am.” Jami’s heart swelled as she followed Grant’s gaze to see her little boy assist Nell and carry the basket. A laugh escaped Jami’s lips. “The real test will come tomorrow afternoon when Toby’s assigned to shuck corn.”
“Does he know how?” Grant asked, sweeping her hair off her neck and triggering a tantalizing sensation at his warm touch against her suddenly exposed skin.
“Toby hasn’t a clue. The only time he’s ever eaten corn on the cob was here at the lodge, and he’s never seen a cornstalk.” Jami forced herself to concentrate on the conversation and not the way Grant’s fingers danced along the nape of her neck. “I should have worn a ponytail.”
“It’d be a shame to confine your beautiful hair.”
“I’d be cooler.” Jami shook her hair free, strands rippling through his fingers as he slowly removed his hand. “I didn’t see Raven at breakfast this morning. I hope she wasn’t afraid of another frog scene.” Her gaze locked on him, watching for any telltale sign.
“She probably slept late,” he replied just as casually, neither his face nor his body language revealing a thing.
Memories of her ex-husband’s smooth lies slammed Jami like a tidal wave. Her survival instinct warned her to armor her heart against this other womanizer, while she still could escape. Grant’s warm strong hand clasped hers, entwining their fingers as he smiled down at her. Despite herself, Jami smiled back. Maybe it was already too late.
“Mom, Nell’s basket is full to the top. Do you need us to help you?” Toby asked, bouncing between berry bushes to halt beside her at the strawberry patch.
Jami glanced down at the wicker basket she held in her free hand. “No, mine’s loaded. Let’s get these berries back to Becca.”
Toby started to retrieve his basket from the rock, but skidded to a stop. “Hey, look at that!”
“A mountain bluebird,” Grant informed them quietly as they watched a petite azure bird perched on the rim of Toby’s basket peck cautiously at the berries.
Suddenly the bluebird cocked its head to watch them. A flutter of blue wings and it was gone. “We frightened it,” Jami whispered, disappointed to see the lovely bird fly away.
“I didn’t know bluebirds liked blackberries,” Nell commented, taking her own basket back from Toby as he picked up his.
“I’ll get that for you, Mrs. B.” Grant released Jami’s hand and took charge of Nell’s basket, and grasped the wobbly woman’s elbow to assist her over the uneven ground.
“Thank you, dear.” Nell tipped the wide brim of her straw hat back off her crinkled face to peer up at Grant. “I thought you had things to do this morning.”
“What things?” Toby quizzed, skipping between the adults as they headed toward the patio entrance to the Garden Room.
“Collecting our camping gear for one thing.” Grant steadied Nell, slowing nearly to a stop as he helped the elderly woman take the patio steps one at a time.
Jami was thankful to see the area back to normal, not a soap bubble in sight. The clear water of the hot tub churned and steamed, chlorination penetrating the fresh mountain air.
“I thought we’d leave about one-thirty and take the motorboat across the lake to our campsite. Sound reasonable?” Grant asked, as Nell scurried away from him to enter the French doors behind Toby.
Unable to avoid the subject any longer, Jami felt rising panic as her gaze met Grant’s. She swallowed hard. “Fine.”
“You’re afraid to go camping with me, aren’t you?” Grant reached up to twist a coppery lock of hair between his fingers as he stared deep into her eyes, mesmerizing her.
“Why should I be?” she asked, jutting her chin in the air.
“Good question.” Grant smiled, taking her basket to slide it on his arm next to Nell’s. “Are you scared of me, or concerned that Toby the Terror will sabotage the trip?”
“Why would Toby ruin our camp-out? He’s thrilled at the chance to go camping!”
“But he’s not thrilled about us.” Grant stroked her cheekbone, then skimmed the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip.
“Us?” Jami echoed, knowing she sounded naïve as she fought the shiver of delight his touch sparked.
“Your son thinks that you’ll ignore him, if you and I are...” Grant paused, a wicked glint in the midnight blue of his eyes. “An item.”
“He’s just protective of his mom,” she defended, stiffening her spine, and her resolve, as she stepped back from Grant.
“It’s more than that.” His expression clouded, deep lines carved around his mouth as he shook his head. “Toby