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“Shelby, you never cease to surprise me. I have no doubt you’re up for it.”
~*~
“I’m not sure I’m up for this,” I whispered to Emma, who had come to see me off in the too early light. She and Sawyer couldn’t come on the hike because of previous obligations to the Ranch, and Emma’s soccer team had a game today.
She smiled sleepily. “You’ve got this. Stay hydrated and eat small snacks as you go to keep your energy up.” She looked me over from head to toe. “By the way, you look too cute for this.”
I ran my hand down my French braid and looked at my attire. I wasn’t dressing to impress, that was for sure—plain shorts, a T-shirt, and a long-sleeve shirt tied around my waist for the cool morning hours in the mountains.
“Maybe I’ll meet someone,” I teased. We both knew even if I did, I wouldn’t act on it. I was still too hung up on my ex. The man who had managed to disappear.
Emma looked around at the group of brave people congregating in front of the barn. She flicked her head to the right. “There are a couple of candidates over there,” she whispered.
Nonchalantly, I glanced over at the two tall, handsome, well-built men talking to Jaime. I averted my eyes back to Emma. “Not bad.”
She shook her head at me and grinned. “So, they aren’t Ryder hot, but think about it.”
Maybe it was time for me to really work on moving on.
Emma reached out suddenly and grabbed my arm. “Don’t look now, but I think your trip just got a lot more interesting.”
“What are you talking about?”
She didn’t get to answer.
“Look at our Shelby, all dressed like a wilderness girl,” Bobby Jay shouted. “Dang, woman, you’re making me wish I decided not to give up my spot.”
What? I turned around to find Bobby Jay walking toward me not dressed for hiking. He was wearing dress slacks and a button up. But the one who caught my attention loomed behind him looking unsure, dressed like all my already fulfilled fantasies and the ones I hoped to relive in the future.
I looked at Emma with wide eyes, biting my lip. The drummer was back in my chest wildly beating on my heart.
Bobby Jay was picking me up and squeezing the air out of me before I knew what hit me. “Good morning, Miss Shelby.”
“Bobby Jay, why aren’t you coming?”
He set me down with a wicked grin. “It’s my Christian duty to be a good Samaritan.” He wagged his brows. “That and my girl and I have plans.”
“Your girl? Are you official now?”
“Working on it.” He leaned in and whispered in my ear. “You have some work to do this weekend too.” He nodded toward a pensive Ryder standing several feet away. Mylanta, did he look fine in his cargo shorts and tight T-shirt. I loved it when he didn’t shave in the mornings.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t alone for long. Macey bounded up to him looking more than good in her sports bra and shorts shorter than mine. “Ryder, I’m so happy you’re coming.” Did she know he was beforehand? Was it Macey, not Marlowe, he was interested in?
My already nervous stomach began to feel queasy. “Maybe I should stay.”
“You aren’t afraid of a little competition, are you?” Bobby Jay asked.
“Is she my competition?”
Bobby Jay shrugged.
“Why is he coming?” I whispered.
“One of us has to see you pee in the woods.” He laughed.
I smacked his arm.
He snaked his arm around me, his tone changed from playful to thoughtful. “Shelby, you’ve got that boy so wound up and scared as hell. Go easy on him.”
I looked into his sincere eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You put a world of hurt on him, and that’s not easy to forget.”
My eyes misted.
“Don’t cry, girl.” He reached up and wiped away a tear that had escaped. “You had your reasons. And honestly, he bears some of the blame, but he hasn’t exactly come to terms with that. See how this weekend goes. Work your charm, but maybe more subtly.” He chuckled.
Emma handed me my backpack, which she had carefully helped pack to make sure the weight distribution worked for me. “Give him hell.”
Bobby Jay’s eyes popped. “You have some spirit, Mrs. King.”
“I’m team Shelby, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s your boy who should be charming her.”
Bobby Jay’s right brow quirked. “I do like you, Mrs. King. And I might be inclined to agree with you.”
That was all well and good, but what did that mean I should do?Chapter EighteenI decided the only thing I could do was be myself. Which meant hanging out with Jaime, who was obviously a bit forlorn that Macey was throwing all her attention at Ryder. She was incessantly chatting behind us about how she wanted to create her own makeup and moisturizer line and how Mr. Carrington was going to fund her venture.
