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“Could it? Yes,” Gene said. “But did it? I don’t know.”
He started the car. “Let’s find out, okay? Ready for that hike?”
Amanda nodded. “Yes, let’s do it.”
A bark from the backseat made them both grin at Loki, who had been patiently waiting for them in the car with the windows cracked and the cool air filtering in.
“You’re ready for some exercise, buddy?” Gene asked the dog, then said to Amanda, “He was completely zonked out when I checked on him earlier.”
“He loves his sleep, but he loves to hike, too,” Amanda said. “If nothing pans out from this, at least we get to enjoy a beautiful day in nature.”
sixteen
Gene wiped the sweat off his forehead with the hem of his T-shirt as he walked the trail toward the water. Spring in Georgia was long and beautiful, but the temperature and humidity could change within hours. You could wear a jacket in the morning and a T-shirt and shorts in the afternoon.
He stole a glance at Amanda walking next to him, with Loki trotting a few steps ahead on the leash. He couldn’t help the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. She had stripped the shirt she’d been wearing earlier down to her tank top and put up her hair in a high, messy bun. Beats of sweat trickled down her chest into that tantalizing valley between her shapely breasts.
Amanda Garner, in her signature dress, looked the beautiful and sweet southern woman his mother had described her to be. But she turned into a hot adventuress akin to Lara Croft in her hiking gear. Though she was wearing lightweight cargo pants, Gene could easily picture how sexy she’d look in tight hot-pants instead.
Look away. Look away.
Gene reminded himself that she’d asked him to pump the breaks between them. Obviously, he was failing to tamp down his hunger for her. He shifted his eyes to the sky to calm the yearning inside him by focusing on the swaying tips of the trees. The wind had picked up, though they could hardly feel the breeze closer to the ground.
“So, that was a bust,” Amanda said.
Her heavy sigh brought Gene’s eyes back to her. Her mind was obviously on the mission, unlike where his had gone.
“Not necessarily,” he replied. “We’ve only checked the tent camping area. We haven’t even gotten to the RVs yet. Besides, most of the campers are out on the water this time of day. Maybe we’ll see more people on the beach.”
Their search so far didn’t exactly make them feel like they were doing anything worthwhile. River Forks Park was an organized pay-to-use campground with access to the lake for swimming, fishing, and other water sports. The park bordered private properties overlooking the lake. Between that, there was a lot of wooded area to hide in, assuming the girl they were looking for was hiding.
There were only five occupied tent spots. Amanda had shown the sketch to a young couple at one tent, but they claimed they’d never seen the girl. The other camps had been empty, which wasn’t unusual. People were there to enjoy the lake. They were probably out kayaking or hiking themselves.
“Let’s have lunch and review the map again,” Gene suggested as they found a spot to sit overlooking Deer Run cove.
They settled on a felled tree sitting on the sand overlooking the water. Gene handed Amanda a chilled bag he’d carried in his backpack. She pulled out wrapped sandwiches, cut up fruit, and a bag of chips. She also poured water for Loki in a collapsible cup and gave him a snack.
“Wow. When did you have time to make this?”
Gene unwrapped the chicken salad sandwich and took a big bite.
Amanda chuckled as she watched him eat. She grabbed a paper napkin from her pack, dabbed at the corner of his mouth, and handed him the napkin.
“Thanks,” Gene said after he swallowed. “I swear my mom taught me manners. This is great. Thank you for packing lunch.”
“You’re welcome. But why am I the one who keeps feeding you when you’re the one who promised me breakfast?”
Amanda took a more ladylike bite of her sandwich.
He stopped eating and gave her a side-look. “I would’ve taken you to breakfast this morning if I knew you wanted to go. But I thought we were taking a step back.”
“It’s just breakfast.” She returned with an eye roll. “A promise is a promise, Doc.”
He smirked. “Oh, is that so?”
They shared the fruit and chips as they ate in companionable silence for a few minutes while enjoying the view. Loki laid by their feet, watching a flock of geese gliding on the water.
“I forgot how nice it is out here,” Gene said, looking out over the lake. There was a thin layer of yellow pollen over the water, another sign of spring in Georgia. A lone kayak pedaled along the mouth of the cove. A speed boat glided through on the far end of the lake, creating wakes.
