“There you go!” Cory shouts.
“Just like that.” She’s encouraging me to continue. “Ford’s in trouble, so don’t worry about him.”
“Teamwork comes first,” Clark shouts to everyone. “If you win without working as a cohesive team you’re missing the point.”
“Is there a trophy?” Ford asks.
“Well…” Clark hesitates.
“Then it’s a race,” Ford says.
From the sound of his voice, Ford is right next to me, so we still have a shot.
“Okay, you’re almost back,” Jana yells. “You guys are neck and neck. Can you go any faster? I’ll tell you when to jump.”
“It’s too far away,” Cory says.
“He’s going to break his nuts,” Tweetie says.
“He’s fine. Don’t wait until now to pipe up,” Jana scolds them. “JUMP!”
I take two steps and jump, leaping with one foot in front of the other, but the tip of my shoe drags on the beam, and I end up in the mud pit.
“Only the last player off the beam can help a player in the mud,” Clark calls.
“I’m coming!” Jana says. I reach out blindly to grab her hand, and eventually, her hand is on my forearm. “I’m not sure I’m strong enough for this.”
“Why is this mud so fucking deep?” I say, trying to get some kind of grip. “Guide my hands to the beam. I’ll push myself up.”
“No, I can pull you. I’m lying on the beam.”
“Just give up now. We won!” Ford says right before I hear his entire team roar in victory.
Jana is trying to get me up, but what happens is exactly what I figured would—she ends up in the mud with me.
“Ew!” she shouts. “It’s so slimy.”
“Okay, Cory, you can go help them now,” Clark says. “You’re fighting for second place.”
Cory’s already there before Clark can finish. “Let’s go, you two.” His hand finds mine and pulls. “Put your feet on the beam,” he tells me, using his strength to get me up. “Tweetie, guide him to the end.”
“Now, Jana, get on my back,” Cory says, which has me oddly jealous for a split second.
By the time I get off the beam, we barely come in second and Jana and I are covered in mud. I’d say from her expression, she’s ready to pack it up and call team building a failure right now.
“I’m sorry, what?” Jana asks Corin nicely, although her expression says she’s about to rip out Corin’s throat.
“No mud in the house. You’ll have to shower with the boys. I’m sure they’re willing to afford you some privacy.” She hands Jana some clothes. “I took the liberty of getting some things out of your luggage for you.” She leans in. “Your panties are very pretty.”
Jana accepts the clothes with force, spinning away from her. “Thank you,” she mutters and walks away.
“Oh wait,” Corin says. I kind of hope for Jana’s sake that Corin has changed her mind, but she just hands Jana a towel and a washcloth. “Here you go. Don’t tell Clark though. Those are the good towels.”
Jana and I look at one another for a beat.
“I’ll get the guys out of the area and stand watch for you,” I say.
She doesn’t fight me on it. “I’m trying to be good with all this, but I have to say, I’ve never even been camping, Kane. I have no technology, no makeup… I don’t feel like myself.”
Most of the guys have already showered. They’re throwing a football around the bonfire when we arrive at the showers.
“You’re doing a great job, and no one can tell how out of your element you must be feeling,” I say.
She looks up at me. “Are you in your element? Like Canada, is this what it’s like?”
I smile at her and shrug. “I didn’t shower outside.”
She playfully pushes me. “I mean the outdoors.”
“British Columbia is beautiful, so I spent a lot of time outside. I enjoy hiking and fishing. I think it’s why I’m usually outside at my house when I can be.”
“Who watches Rocky when you’re gone?”
I’m oddly touched that she remembered my dog’s name and she’s concerned.
“Emma. She always starts by saying she’ll let him out and take him for walks, but by the time I get home, he’s usually at her house. She likes to complain about him being all up in Penny’s grill, but she secretly likes it.”
“It’s easy for you to make friends, huh?”
I stop when we reach the showers. “I guess so. But I only have a few people I’d call true friends. Ones I’d call when I need help getting rid of a dead body.” I chuckle. “Now go. I’ll make sure no one bothers you.”
“Thanks, Kane.” She walks into the shower area.
I hear the water turn on and she screeches. “How did I get myself in this situation?” she says—more to herself than me, I think. “Just so you know, it’s lukewarm at best.”
“The guys probably used a lot of the hot water,” I call.
“And Corin didn’t give me my shampoo or conditioner, so now my hair is going to be all frizzy.”
“No one here is judging you.”
Ten minutes later, she comes out of the shower dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater, her hair wrapped up in the towel. “Thanks for standing guard.”
“You’re beautiful.” The words rush out of me like water from a crack in a dam. “I mean, without the makeup and the expensive clothes, you’re gorgeous.” She opens her mouth, but I put my finger to her lips. “I’m not suggesting you’re not gorgeous with those things, but without them, you’re just as stunning.”
A small smile pushes her cheeks up and I let my finger drop.
“Thank you.” Her voice is soft and serene, something you don’t hear a lot of from Jana.
“I only speak the truth. If it’s any consolation, you’re doing an amazing job here.”
She presses her lips together and steps closer. “Kane, I know you’re waiting for an answer…”
I shake my head. “I meant it. Take your time.”
“How would we navigate that? Technically I’m your boss. I don’t want us to end up where we were before—when we hated one another.”
“I never hated you, Jana. Not even for a second.” My hand falls to her hip and the space between us shrinks to almost nothing.
“Me either,” she whispers.
“I really want to kiss you,” I admit, continuing to play my hand with the cards facing her so I don’t scare her.
“I really want you to kiss me.”
My heart thrums and I bend to reach her. Her tongue slides over her bottom lip and her hand moves to the back of my head. Finally, after months of not having her, I’m going to have a taste of her, even if it’s only a small piece.
“Shit!” Warner crashes through the wooden partition separating the restroom from the open area next to us.
Jana pushes me away and rushes off.
I stare at Warner, who’s lying on the ground surrounded by broken wood, clutching a football and all smiles. “I just needed a little competition to get my fire back. I’m all good now, Coach.”