She was so close that her breath tickled.He eased away slightly.“That’s my best guess, because my father and my mother showed up in my office demanding I come on this venture.They brought up the fact that I’m an only child because my father was a workaholic.I suspect Mom wants me out of the office, in public, and probably dating, so she can have grandkids.”He sighed.“I am not ready to reproduce.”
She laughed lightly and slapped her hand over her mouth.“Sorry,” she mumbled through her fingers.
Her pink cheeks elicited a chuckle.“No problem.”Was she laughing at him not reproducing, or amused that he was a sucker for his mom’s whims?
The bus’s speaker crackled to life with an ear-jarring squeal.
“Welcome to the Varner Industries’ Summer Team-Building Experience.”Everyone clapped, then quieted right down.“We begin our trip by traveling to Lake Wabamun.There, we’ll spend a week camping, learning boat safety, doing fitness challenges, and learning to canoe.”
“A week doesn’t sound too bad,” Eric muttered.“But two days would be better.”
“Then,” the speaker continued, “We’ll travel to Fox Creek, where we will take a canoe trip down the Athabasca River.This portion of the trip will take between four and five days, depending on the flow.We will camp beside the river each night.Your meals will be provided as bagged lunches or cookouts.”
“Well, at least I don’t have to cook.”
Her grateful comment made him chuckle.“Not much of a cook, then?”
“Actually, when I feel like cooking, I’m darned good at it.I debated applying for one of those chef contests.The trouble is I’m lazy and easily distracted.How about you, Eric?Do you cook?”
The soft purr of his name on her lips sent shivers down his spine, yet it didn’t seem deliberately seductive.“Never.Mom made me learn, but I usually get takeout at work.”Why did he feel so guilty saying that?He spun the questions around by asking, “What distracts you?”
“My business, my plants, my friends, the call of a cozy mystery.Pretty much anything.”
“How’d you learn to cook then?”
“Necessity.I’m a stress-eater.Give me a problem, and I’ll find the solution at the bottom of the cookie jar.When I’m stressed, I bake or cook elaborate meals.”
He gave her a quick side glance.She didn’t look like an overeater.She was trim and seemed fit enough.Under the short sleeves of her top were well-defined arms, which made him think she must work out.He chided himself for paying too much attention.
“Usually, I give the food to Mrs.Johnston next door.She doesn’t have any family or much money.I like to help her out when I can.”
“Very generous.”He couldn’t stop his warm smile.His mother might think he spent too much time at work, but that didn’t stop him from donating generous portions of his income to charity.Plus, Varner Industries had a charity program that donated to schools and hospitals.Ronald McDonald House was a favorite charity.
Slowly, duo by duo, the bus filled, with the noise increasing exponentially with each pairing.The bus’s speaker crackled again with an announcement.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I will be your leader for this team-building project.My name is Brent Blanc.You can call me Brent.If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”
A flurry of voices interrupted him.
“Geez,” Wanda grumbled good-naturedly, “you’d think they’d let him finish his announcements before blasting him with questions.”
Eric chuckled.
“Hold on,” Brent said, waving his hands.“We’ll get to questions once I’m finished.Just to refresh everyone’s memories,” he paused dramatically, making everyone chuckle, “we’ll leave Calgary and head to Lake Wabamun, with quick stops in Red Deer and just outside of Edmonton.And maybe a surprise stop or two along the way.”He grinned.“It isn’t a long trip.Only three and a half hours if you were to do it in one shot.But because this is a team builder, we’ll play some games as we go, and each stop will have a set of challenges.There are prizes for the top teams at the end of our journey.”
“I’m excited.”Wanda clapped her hands like a giddy schoolgirl.
“I should be working,” Eric grumbled.
She elbowed him in the ribs.“Come on, Mr.Boss Man.This is going to be fun.I didn’t want to come on this, but since I’m here, I’m going to make the best of it and have a blast while doing so.Don’t kill my joy.”
“Fine.”He crossed his arms over his chest.Part of him wanted to enjoy the outing.He hadn’t been on a boondoggle since taking over the company.Heck, he barely took a full day off.This team building retreat had the potential to be as much fun as spring break during university.
He bit back an anticipatory grin.He’d let Miss Wanda stew a bit before they got rolling, because part of him couldn’t resist the urge to tease her.
Chapter Three
Wasthatahintof a smile on his lips?
