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There’s only the smallest hint of salt and pepper in his hair—and I don’t think he dyes it—a distinguished badge of age.
And although there are faint lines around his eyes and mouth and across his forehead, they’re barely noticeable in this light.
Maybe it’s the lighting, though.
It’s got to be the reason.
Theonlyreason why I notice how lush his mouth is, too. His lips look like they could lay down the law or soothe any woman to sleep with tender kisses, and it’s horribly easy to imagine him doing both.
Especially when he’s not scowling.
Um... he’s not scowling now.
My stomach doesn’t quite flip over, but it lurches.
I don’t even hear him at first as he dismisses Hannah and looks at me, his eyes slits as he leans back in his chair.
“One question for you, Miss Lancaster.”
“Yes?”
He blinks and his face goes impassive. “How well can you handle a kayak?”
7
A Little Restraint (Shepherd)
Imust be out of my fucking mind.
Absolutely certifiable.
Taking a novice kayaker on the long route from Olympia city limits into the wilds of the Olympic Peninsula?
Stupid.
And doing it alone?
Alone? With a beautiful woman?
They should have me institutionalized.
If Hannah Cho were here, she’d have done the smart, mature thing and booked us a boat ride to Olympia or a seaplane into the boonies.
Anything but this.
Which is why I’m still wishing she was available for this excursion.
Then I wouldn’t be here, too distracted by the thought of a rigorous summer paddle with a young woman who has no business shaking me the hell up like she does.
But here I am, standing on this pebbly beach, waiting for Destiny and regretting every life decision I’ve ever made since Hannah first said the words 'Young Influencers.'
Christ Almighty.
If this leaks out to the wrong people—theShepherd Foster tromping around the wild with a gorgeous young woman and a glorified intern—I’ll be ruined.
Dumas couldn’t have torpedoed me better in her wildest revenge dreams.
Hell, she’ll probably up her attacks and slander out of pure seething jealousy now.
