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Makenna
I’d lived in Texas all my life, so I knew about rattlesnakes. I’d just never come across one. Now I was staring at a rattler curled on the floor of my tent.
“Are you okay?” Rachel asked as she started toward me.
I slowly brought my hand up, warning her back. I knew if the snake was startled, it would strike. A rattlesnake’s venom could be lethal, especially this far from the nearest hospital. I wasn’t ready to die.
Apparently, Rachel guessed that something wasn’t right. A few minutes passed before I heard heavier footsteps. The snake rattled another warning. I cautiously glanced toward Nash and Rachel. Don was right behind them. He’d grabbed a big stick.
“I’m going to grab you,” Nash spoke softly.
“Too risky,” I whispered. The idiot was going to get himself bitten.
“Get ready.” He nodded to Don, who moved behind the tent. “Now!”
Don beat on the ground behind the tent, so he could draw the rattler’s attention. Nash ran at me, grabbing me around the waist and whirling the both of us away from the tent. We landed hard on the ground, but he took the brunt of the fall. He held me tight, most of his body covering me, as the snake slithered out of the tent and toward the rocks and away from the camp, apparently to find a quieter place to rest.
“Are you okay? It didn’t get you, did it?” His gaze searched my face. Sweat beaded his forehead.
“I’m fine.” I frowned. “Maybe a little bruised now.” My body began to tremble. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Damn, he smelled good. Like the wood smoke from the campfire and coffee. It was enough to take my mind off what had just happened.
“Sorry about knocking you to the ground. That was the only thing I knew to do.”
The heat of his body surrounded me in warmth. I had a feeling Nash would be more dangerous than the snake.
I felt a little calmer now. “Are we going to stay like this, or are we going to hike?” I didn’t make a move to get up. Maybe because I didn’t really want to. I hadn’t felt this protected in a long time.
He suddenly grinned, as if he knew I didn’t really want to move. What was it about his smile that made me want to raise my lips to his? The man had a damned sexy smile.
“I wouldn’t mind.”
“The ground is hard,” I casually commented.
He sighed. “Unfortunately, that’s not the only thing.”
I couldn’t help it. I started to laugh.
He raised an eyebrow. “I saved the lady’s life, and what does she do? Laugh at me.”
“Are you okay?” There was fear in Rachel’s words.
I looked around Nash. “I’m fine.”
Nash came to his feet, then held out his hand. I took it and stood. My legs were still shaking from the shock of having a snake in my tent, so I was glad for the hand up.
“I’m fine, too. In case anyone was wondering,” Nash told everyone who had gathered nearer, now that the snake was gone. When people started asking, he held up his hands. “I’m okay. In fact, I always go around saving damsels in distress, so I’m quite used to it.”
“Damn, I should’ve brought my high-top, rubber boots,” Don said. “It’s getting a little deep.” He frowned as if he’d just thought of something. “I was the one who scared the snake away. I deserve a little credit”
There was a lot of good-natured ribbing, until I opened the flap on my tent once more. Nash brought his arm up to keep me from going inside, then reached for the stick Don still held. Don handed it to him. Nash looked at me. “Better safe than sorry.” He beat the stick on the floor a few times, then pushed on my bed. If another snake had been inside, it would’ve made itself known. Still, he reached in and grabbed my bed, then dragged it out.
Everyone else went about getting their own things packed away while Nash continued getting my stuff ready. I glared at him. Not that he noticed. He’d already deflated the floor of my tent and brought my backpack out. “Excuse me, I can take my own tent down,” I told him with more than a little irritation.
He straightened. “Do you always argue this much?”
I raised my chin. “I wasn’t arguing, just stating fact.”
He studied me for a moment. “Do you know how sexy you look when your stubborn streak comes out?”
My mouth opened, then snapped shut as I tried to think of something smart-assed to say.
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. You’ll think of something later.” He turned and went to his own tent and began taking it down.
“Later will be too late,” I mumbled. I spun around and began taking down my tent. By the time I had everything loaded in my backpack, I had cooled down just a bit. Yes, he’d saved me from a rattlesnake bite and possibly certain death. I should be more grateful. That still didn’t make him any less of a dick.
But a damned sexy dick. That thought brought up a vision of him stepping out of the water completely naked. I shook my head to clear it of the image, but mentally filed it away to look at later. Nope, there was no way in hell I could ever unsee that, and quite frankly, I didn’t want to.
He definitely had a better build than Eric. Not that Eric had been ugly or anything. No, quite the opposite, he was very handsome. He had blond hair with golden highlights. Professionally streaked, of course. I just thought he’d spent a lot time in the sun. After all, we’d met outdoors on a hike. He had a great build and an expensive gym membership. A nice tan, yes, but it was from a tanning booth. Eric was a pretty boy.
