropes and platforms strung up between some trees.
"Looks like some kind of obstacle course," I said out loud.
I felt Dee stiffen beside me. "Um, sounds like fun?"
The hesitation in her voice did not go unnoticed by me. "Not your thing?" I asked.
"I'm kind of more of a city girl."
Ah, interesting. So this weekend was maybe my chance to be the white knight and come to her rescue if I played my cards right.
"I've got you."
She didn't respond, just let everyone go ahead of her, most of our co-workers more than eager to get started. I brought up the rear, following her up some wooden steps where another ranger waited for us.
Jim had gone ahead, leading the group, showing us how it was all done.
One by one, we watched as people grabbed onto a rope swing that swung out over a shallow stream. The stakes were low since the only thing that could happen was landing in the cold water.
Finally, it was just the two of us, the woman gesturing for Dee to go ahead. Even though I now knew this wasn't her thing, she only hesitated for a few seconds before grabbing on, taking a running start and swinging across to the other side.
I held my breath, hoping she wouldn't fall. And she didn't. When she landed on the other side, both feet on solid ground, she grinned back at me triumphantly, sending a thrill through me.
Damn, that smile was something else.
And it meant the world that she'd sought me out first. Not Mona. Not any of her other co-workers that she'd known for a lot longer. But me .
I swung across as well, joining her, the other ranger following right behind us. There was a bit of a gap growing between us and the rest of the group. And looking at the next thing, I could see why.
It was some kind of mud pit, with a low-slung rope net, something we had to crawl over. There was no avoiding getting down and dirty with this one. The net had streaks of mud, making it clear that in some spots others had struggled to make it through, leaving evidence of their efforts behind.
Dee looked up at me, shocking me with what she said next. "I'll race you."
"Race me? What happened to my city girl?"
But she didn't answer, instead charging ahead and pulling herself onto one side of the net, leaving the other side for me. On her hands and knees, her cute ass in the air, she carefully moved forward.
Holy shit. The sight in front of me was hot as fuck.
She looked back at me, eyes all lit up. "You're so going to lose."
At that taunt, I finally snapped out of it, and laughing, I pulled myself onto the net with her. My movement jostled her, and she lost her balance, face-planting right into the muddy net. She sputtered in surprise, mud smeared across her cheeks as she tried to push herself up.
I watched her with bated breath, wondering if she'd be pissed and yell at me, but all she did was smile and plough ahead.
That's my girl .
I did the same, all the while debating whether I should let her win if it came to that. What was the best way to play this for the outcome I wanted?
The mud on the ropes became thick, clinging to every inch as we both pushed ahead, making each movement seem like a full-body workout.
We were neck and neck, the two of us breathing heavily, laughing with every wobble and slip. Closer and closer we drew to the end, and I found myself giving it my all, my competitive spirit rising up in me. Apparently, Dee had it too because she wasn't giving in without a fight.
Both of us rushed forward at the same time, reaching the end of the net, but she hopped off first and declared herself the winner before I could react.
"I won!" she practically shouted, a smug smile on her face.
"It's only because you're lighter," I argued. "You were able to flit across the net like a little bug."
"Sore loser much?"
Jumping down myself, I smiled as she sauntered away to the next thing. This kind of flirting with Dee filled me with indescribable happiness, something I hadn't felt in a very long time.
At the next challenge, we caught up to the group as everyone waited their turn to walk across a series of log balance beams. Looking at the size of the logs, it seemed like an easy enough task, but with all the wobbling going on, that didn't seem to be the case. Muddy shoes didn't help.
Dee and I cheered on the others until it was our turn, and for a minute, only a minute, I forgot about my pursuit of her, instead my CEO brain realizing what a great idea this whole team-building thing really was. It was genuinely working, this group clearly bonding already.
I'd definitely have to keep this in mind for all the companies under Echelon.
Letting her go first, I watched as she wobbled and slipped her way across, falling once into a huge puddle and getting soaked. She was filthy, and I couldn't help thinking about how she would clean up.
Just as quickly as I imagined her in the shower, I had to squash it because the last thing I needed was a hard-on out in the middle of the wilderness with no relief in sight.
The feeling subsided, especially when it was my turn and I had to focus all my energy on getting across in one piece.
God, what on earth did they have next for us?
I soon found out, a rope bridge and then a climbing wall. Even though Dee had said she wasn't the outdoorsy type, she rallied, making it through the last two things with ease, and I couldn't stop watching her.
She had such grit and determination, and it only made her more attractive to me.
Fuck, I had it bad.
On the other side of the climbing wall, the entire group gathered, Ranger Jim beaming at us all. Everyone looked dirty, tired, and worn out but, at the same time, exhilarated. There was a sense of accomplishment as we all caught our breath, knowing that every single one of us had made it through, cheering each other on, helping one another where it was needed.
"Fantastic job, folks," Jim exclaimed. "You all should give yourselves a pat on the back."
There were a few jokesters who actually did it, while Jim bounced up and down on his toes.
"And now," he went on, "you'll be rewarded with some lunch."
Relieved sighs went through the exhausted group.
"But don't get too comfortable," he added ominously.
Next to me, I heard Dee groan. "Great," she said.
"What do you think, babe? Should we try to make a run for it?"
She smiled up at me. "Maybe. But after lunch."
After washing up, we ate our lunches at picnic benches overlooking a gorgeous bluff. I wasn't sure if it was the actual food, the exertion, or the setting, but it was one of the best sandwiches I'd ever had. Everyone else was in agreement, judging by the way we all devoured our sack lunches.
