Rushed (Adventures in Love #1)(4)

“You’re not from around here.”

“I’m not,” I agree, and he smiles again, which he needs to stop doing, because it’s making me find him even more attractive.

“Tanner, your food!” someone shouts from across the room, and he looks that way briefly before turning his attention back to me.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, sunshine. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

“Probably not.” I shrug, and that dimple of his gets a little deeper before he stands to his full height and saunters to his table. I wish I could say I don’t watch him go, but I do, and when he’s seated, he turns to look at me over his shoulder, a smug smile tilting up the corners of his mouth. I roll my eyes and turn back to face the bar, trying to figure out what the strange feeling in the pit of my stomach is.





Chapter 3


CYBIL

“Are you nervous?” Jade asks, her voice echoing through my phone’s speaker as I pull onto a dirt road that should lead me to the Live Life Adventures Lodge, where I’m meeting my guide this morning.

“Yes, I’m also sure that I’m going to end up toppling over under the weight of my backpack, which should be fun.” I smile when she laughs.

“Didn’t they send you a list of stuff to pack?”

“They did, but they told me that I should add anything else I might need, so I might have gone overboard with books, granola bars, and extra clothes.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Because you know me,” I say, then breathe “No” when the lodge comes into view and I see none other than Tanner standing out front. There are two other men dressed just like him in a uniform of cargo pants, T-shirts with the Live Life Adventures logo on the chest, and boots on their feet, the three of them tall, broad, and good looking. One with dirty-blond hair, a sun-kissed tan, and tattoos traveling up one of his arms, the other with short jet-black hair and obvious native ancestry that makes him look fierce yet regal, which is a beautiful combination.

“What?” Jade asks as all eyes turn to watch me drive by.

“Nothing. I’m here.” I park my Bronco as my stomach dances with a new type of nervousness.

“Oh, okay. Well, I love you.”

“Love you too. I’ll call when I can.”

“Be safe.”

“I will.” I hang up while I shut down the engine, then take a breath and open the door to get out. When my seat belt stops me, I grimace, then quickly release the lock and hop out of my seat.

“Hey, sunshine,” Tanner calls out as I walk toward the trunk.

I rub my hands down the front of my black leggings as I lock eyes with him. “Umm.” I glance from him to the other two men, feeling my cheeks warm when I find them studying me. “I’m here for the couples retreat.”

“The couples retreat?” He looks over my shoulder, his eyes narrowing before they come back to me. “Where’s your partner?”

“I’m alone.” I shrug while making an eek! face. “I guess I should have booked this retreat for a few months ago.”

“Shit,” the blond guy at his side mutters.

“You’re Cybil?” the other man asks, and I nod. “I’m Maverick. We spoke a couple of times. Sorry about your breakup.”

“It happens,” I say awkwardly as the blond mutters another curse.

“You can leave your bag in your trunk for now and go on inside the lodge, where everyone else is. Tanner, Blake, and I will be there in just a couple of minutes to go over the plans for the next week.”

“Everyone else?” I frown.

“The other couples,” Tanner states, and I blink.

“Other couples?”

“It’s a couples retreat.”

“Yeah, I know, but I thought . . .” I shake my head. “I didn’t know there would be other couples. I thought my ex and I were the couple.”

Maverick’s lips twitch. “There are three couples on this retreat with you.”

“Oh.” I fiddle with the knot of the checkered red flannel I tied around my waist.

“Tanner’s leading the retreat, so you’ll be partnering up with him for all planned activities,” he says, and my stomach drops to my toes. “You’ll be in good hands.”

“Sure.” I quickly glance at Tanner, my chest beating oddly when I find him smiling. “I guess I’ll just go inside.”

“There’s coffee and doughnuts. Help yourself.”

“Okay, thanks.” I walk past them and start up the wide steps that lead to the porch, stumbling over my stupid chunky hiking boots. Thankfully, I catch myself before I fall on my face, but I’m seriously wondering if I’m going to survive the next week between my pack, books, and now Tanner.

“You okay?”

Knowing it’s Tanner who’s asked, I don’t even bother looking behind me. I raise my chin and wave a hand out as I clear the last step and walk toward the door. “Yep, never been better.”

“You know the rules,” I hear one of the guys say as I enter the lodge, but I don’t hear more, because the sound of people chatting and laughing rings in my ears as I walk down a short hall. When I enter the great room, I realize the photos online didn’t do it justice. It’s beautiful, with high ceilings, exposed wood, and large picture windows that look out over the forest of tall ponderosa pines and gorgeous Douglas firs. The chatting of the couples seated on the two couches comes to a standstill as everyone turns to look at me, and I feel more awkward than I did before.