“There’s nothing for Toby to be concerned about.” Jami recalled the talk she’d had with Toby about his friend Dustin, who felt neglected when his mother remarried. She knew Toby worried about the same thing happening with them, but it never would. Still, the child was too young to understand that fact.
“We know there’s nothing for Toby to worry about, but he doesn’t.” Grant’s words pierced Jami’s heart. Why did it hurt when he stated the blunt truth about their lack of a real relationship? After all, this was only a sham. Just an advertising promotion and nothing more. Grant accepted it. So why couldn’t she?
Right after lunch, Grant met Jami and Toby on the dock where they helped him load the camping supplies and equipment into the motorboat.
“That’s everything,” Grant said, his muscles rippling as he hefted the rolled sleeping bags into the boat next to Jami’s feet.
“Wow, we need lots of stuff to camp,” Toby exclaimed, rummaging through the equipment and supplies.
“Is this all there is?” Jami asked, feeling exactly the opposite of her son as she stared at the pile of items, the sleeping bags, cooler, along with a myriad of other items so had no clue about.
Grant laughed, pointing things out. “The tent poles collapse and fold, as does the tent. The bags are the new compact lightweight type. The pans and mess kits are also designed to pack efficiently, just like the rest of the things. Food supplies are the heaviest, and we don’t need much.”
“Do you have a first aid kit?” Jami skeptically eyed the pile.
“Yes.” After untying the ropes to cast off, Grant started the engine with a rumble. “And a lantern and flashlight. I used to be a Boy Scout, so I’m always prepared.”
Jami ignored the double meaning Grant injected into always prepared and concentrated on refastening Toby’s orange life jacket. The motorboat cut through the water, fine spray misting her as they zoomed toward the far side of the lake.
Hair blew into her face, so she pulled the unruly mass of waves back with one hand, her other hand clutching the side of the boat as the craft bumpily zipped across the lake. They sped toward the far shore, Jami’s pulse quickening as the motorboat slowed to a crawl and then stopped.
The camping trip was now a reality with no turning back. They had arrived.
Tasting the lake spray as she bit her bottom lip, she forced herself to stop the nervous habit and concentrate on keeping Toby from launching off the deck before Grant could ground the bow of the boat. “Hey, tiger,” Jami said, grabbing her son’s arm. “Hang on until we hear Grant’s ‘go ahead.’”
“But I want to help him.”
“Slugger, get on and off the boat when I say.” Barely covered by tank shirt and cut-offs, Grant’s powerful bronzed body rippled from exertion as he steadied the grounded boat and hauled it ashore with Jami, Toby, and the gear still in it. “You’ll help me best by following the rules.”
“Too many rules,” Toby grumbled. The child’s frown swiftly curved into a grin. “Can I help unload our camping gear?”
“Depend on it, partner.”
Stepping carefully off the boat with her own tote bag, Jami’s sneakered feet squished through the shallows as she padded up to the dry bank. There she stood, frozen in place, questioning her decision to camp as she watched Grant Carrington. She tried not to stare at the corded, bulging play of gleaming muscles as Grant bent, twisted, and lifted to transfer the pile of camping gear on shore, out of reach of the undulating lake waters. He emitted a raw, powerful masculinity that called to Jami on a sexual level, yet at the same time his gentle, caring friendship with Toby touched her heart.
“That’s all.” Toby proudly carried the last item to add it to the collection of camping gear.
“Good job.” Grant reached down to ruffle Toby’s hair, then waved toward a forested area of blue spruce. “Now we can carry it to our camp site over there.”
“In the midst of trees?” Jami asked, staring at the woods Grant had indicated. “I don’t see a clearing.”
“You will once you enter the trees.” Grant tucked camping gear under one arm and two sleeping bags under another. “Toby, grab some things and let’s go.”
Toby lifted the other sleeping bag, lugging it as he bounded after Grant between the towering evergreens. Jami switched her tote strap to her left shoulder, enabling her to also carry