The Vincent Brothers (The Vincent Boys #2)(30)

“Well, chainsaw psychos who wander the woods looking for young girls all alone to chop up into pieces can,” I replied.

“There are no chainsaw psychos! I can’t believe you’ve never been camping. It’s safe, Lana. I promise.”

“Easy for you to say. You’ll be snuggled up safely in the arms of Beau Vincent. I’m more than positive he could take on a black bear,” I muttered.

Ashton pulled a large red backpack out of her closet very similar to the royal blue one that Sawyer had helped me pick out. The excitement for our upcoming trip made me wish I could share in her joy. But every time I tried to get excited visions of black bears, snakes, and chainsaws haunted my thoughts.

“Stop frowning. You’ll be fine. I’ll get someone to share a tent with you. You won’t be left alone.”

Reaching for the tiny little bikini Ashton dropped on the bed, I picked it up and raised an eyebrow in surprise. “So, I’m guessing your mom hasn’t seen this one?”

Ashton rolled her eyes and snatched it out of my hand before glancing back at the door to make sure it was still closed. “No, she hasn’t. I bought it for this trip.”

“I just bet you did,” I teased.

Ashton frowned, “Shhhh... do you not remember all the begging I had to do to make this happen? The only saving grace we have is the fact Sawyer is going to be there and they believe you and I are sharing a tent. And I might have left out the fact Beau will be there.”

“Ashton! You did not! What if they ask his mother?” I asked horrified.

“That ain’t gonna happen. My parents and Honey Vincent aren’t exactly chummy.”

“Okay, if you say so,” I replied just as my phone alerted me that I had a new text message.

Sawyer: What’re you doing?

Me: Watching Ash pack

Sawyer: Why aren’t you packing?

Me: B/C I’m stressing over the black bears that are going to eat me in my sleep

Sawyer: HA! No black bears will eat you. They don’t do red heads. You’re safe.

Me: Very funny. I happen to know that they aren’t very picky and that there are plenty of them in Cheaha.

Sawyer: Naw, I’ve never seen one there.

Me: Well they’re there. Google it.

Sawyer: I’ll keep you safe.

Me: Maybe during the day but at night when I’m alone in my tent they’ll come for me.

Sawyer: Alone in your tent? Um, no. You’re in my tent.

I lifted my head to see Ashton watching me as I texted back and forth with Sawyer.

She was amused to say the least, “Well, what’s he saying?”

“That I’m sharing his tent.”

Ashton raised her eyebrows, “Told ya.”

Me: Are you sure?

Sawyer: Hell yeah I’m sure. Why do you think I’m going on this camping trip?

Me: Um... because you like to sleep on hard rocky ground and get chased by bears?

Sawyer: Funny. Go take your cute little ass to your room and get packing.

Me: Yes, sir.

“Oh, ye of little faith,” Ashton said in a singsong voice as I stood up slipping my phone into the pocket of my shorts.

“Yeah, yeah, you know everything,” I replied.

“You going to go pack now?”

“Yes, I guess I need to get on that. Do we really have to leave so early in the morning though?”

“Afraid so. It’s a five hour drive then we need to hike up to our camping spot and put up our tents before the sun goes down.”

~*~

It was still dark outside when Sawyer drove up in a Suburban that belonged to his dad. It had room for eight. This way we could all drive up together. I’d packed as much clothing as I could in my backpack. Ashton had assured me there were showers on the grounds we could go use. I was not about to get in snake-infested water to wash up.

“Good morning sunshine,” Sawyer said as I stumbled out the door. We had overslept and there had been no time to make coffee.

My eyes focused on the styrofoam cup in his hand as he extended it to me. “You drink it black, right?”

“Come here,” I said grabbing a handful of the black t-shirt he was wearing until he was close enough for me to kiss. I laid a very loud smack on his mouth before taking the cup from his hands. “You’re my hero.”

“If I’m going to get that kind of greeting I may just start showing up every morning with a cup of coffee in hand,” Sawyer drawled in a sexy voice as he slipped his hand around my waist.

“We need to load up. Back away from the girl lover boy and help out,” Jake grumbled as he took my backpack and sleeping bag from the front porch and headed to the Suburban with it.

Sawyer chuckled and picked up the extra duffel bag that Ash and I had packed with a few things we couldn’t fit in our backpacks. He looked at me and raised his eyebrows in question.

“The backpacks didn’t have enough room in them. Besides, that isn’t all mine. Ashton and I both needed a few more things,” I explained.

“You’re breaking a camping rule but because you look so amazingly hot in those little hiking shorts, I’ll overlook it.”

I put the steaming cup of coffee to my lips to hide the silly grin on my face. Who would have known Sawyer Vincent could be so good at flirting?

“What’s with the duffel?” Toby demanded as Sawyer threw it up to him so he could strap it on top of the vehicle.