I glanced toward Nash, who was taking down his tent. There was a big difference between the two men. There was nothing soft about Nash. His hands were rough, but the good kind of rough that told a woman a real man held her.
When I realized what I was doing, I rolled my eyes heavenward. I had no idea why I was comparing them. They were as different as night and day, but it didn’t really matter. I didn’t want a man in my life right now. It wasn’t to say that I wouldn’t want one eventually, just not right now.
When we were ready to leave, Nash took the lead, and Don the rear. No one really spoke that much as we began to cross the rough terrain. We weren’t the first to come this way, but it wasn’t a well-traveled trail either. Anyone going this route had to be an experienced hiker.
The longer we hiked, the more intense the incline became, and the slower we had to go, but it was worth it. The scenery was stunning. Rolling hills dotted with trees. Snow-capped mountains rising in the background. Amazing, snow in August. Of course, the mountain peak was probably at least fifteen thousand feet. I drew in a deep breath, breathing in the crisp clean air. There was something about pushing your body to its limits. It was an adrenaline rush.
I already knew that I wanted to expand our business to Colorado. Sure, I loved Texas. We had piney woods, the plains, the desert, the ocean, the hill country, but we didn’t have majestic mountains. I was a lot like my parents, always looking for new adventures. I smiled. It made life more interesting. Everyone should have adventures of their own, no matter if they were physically fit or just looking for a different kind of excitement. A simple walk in the park could be a new adventure. This was what made me feel alive.
Nash didn’t stop to see if we were okay. It would’ve been an insult. We were all experienced hikers, and even though we were pushing our bodies right now, we were used to this kind of exertion.
I think we were all ready for a break, though, when he did stop. I noticed his gaze swept over the group as he silently checked to see how everyone was holding up. I arched my eyebrow, daring him to ask me if I was fine. A smile played around his lips. He knew exactly what I was thinking.
I slipped off my backpack, then reached inside for my water. I took a long drink. Staying hydrated was critical. That, and nutrition. Like the others, I carried protein bars. We ate, letting the beauty of the area fill us with a peace that couldn’t be felt when you were surrounded by towering buildings and concrete sidewalks.
Then we were off again. We walked up a steep, rocky incline for quite some distance, then made our way down the other side, weaving between granite crevices that were taller than a lot of buildings.
It was a good thing I wasn’t claustrophobic, because some of the spaces were snug, but we all made it through the narrow corridors. Water had once washed through, creating the passageways and smoothing the rock. I’d been through a few in different states that were truly works of art. These were just as awe inspiring, with their variations of color, from deep red to pale yellow. I ran my hand down the side, as if I could feel the essence of those who had come before me. I became one with the land, soaking up its beauty.
We reached our stopping point for the day and stood staring at the breathtaking beauty of what lay before us. We were surrounded by lush green vegetation and a towering waterfall that emptied into a pool of water and continued on downstream. It was magnificent.
“How did you find this place?” Rachel asked.
“Don and I were hiking one day, and we decided to do some exploring. I don’t think many people know about it.” Nash removed his backpack. “I figured it would be a good place to stay the night. I thought everyone would enjoy its beauty.”
I think we all agreed with that.
We went about setting up our tents. By then, it was late afternoon, but everyone had the same idea, and put on their swimsuits. The water was just too inviting. We all went as a group, but it almost felt as if Nash and I were the only two people there. His gaze kept straying to mine, and mine to his.
I stepped into the water. Again, it was cold, but it felt refreshing after a long hike. When I dove down and came back up, Nash was in front of me.
“Want to check out the waterfall? At one time or another, someone carved out steps.”
For some reason I couldn’t talk, so I just nodded. His aura had a way of surrounding me, stealing my breath. I swam behind him and when he stopped, I stopped. I studied the stone in front of me, but I didn’t see the steps he’d talked about. When he smiled, my insides turned to mush.
“They’re almost hidden,” he told me.
“I’d say there completely hidden.”
He smiled, then pushed back a tangle of brush. The steps were right there in front of me.
“They’ll be slippery,” he warned.
Was that a challenge? “Do you want me to go first to make sure it’s safe enough for you?”
He laughed. “Just follow me. If you get stuck, let me know.”
He turned and started up the steps. I was still trying to think of a comeback. Get stuck? Really? When he was far enough ahead of me, I began to climb. He was right about the rocks being slippery, but if I fell, I would only land in the water. It would embarrass the hell out of me, but it was doubtful that I would be hurt. Other than my pride, that is.
When I was almost to the top, he held out his hand. He was already standing on the ledge behind the waterfall. I didn’t need his hand, but I took it, and went the rest of the way. I thought he would let go when I was standing beside him, but he continued to hold it as I stepped behind the waterfall into a cave-like opening.
I looked beyond the curtain of water to the pool below, then farther to our campsite. Don had already gotten out of the water and was gathering wood for the fire tonight. Chris and Scotty were getting out as well. Jared and Rachel were still swimming. They were laughing and talking.
