in three nights.
It was crazy…but I’d started to hope he was right.
10
Lachlan
“You want me to do…what?”
Elle was gorgeous when surprised. Her eyes widened and her voice wavered with that innocent quiver that practically whispered good girls don’t do this.
I leaned in close. Encouraging her. Teasing her. “Come on, Red. I think you’re gonna like this.”
“It’s a little too…adventurous.”
“Nothing to be afraid of. It’s just us. Together. Sweating. Pumping.” I took a chance, nibbling her bottom lip. “I promise you’ll be wet.”
“But it’s so dangerous.”
“We’ll use protection.”
She hesitated. “But what if the rubber breaks?”
“Never had it break on me yet.”
“Are you sure I can stroke good enough?”
“You won’t let me down.”
“And if I go end over end?”
“At least I’ll get a good look at you.”
Elle arched an eyebrow out the car window. She wasn’t impressed with the riverside town, but I’d heard amazing things about the rapids in this area.
“You’ve really never white-water rafted before?” I asked.
“I’ve always tried to avoid slamming my head on razor sharp rocks.”
“What a coincidence!” I pushed her out of the car. “That’s the whole point of rafting. You’re a natural. A match made in Heaven with the other people in our boat.”
“Excellent. We can all share the elevator up to the Pearly Gates when we drown.”
Elle stretched, and I enjoyed every second of her curves on display. It took a two-hour car ride to get here, but I blocked the whole morning and afternoon for a river adventure she’d never forget.
“The rapids here aren’t too rough,” I said. “I’m starting you off easy.”
Elle searched the wilderness surrounding the river. The trading post rented bikes and organized tours from a path leading into the hills. Granted, it wasn’t like trekking the Yukon, especially with the McDonalds a quarter-mile back, but the air was clean, sun warm, and the whole valley smelled of sweet pine and adventure.
Elle was up for a challenge, though she preferred to stay away from the danger. Her camera hadn’t left her hands the entire drive up, begging me to pull over so she could get pictures of the trees, the sunrise, a damn garbage can with a bottle broken next to it that she decided was a great illustration of the human condition.
At least she liked the camera. Made the astronomical price tag almost worth it.
She snapped a picture of the warning sign in front of the outfitters, detailing every which way someone could lose their limb or life on the river.
“Are you sure you’re allowed to do this?” Elle asked.
“My contract says nothing about rafting.”
“I think you’re supposed to read between the lines on extreme sports. What if something happens? What if you get hurt and can’t play? You might not get another chance.”
“Come on, Red,” I groaned. “We’re supposed to be having fun. Stop worrying about the team.”
“I always worry about the team. I have to. And so should you.”
“I do, but this is just a little boat ride. I wanted to bring you out here. I needed a break, and what better way to enjoy my day off than by spending it in the company of a beautiful woman?”
“Suave,” she said.
“I’m trying to give you the best date of your life so you can give me the best night of mine.”
“Not so suave.”
“Points for honesty?”
She laughed. “Believe me. I know how badly you want to sleep with me.”
“The plan isn’t to sleep. I’m gonna rock your world.”
“Rock my boat is more like it.”
I grinned. “That’s the spirit!”
I wouldn’t beg her to raft with me, and I wasn’t going to force her, but I needed to do this. Something fun and wild. A couple hours of pulse-pumping, muscle-rending fun that I could use to forget how fucking terrible I was doing at training camp.
I’d rather face some Class III rapids than another red-faced coach, hurdling linebacker, misread route, or blown catch.
Except the outpost felt a little strange. No groups waited for their turn with a guide. No tourists took pictures. No little vendors selling ice cream and t-shirts. No music. No people.
Just one particularly surprised middle-aged woman enjoying her never-ending game of Candy Crush. She lowered the phone as we approached.
“Hi, folks!” She pointed to the stack of over-sized inner-tubes behind her. “Ready for some relaxing river tubing?”
Elle got excited. “You have tubing?”
“Yes, ma’am. A leisurely, four-hour trip down the river, with a shuttle service to pick you up at the end. Even has some complementary ice cream waiting for you on the trip back.”
“Wait.” I pointed to the calendar