Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(160)

“You’ve never been up before?” he says, sounding a little surprised.

“Never been in a relationship, remember.”

“You don’t need to be in a relationship in order to take a balloon ride,” he informs.

“I’m not dressed for it,” I counter.

“Dressed for what?” Nathan jumps in.

I didn’t see him approaching Joe and me.

“Maggie’s trying to see if there’s a way for Emma and I to go. Emma’s never been. She’s using the excuse that she isn’t dressed for it,” Joe announces, catching Jared up on our debate.


“You should go, Emma,” Nathan insists with a devious smile and a sparkle in his eyes. “Joe will keep you plenty warm. I’m sure the balloon operator will even turn his head if it comes to drastic measures for Joe to keep you warm enough.”

I punch Nathan in the arm as the heat in my face spreads through my entire body. Joe laughs and the closest balloon operator mentions, “That wouldn’t be the first-time something like that happening up there.”

“What are we talking about over here?” Jared checks running over after using the bathroom a second time.

“Nothing!” I sternly reply.

“Maggie and Joe are trying to get Emma to go up if there’s another balloon,” Nathan informs.

“So, why don’t you. You’ve never been,” Jared remarks.

“We don’t know if there is another balloon and operator, and I’m not dressed for it,” I repeat, a little irritated that this topic is still continuing.

Shrugging his shoulders, Jared rebuts, “So. Joe can keep you warm.”

“That’s what I said,” Nathan snickers.

Jared quickly catches the hint and joins in the laughter.

“You should give B.O.B. a rest. Let Joe take over,” Nathan comments.

My mouth drops at his words and I’m absolutely mortified. The heat in my face is scorching hot like the sun. My only option — walk away.

“Come on, Emma,” Jared yells.

“We’re just having a little fun,” Nathan protests.

I head toward the main building to get away to wait until everyone is up in the air and it’s time for Joe and me to head back.

Maggie sees me heading toward her and confirms, “They don’t have another operator today.”

“That’s fine,” I snap at her, wincing immediately after the fact. “I’m sorry, Maggie.”

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I avoid the topic.

“What did Jared or Nathan do? Say?” she checks.

“Go ask them. They’ll be lucky if I talk to them for the rest of the weekend,” I say through gritted teeth.

Shit. Fuck me. There goes any chance of hooking up with Joe anytime soon. Looks like I’m going to be celibate for a while. God damn it! I need to go get more batteries for B.O.B. now. Maybe I should look into rechargeable ones.

Jared and Nathan try to smooth things over with me before they take off in their balloon, but I hold onto the grudge. I normally brush things off, but their blatant teasing right in front of Joe really bothers me. What would cause them to be so bold?

I don’t talk to Joe the entire ride back to the resort. He doesn’t try to have a conversation, but he does sit next to me. At one point, Joe stretches his arm across the back of the seat and starts brushing his fingers along the nape of my neck. My brain tells my body to move, but I don’t. I’m not really mad at him. I know that. I know that this is just a knee-jerk reaction to distance myself and I hate it.

By the time the couples are schedule to be dropped off after landing and having a picnic lunch, I’m already in the spa. It’s the best place for me to avoid anyone right now. The pool — I can’t go there. They’ll find me and the last people I want to find me practically naked are Joe, Lee and Richard. I could have gone on a hike with Sadie, but I’m not familiar enough with Sedona to feel comfortable doing it; plus, I don’t drive which makes it hard to get anywhere off the resort unless I ask Joe, Lee or Richard to drive me, and that’s not happening.

I successfully make it back to my cottage without being seen until my foot hits the first step. “Emma.” Jared’s voice sounds apologetic. “Kitten?”

My eyes dart to him, narrowing at the use of my pet name. I quickly look away as I search for the key to let myself in.

“Come on, Emma! I’m sorry,” he pleas as I slam the door behind me and lock it. “I’m going to stay out here the whole time. I’ll know when you leave.”

I close the blinds and curtains and then plop on the bed. Sadie joins me, sensing that my uneasiness has yet to completely dissolve. Jared knocks on the front door several times as well as the sliding glass one off the porch; reminding me he’s still out there.

I’m not really mad at him. How can I be? He’s my brother and I know it’s just good natured fun. All the teasing, especially right in front of Joe, concerns me though. They have been doing it more frequently. I doubt that I’d be acting like this if I wasn’t so horny.

The girls come and get me for dinner. We chat freely and no one brings up the fight with Jared and Nathan, so I know that Maggie hasn’t said anything to Amy or Kim. At dinner, I sit between Maggie and Amy and completely avoid Jared and Nathan.