Swept Away. Kristina Mathews
Even the RV sites were hidden from each other, offering privacy and a feeling of being someplace special.
Picnic tables dotted the edges of a large meadow, the perfect spot for lunching on a lazy afternoon. Horseshoe pits and a volleyball court provided recreation for those seeking a more active distraction. Log benches surrounded a fire pit and a granite slab looked like it could serve as a stage. Or an altar for small, intimate outdoor weddings. Not that she was ever going to walk down that aisle again. She’d learned her lesson—happily-ever-after didn’t exist.
She parked behind the large log building that housed the main office. A wide porch lined with benches overlooking the river looked like the perfect spot to sip a cold drink and chat with friends old and new. Guests could mingle on the porch or duck into the store for last minute supplies.
Lily stepped inside, bells tinkling overhead as she opened the door. Coolers along the back wall displayed soda, sports drinks, beer, and wine. One whole section contained locally produced juice and fresh fruit. There were packages of deli meats and a variety of cheeses for picnics. They also sold four different kinds of trail mix, including a nut and gluten free mix for those with allergies.
She found displays of T-shirts, bathing suits, sunglasses, and hats. Not to mention sunglass straps and those funky sandals the twins wore. Sunscreen, first aid supplies, and… Oh my, condoms were also available for purchase.
Thumbing through the racks of bathing suits, Lily looked for a replacement for the one she’d lost. Could she be bold enough to try on a brightly colored string bikini? What the hell? New life. New rules. No more boring black. No more subdued colors to blend into the background. She grabbed a siren red, skimpy little number. The kind that would surely turn heads. The question was, whose head was she hoping to turn?
“Lily? I thought that was you.” The voice ran down her spine like warm honey. “It’s me, Carson.”
“Yes. Of course.” She turned and saw that he was just as big and strong as she’d remembered. She hadn’t built him up in her imagination. “I thought I’d check your place out.”
“You still up for rafting?” His smile both reassured her and made her even more nervous about coming here.
“If the offer still stands.” Lily hoped the slight tremor in her voice wasn’t too obvious. “If you’re busy or something…”
“Never too busy to help out a friend.” Carson said the word like it was something exotic and dangerous. Like friendship was the last thing on his mind.
“Well then, I’m here for my first time down the river.” Lily tried to keep her voice steady, pretending she wasn’t afraid at all. “In a raft.”
“You’ve come to the right place. I’ll text Cody and see if he still wants to go.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Part of her hoped he had other plans. But then she’d be alone with Carson. In a boat. On the river. Just the two of them. She wasn’t sure what scared her more.
“We can go down without him.” The look in his eyes said he hoped Cody was unavailable. “Or we could do it another time.”
He pulled his phone from his pocket. His thumbs flew over the screen and Lily couldn’t help but wonder what else he could do with those skilled fingers.
“He’s on his way.”
“Do I have time to change?” Lily held up the bikini, and she noticed his eyes widen in appreciation. “If it fits, I’ll pay for it before we go.”
“Yeah, sure. Meet us in the boat barn around back.”
Lily nodded.
“Oh, and make sure you have on plenty of sunscreen.”
As if that was going to keep her from getting burned.
* * * *
Carson was pleased to see Lily ready to brave the river again so soon. He was pleased to see her, period. So he’d had a bit of a squabble with Cody about her last night. They were mature, responsible adults. They’d be able to move past their petty jealousy and show her a good time on the river. Couldn’t they?
“Lily will be down in a minute.” His brother was busy pulling out gear for their impromptu trip. “She had to pick up a few things from the store.”
Like a red hot bikini. Was she trying to torture them? And why didn’t they stock one-pieces? Something modest, like the wool suits they wore in the 1920s. It wouldn’t matter because he already knew what she looked like underneath. He already knew what she felt like, and he had a hard time pushing the memory out of his mind.
Cody just grunted as he continued to gather the necessary supplies and equipment. So, he was still ticked off at him. Good. About time he learned the lesson that he couldn’t always get everything he wanted, when he wanted it.
The two men quickly fell into the routine of getting ready to put-in on the river. They must have done this a thousand times. He and Cody knew each other so well, they didn’t need to talk to communicate. A good thing since he didn’t feel like talking to his brother right now. He’d noticed the way Cody looked at Lily. Like he was dying of thirst and she was a fresh mountain spring. Jealousy bubbled up to the surface and Carson fought to keep it under control.
Normally he’d just step aside. Let Cody have his way. But he couldn’t let Cody have Lily.
Carson helped Cody pull out the boat and load it into the back of the truck. They gathered throw ropes, hoopi, and a hand pump. Carson grabbed his guide’s paddle and threw three others into the back of his truck. Having an extra paddle on the trip was a good idea. Having an extra guy along? Not so much.
A first aid kit, water bottles, and bailing bucket—all this equipment for just a couple of hours. They finished loading the gear, and Cody tied down the load, making sure everything was secure. Carson threw extra hoopi in the back of the truck. He didn’t want to be caught without one again.
Lily appeared in front of the boat barn wearing her new bikini and a tentative smile.
“Let’s get you fitted for your life jacket.” Cody handed Lily an orange life jacket and she wriggled into it. Carson nearly knocked Cody over as he moved in to check the straps. Cody shot him a look that made it clear he didn’t appreciate Carson stepping in, but he didn’t care. He needed to make sure Lily was safe. Even if it meant keeping her away from Cody.
Carson pulled up on her shoulder straps, but it was too loose. When he tugged on the chest strap, Lily let out a sharp gasp.
“Sorry.” He’d forgotten about her injuries. “Are you sore from yesterday?”
“A little.” She held her breath while he tightened the lower strap. “But I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
“Proper fit is important,” Carson assured her. “If it’s too loose, you might as well be wearing nothing at all.”
“Been there. Done that.” Lily managed a smile, but her face was a shade paler than it had been.
“You can take this off until we get on the river.” Carson unhooked the buckles and slid the life jacket down her arms. It was only then that he noticed the bruises on her side. His concern deepened. So did his admiration. Getting back on the river so soon took courage. Plenty of it.
“Let’s roll.” Cody slammed the tailgate of his truck and glared at him before shooting Lily his most charming grin. “Lily, you can sit up front. Next to me.”
“Sure.” She stepped toward the red truck and then stopped in her tracks. “I thought the truck was white.”
“That’s Carson’s boring truck.” Undertones of resentment seeped to the surface. “I like a little more excitement. I really like red.”
Cody fingered the string of Lily’s new bathing suit top, grazing her neck with his thumb and sending a noticeable shiver down her back. This could be a very