Jim didn't give us much time to rest, unfortunately, popping up from his perch right as I finished one of the oranges they'd given us for dessert. He clapped his hands together.
"All right, Insight Inkers..."
Huh, that was a new one.
"We've got one more big thing to do, then you can have a nice long break before dinner and s'mores. So if you all could please follow me..."
At this point, I'd pay a million dollars for access to a shower.
Dee was slow to get up, and I noticed she seemed more dirty than almost anybody else, her shoes caked in mud, dried dirt on her face, clothes filthy.
I helped her throw out some trash. "You okay?" I asked.
Her shoes made a squelching noise as she walked. "No. Fucking Max Sterling owes me new shoes, new socks, new shorts, a new shirt, and therapy for a year."
Once again, I couldn't help laughing. Even if her hatred of the real me shouldn't be funny. "How is this his fault? Wasn't this Veronica's grand idea?"
"Yes. But it's his company. So the buck stops with him."
"So he's responsible for something he probably doesn't even know about." I just had to goad her, didn't I?
"Always," she grumbled, heading down the path where the others had already disappeared.
It was funny but at the same time just highlighted the monumental task I had ahead of me. I usually loved challenges in life, however, the stakes seemed higher this time.
With the ranger still bringing up the rear behind us, we trudged forward, all you could really do in life. Man, this outdoorsy shit was making me philosophical.
It wasn't long before we reached another clearing, and I spotted a long wire stretched out over the trees that disappeared into the distance—a fucking zip line. Wow. I'd never done one before, but I'd always wanted to try it.
My eyes immediately went to Dee who had halted in front of me. She was staring at some of the others who were already gearing up, strapping into harnesses and helmets, their excited chatter filling the air. I could practically see her calculating the odds of her survival.
"Hey." I nudged her gently. "I know this thing is perfectly safe. And it's gonna be fun. Like exponentially fun."
She shot me a look that was somewhere between skeptical and terrified. "You know this isn't exactly my idea of fun, right?"
"Noted." I grinned at her. "But you'll be fine. Plus, I'm here. Right behind you. And you kind of trust me. A little bit, right?"
She bit her plump lip, still hesitating, as she shrugged. "A little. Maybe."
"That's the spirit," I said, taking the tiny bit she'd given me. This was my big chance to be there for her, to show her that maybe, just maybe, I could be more than just her annoying co-worker.
One by one, we watched as the others took off, Mona included, squealing and laughing as she disappeared into the trees, her voice echoing back to us.
Ranger Jim, ever the enthusiastic taskmaster, clapped his hands, snapping me out of my thoughts. "All right, last two! Let's get you geared up."
Dee looked like she was about to bolt, but I caught her hand, her ice-cold hand, and gave it what I hoped was a reassuring squeeze.
An idea suddenly struck me, and I turned to Ranger Jim. "Hey, is it possible to go tandem on this thing?"
Ranger Jim nodded. "Yep, we can set that up. It's not uncommon for folks who need a little extra support."
I glanced at Dee, who was still eyeing the zip line like it might bite her. "What do you think? We can go together—tandem. Might make it a little less... terrifying."
She hesitated, clearly weighing her options, holding onto my hand a second longer than necessary before nodding. "Fine. But if I die, I'm haunting you."
Chuckling, I released her hand to help her into the harness, thinking she could join my late grandpa. "Deal."
As we got strapped in, the others long gone, an occasional whoop echoed back to us. It was just us now, Dee gripping the harness like it was a lifeline, and me, honestly kind of relishing playing the hero for once.
"Ready?" I asked, standing next to her on the small platform.
She took a deep breath, then nodded. "No. Yes. No. Okay."
"Come on. Let's do this," I said, and with one final glance at her, I pushed off the platform.
The world dropped away beneath us as we soared through the air, the trees blurring into a green sea below. Dee's initial screech of terror turned into something that sounded suspiciously like laughter, and I couldn't help smiling.
God, this felt amazing. Not just the physical sensation of flying, but having this woman in my arms. When we'd taken off, she'd ended up nestled between my legs, her back pressed firmly against my chest. I could feel every tremor of her nervous energy as we sped along, the wind rushing past us, her hand instinctively gripping my knee.
My arms were wrapped around her, holding her securely in place, and although I was supposed to be reassuring her, the closeness was doing a number on me, unlocking something in my chest.
Humming with tension, the zip line vibrated under our combined weight, but it was smooth and steady, the sensation of gliding through the air unlike anything I'd ever felt.
As the landscape whipped by, all I could focus on was this woman in my arms—the warmth of her body against mine, the way we fit together and how she was finally letting go, leaning into this incredible experience. With me.
The route was long and winding, treetops and stunning scenery flying beneath us, and with each turn, my grip on her tightened, instinct and the need to keep her close rising up inside me.
For the time being, it was only the two of us, suspended in the sky, wrapped up in each other, and I loved every damn second of it.
When the landing platform finally came into view, disappointment flashed through me that this connection between us was coming to an end.
We slowed down, the line gradually easing us toward the wooden platform, and we soon landed, Dee stumbling a little as we righted ourselves. I let her go so we could unhook everything, keeping an eye on her. She was breathless but smiling, a real, genuine smile.
"See?" I said. "I told you it'd be fun."
She rolled her eyes, but there was no bite to it. "You might've been right. This time. And this time only."
I laughed my ass off at her snarky tone, resisting the urge to spank her behind as she turned and walked off. It was a start, and I'd fucking take it.