It was just me and Nash. Alone in the cave. I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “This is nice. Thank you for bringing me.” Even though I didn’t want to go just yet, I turned to leave.
“I haven’t shown you what I wanted you to see.”
My body began to tremble. Dark cave. We were the only two here. What exactly did he want me to see?
He tugged me closer. I couldn’t breathe. Then he stepped back. Now I was just confused as hell. Then he pointed to the wall, and actually did take my breath away. I stepped forward and lightly ran my hands over the ancient drawings. Men and women, animals, spears and arrows, warriors...and some kind of red dye covered what I was pretty sure was the ground. Then there were maidens with tears. Warriors with arrows in them.
“This is amazing,” I whispered, as if the ghost of spirits past might be disturbed by the sound of my voice. “And sad.”
“I know. I feel the same way. It’s as if we’ve stepped into the past. Can you imagine the people who probably camped in the exact same place where we’re camping tonight? Imagine what their life must have been like.”
“We say we’re more intelligent, but are we? Maybe they had it right, and we’re all wrong. Their life was so much simpler than ours, but they had everything they needed.”
“I believe the same way,” Nash said. “Can you imagine them living in this secluded place thousands of years ago? They would be surrounded by their family and friends. It’s cool enough they probably would’ve spent their summers here before moving farther south for the winter.”
“And apparently most of them died here.” I lightly ran my fingers over the weeping women, and the fallen warriors they cried over. I knew what it was like to lose my parents, so I understood what the women felt. Family was important.
I was curious. “Do you have family? I mean, brothers or sisters?”
“Two older brothers, one younger, and a gazillion cousins,” he said. “My parents spend a lot of their time traveling. In fact they just got back from a cruise. Most of us live in Texas, the Dallas area, but I have a cabin here in Colorado as well. I love Texas, and it will always be my true home, but there’s something to be said about the mountains here.”
I laughed. He wore a confused expression, so I explained. “I was thinking that very same thing earlier. I’ll never leave Texas, but I’d love to have a cabin in Colorado. It’s a beautiful state.”
“What about your family?” he asked.
I realized I had missed out on something growing up. “I have an aunt who never married. She’s always taken care of the family businesses. It’s what she loves. After my parents died, she raised me. I was kind of a handful back then.”
He slapped a hand over his heart. “No, not you.”
I frowned, wondering if he was being sarcastic. I think he was, but I continued. “It’s true. I even talked her into letting me go to public school. I’d been homeschooled or gone to a private school before that.”
He folded his arms in front of him and leaned against the wall. “Crossed to the other side of the tracks, did you?”
The arrogance of the man was unbelievable. I wanted to slap away his smug smile, but I shoved on his chest instead. Except he didn’t move. Instead, he pulled me into his arms and lowered his lips to mine. I struggled for all of one second, then gave in to the heat that was surrounding me. It seemed as if it had been a lifetime since he’d kissed me, but it had only been last night.
When he shoved the straps of my suit over my arms, I didn’t attempt to stop him. I wanted him as much as he wanted me. He caressed my breasts, tweaking the nipples. I arched toward him. I knew I was breaking my own vow, but maybe this was my time. Eric had kept me tied in knots. Right now, mind blowing sex was what I needed. A one night stand. I cupped his ass, pulling him nearer. His erection brushed against me. I wanted more.
Except he pushed me away. I was confused. Had he changed his mind? Please God, not now. I wanted him like I’d wanted no other man.
“I think we have company,” his voice was raspy as he fought for control. He pulled up the straps on my suit.
Company? Now? Every fiber of my being ached for more. I clamped my legs together. That only made it worse. I heard voices, though. Rachel and Jared. I quickly stepped away from Nash and moved closer to the curtain of water. When I held my hand toward it, cool water splashed me, but it didn’t cool the heat of my emotions.
“We were wondering where you two went,” Rachel said. “Oh, this is nice.”
“Petroglyphs.” Jared walked nearer, running his fingers lightly over the surface. “Wow, these are amazing.”
Rachel joined him at his side. “I wonder how long they’ve been here.”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Nash said.
I stared down at our camp, and for a moment, the tents change to tepees. I could almost see the tribe as they went about their daily chores. Children playing games with a stick and some kind of ball. A shiver swept over me as the ground began to turn red. I blinked my eyes and once again and saw our tents. Strange how my eyes could play tricks, but for just a moment, I thought I’d seen the village. Crazy, I know.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starting to get hungry,” I said, pasting a smile on my face. Maybe fate had stepped in to stop what I had been about to do. Did I really want a one night stand? A few minutes ago I would’ve said yes, now I wasn’t so sure. I only knew it would be in my best interest to keep my distance from the very hot and sexy, Nash Hayes.