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The head office of RidgeRoam Adventures is nestled at the foot of the mountains, ideally located between Bison’s Belly—Bearclaw Ridge’s river—and Evergreen Canopy. The latter is a stretch of dense forest where the Kingsley brothers always take their clients zip lining.

Not that I’m here to sign up for a zip lining session or a white-water rafting tour. I desperately want to see Casey, and I hope she'll be around since this is where she works.

For the past week, I’ve only spotted her twice. The first time was when she was pulling weeds from her driveway, her round ass in full view. I was standing on a ladder, fixing the correct gutter this time and replacing a few shingles on the roof, so I didn’t have a chance to talk to her. The second time I saw her was through the bathroom window. She left her house dressed in hiking boots and cute shorts that left little to the imagination. Once again, I couldn’t strike up a conversation because I had just stepped out of the shower and didn’t think anyone would appreciate me running outside in nothing but a towel.

So yeah, call me pathetic for heading out here with the weak excuse of having burning questions about white-water rafting, but I don’t give a shit about that. I need to see her again. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her for seven days and nights. Jerking off so many days in a row is probably my new personal record. Every time I did, she was starring in my fantasies.

I grit my teeth when I park my truck. What am I even doing here? I’m not planning on telling Casey how I feel about her. If my time in the Army has taught me anything, it’s that forever isn’t guaranteed. Why would I risk loving someone only to have her possibly taken away from me without warning? I’m not saying something horrible is going to happen to her, but there’s no way of knowing. I wouldn’t survive such a thing. I barely survived war.

I step out of the truck, the gravel on the parking lot scrunching under my boots. Just because I want to protect my heart doesn’t mean I can’t hang out with her.

The head office is exactly as Casey described it. A small shack filled with a desk, a few chairs where three people are waiting, a door leading to the bathroom, and a vending machine selling drinks and power bars. The walls are adorned with posters advertising thrilling adventure tours and family outings with a hot-air balloon. Pushed against a corner is a rack filled with leaflets promoting local shops and restaurants. I grab one while I wait for Casey to be done with her current customer. She hasn’t spotted me yet, but I have an amazing view of her from here.

Her red hair is tied into a high ponytail, emphasizing her round cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes.

The door to the shack swings open, and Falcon steps inside, surprise etching his face when he spots me.

“Hey, man.” He frowns. “Were we supposed to meet? I thought we were grabbing drinks together at the Grizzly Grove bar at five?”

I shake my head. “We’re still on for tonight. I’m here to, um, inquire about a kayaking tour.”

“Really? We’ve got one leaving in half an hour. Why don’t you join us?” he asks. “My treat, of course.”

Before I can decline, he turns to Casey. “Hey, Casey, do we have room for one more on the kayaking trip today?”

She looks up, and our eyes meet. A big smile spreads over her face, sending a jolt of charged energy through me. I raise my hand and give her a weak wave.

“We’ve got two spots left,” she says.

“Great,” Falcon says, slapping me on the arm. “Casey will have you sign a waiver.”

He beams at me. “Yeah, no worries, man. So, how have you been? Thanks again for fixing that gutter for me. If you’re looking for more jobs, I heard Mrs. Jenkins asked around for you in town. Apparently, she’s having trouble finding someone reliable to mow her lawn.”

“I’ll drop by her house later.”

Casey’s customer steps away from her desk, and Falcon motions toward her. “Come on, let’s sign that waiver.”

“Hello, neighbor,” I say when I’m face-to-face with her.

“Right, you two know each other,” Falcon says. “Why don’t you join us today, Casey? There’s an empty spot in Austin’s kayak. Your shift is over in half an hour, anyway. It’ll be fun.”

She blushes. “Oh, I don’t know.”

“Why not? You’ve never been kayaking before. If you join us, you’ll know what it’s like. If someone comes in here and asks you questions about the tour, you’ll be able to answer from experience.”

She bites her lip while she thinks, and fuck, I wish those were my teeth running over her lips.

“Do you want me to come, Austin?” she asks. “If you prefer a solo trip, I completely understand.”

Oh, I want her to come all right. “Well, it’s a double kayak. I don’t see a reason you shouldn’t join me.”

She pushes a loose strand of hair back into her ponytail. “Okay, I’ll come, but Skyler doesn’t arrive for at least another half hour. I can’t close the office before he’s here.”

Falcon nods. “You’re right. You should stay until my brother arrives. You guys won’t be able to join the group, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Austin and I used to go kayaking all the time. He knows his way around the river.”

It’s true. I can’t even count the number of kayaking trips I took when I lived here. Falcon and I were on the water almost every weekend when we were still in high school.

Falcon heads outside to hand out life vests to the people who signed up for a tour with him while I wait with Casey until she can leave.

“Are you sure it’s no problem? I don’t want to impose,” she says.

“I’d love to have you there. If you promise not to hit me with your paddle,” I reply with a wink.

She laughs. “I won’t. I do worry about the level of difficulty. Isn’t Bison’s Belly too rough for a beginner like me?”

“The first part of the river is, yes. That’s why it’s perfect for white-water rafting. But the second part is more tranquil. I’ll guide you through the rough spots.”

“Thank you, Austin.”

“Of course. Now stop worrying. It’s going to be a fun and relaxing afternoon. I won’t let anything happen to you, Casey. Trust me.”

She smiles. “I do feel safe around you. And I do feel like spending an afternoon on the water. It’ll be fun to see the mountains from a different vantage point for once.”

Half an hour flies by while we talk about our shared love for hiking. By the time Skyler walks through the door, I can tell Casey is completely at ease and ready to spend a few hours in close proximity to me.

“Have fun, guys,” Skyler says as we finish tying a canoe to my truck.

“Thanks. Are you heading to the Grizzly Grove later too? Falcon and I are meeting up for drinks.”

“Sure thing,” he says.

“Great,” I reply, loading two pairs of paddles in the back. I turn to Casey before starting the engine and driving to the river. “Ready?”