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Chapter Fourteen
Richard
I couldn’t believe it was time to pack up already. Usually I couldn’t get away from a woman fast enough, and here I was trying to come up with an excuse for us all to stay another night. But tomorrow was Monday and we all needed to return to reality.
Something had changed between me and Joyelle. We connected not just physically, but emotionally as well. But they say things are always different on vacation. When we wake tomorrow in our own beds, will this feeling have vanished?
My fear was that it would for me, but not for her. That’s how someone ends up getting hurt. The last thing I wanted to do was cause her pain. I shouldn’t have arranged her perfect weekend and had passionate sex with her when I knew it was never going to be more than this.
I’m such an asshole.
“I’ll bring you guys home first and come back and break down the rest of the camp,” I said.
Joyelle shook her head. “No. You’ve done so much already. Besides, things are easier when done together.”
It was those simple, sweet words that tore at my gut. She had no idea who I really was. In business, I could be ruthless. In my personal dealings, I was cold, distant. She should be running from me instead of standing by my side.
“You really don’t need to do this,” I said.
Lizzy chimed in and said, “See, I told you he didn’t want our help.”
Joyelle didn’t even look at Lizzy but kept her eyes on me. “Is that true? You don’t want my help?” she asked softly.
It would be so easy to tell her no. But I couldn’t bring myself to utter the word. “I don’t need it.” Stepping closer to her I said, “But I want it.”
She smiled and said, “Lizzy is no help at all. And I actually think you and I can manage this all by ourselves.”
“Are you suggesting that I send Lizzy back to Rhode Island alone?”
Joyelle shook her head. “With Clark.”
I leaned over, kissed her gently, then said, “I like the way you think.” Then I raised my voice and said, “Clark, why don’t you and Lizzy take the chopper back.”
“And how are you getting home?” he asked.
“We’ll drive,” I responded.
Clark asked, “Are you sure you don’t want our help?”
Lizzy slapped Clark on the bicep. “God, you don’t get it do you? They want to be alone.” She rolled her eyes and turned her attention to me, adding, “You better take real good care of her Richard, or you’ll have to answer to me.”
It was meant to be a threat, but it wasn’t needed. “I promise to return her in the same condition as you see now.”
Lizzy accepted my response and rushed to her tent to pack up her belongings while Joyelle and I packed up the cooking supplies. Clark offered to take them back with him, along with his tent.
“Elizabeth, why don’t we take your tent down, too?” Clark suggested.
“But I thought Richard and Joyelle wanted to do that?” she replied.
Clark laughed. “I think they only need one tent for what they have planned.”
Lizzy blushed and said, “Good point. But just so you know, I like things neat, so no trying to roll it up in a ball like you did yours.”
“I was trying to save time because you seem ready to go,” Clark said.
“True. So let’s roll it up,” she said. Clark smiled and she added, “And we can fold them properly in the helicopter.”
“Damn,” Clark said then looked back at me. “Wait till I collect.”
