Romancing the River (Survive the Romance #8) - Cami Checketts Page 0,4

as if he knew exactly how his words had affected her. She pulled it together and managed to say, “We’ve been friends for over a dozen years.”

The excitement in his blue eyes seemed to fizzle out. After she graduated high school, when he came to visit from the Army and then retired to run his dad’s businesses, he’d asked her out a dozen times. She always reminded him they were friends and dodged her way out of any invite.

Pulling away from his arm around her waist, she fought to breathe normally and focus on her job. “Have you all got your personal bags?” She reached into the raft and pulled out a large waterproof duffel bag. “We can load them all in here so you have toiletries and dry clothes to sleep in. Each night, we’ll wash our swimsuits in the river and hang them to dry at camp.”

Amelia handed over her bag and murmured, “Thanks.”

Kinsley gave her a welcoming smile. She hoped they could become friends. Maybe she’d pre-judged her wrongly. “I’m excited to have you on the trip.”

The woman returned her smile, only a little reluctantly. Kinsley often got this reaction from women initially, but they usually warmed up to her. Her mom always claimed Kinsley was so “gorgeous” that other women got intimidated or wanted to posture against her. Kinsley found that silly. She never fussed with her dark, naturally curly hair and her skin was naturally tan from her time outside. She didn’t want to compete with anybody; she only wanted to help others enjoy the beauty and adventure of the outdoors and hopefully be an example of God’s light.

Kane stepped up and placed his bag in, giving her a lingering smile. “Thank you, Kinsley.” He said her name all smoky and sexy. She knew from Brit that he was an incredible guy, but she hoped he figured out quick that his charms wouldn’t affect her. Her mom bemoaned Kinsley never falling in love and settling down. She was probably right.

“For sure.” She looked past him, wondering why the camera guy was still holding the camera. Now that she really looked, he didn’t look prepared to go with them. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt.

Emerald handed Axel a pack. “You got so excited to get to Kinsley that you forgot your bag,” she teased him.

His bag? Kinsley’s heart stopped for far too long as Axel approached and settled it in with the other three.

“Wouldn’t want to forget my stuff,” Axel said with a grin as if they shared a secret. His voice wasn’t trying to be smoky or sexy, but it heated Kinsley right up and made her gasp for breath.

“Wh-what do you mean?” she wheezed out. “You don’t need stuff. Take your stuff right back out of there.”

Axel chuckled, but her words must’ve stung. His incredible blue eyes dimmed a bit. He recovered quickly, easing in far too close for her susceptible heart and murmuring, “I’m coming with you, beautiful Kinsley.”

Kinsley backed up, but her calves hit the raft and she had nowhere to go. “What? No. I … There’s no room. I planned the trip for just the four of us.” As she double checked her math, a sense of relief settled in—herself, Amelia, Kane, and Jake. This was a five-man raft, but the company had to know exact numbers for food and sleeping arrangements and her susceptible heart was at risk … No way. He couldn’t come.

“I’m your cameraman.” He grinned like he’d caught the mouse in his claws and would enjoy teasing her.

No! She couldn’t stay strong around him for five days cooped up on the same raft, camping together at night … Would he take his shirt off while they were on the river?

No, no, no!

When she didn’t answer, he continued, “We’ll all have GoPros on our helmets, but I’m in charge of setting up cameras at camp. For the sake of the show, they need me along.”

She stared into his blue gaze, angry that no one had informed her, the guide, of this change. “What about Jake? Why can’t he come?”

Jake chuckled. “Nobody wants to see my ugly mug out from behind the camera, but everybody will be happy to get shots of Axel Dexter from the other GoPros and the cameras set up at camp.”

She spat out, “I’m sure it’ll up the show’s ratings and views to have the ‘World’s Hottest Man’ along.”

His slow, alluring grin enhanced his already too-perfect face. “How did you know I was named