Chapter 29 Am I Really That Scary?
Pitching the tent took Ryan only a few minutes. He chose a shaded patch beneath the trees and had everything secured before most of the others had finished unpacking.
The heat still left him sweating.
He was about to wipe his forehead when Chloe appeared with a clean towel.
“Let me.”
She stood close enough that they almost touched and dabbed his face. He caught her light fragrance as she leaned in.
“You’re really committing to this,” he murmured.
“Enjoy it.”
Her eyes sparkled. When she finished, she handed him a bottle of water.
“Here.”
He took it and glanced toward Jason.
“It’s working. He looks ready to catch fire.”
“Good. I’ve told him I’m not interested, but he keeps turning up because our fathers are friends. It’s exhausting.”
“What’s next?”
She pointed to the low hill above the waterfall.
“They’ll be busy cooking. Let’s sit up there.”
“Not done tormenting him?”
“If it works now, I won’t have to keep doing it.”
She called across the campsite.
“We’re going for a walk. Let us know when the food’s ready.”
Jason forced a smile.
“Where? Be careful of wild animals.”
Chloe took Ryan’s arm.
“I have him to protect me.”
Jason swallowed whatever he’d been about to say.
“I’ll call you.”
As soon as they were out of sight, he kicked over a folding stool.
No one looked surprised. A few of his friends looked sorry for him.
This trip had been meant to help Jason win Chloe over. He would impress her outdoors, then drinks, teasing, and a few carefully chosen games would bring them closer.
Instead, she’d arrived with Ryan and spent the entire time making it clear whom she preferred.
On the overgrown trail, Ryan broke off a branch and swept it through the grass ahead of them.
“What’s that for?” Chloe asked.
“Snakes. I’d rather disturb one from here than step on it.”
“You know a lot about this.”
He smiled.
Five years in his unit had given him plenty of practice surviving outdoors. This was a pleasant walk compared with some of the things he’d done on missions.
Eating raw snake to stay alive, for instance.
They crossed above the waterfall and continued toward the hilltop.
Ryan swept the branch through another patch of grass.
A brightly patterned snake shot out nearby. It was well over six feet long.
Chloe screamed and jumped sideways.
The snake was several feet away, but the ground sloped sharply. She lost her footing and tipped downhill.
Ryan caught her before she fell.
She clung to him at once, wrapping herself around him.
“A snake!”
Her voice shook. Her body was pressed tightly against his, and for a moment his thoughts were nowhere near the trail.
He was a young man, and it had been a while since he’d been with anyone. Having Chloe suddenly wrapped around him was a considerable distraction.
He kept his hands where they belonged and patted her shoulder.
“It’s gone. You’re safe.”
She lifted her face.
“Really?”
“Really. You’re scared of it. It’s probably even more scared of you.”
She gave a startled laugh, then glared at him.
“Am I that scary?”
“Come on, get down. You’re making it hard for me to behave.”
Only then did she notice how she was holding him.
Her cheeks warmed. She began to pull away, then caught sight of the campsite below.
Several people appeared to be looking up at them.
She slowed deliberately, making the embrace and her reluctant withdrawal look as natural as possible.
Ryan followed her gaze and understood.
Still performing.
“That’s enough. You’re enjoying this too much.”
She rolled her eyes and tried to stand straight, then caught his arm again.
“My legs are still shaky.”
He looked at her in disbelief.
“Still acting? What now? You want me to carry you?”