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“That’s me.” I can’t help my huge grin. I’m really proud of the work I’ve put into our town’s Independence Day celebrations. I’ve done a couple of smaller events for Sunshine, but this is my first big festival. “No pressure if you already have plans, but it’s going to be a huge hit.”
“I was already planning to go.”
“Really?”
“It’s a good website.”
I’m probably glowing, but I don’t care. This is exactly what I love to hear. “Hopefully, my tourism website is just as good, andI get this promotion. Otherwise, I’m going through alotof eucalyptus oil for nothing.”
“Is that the only thing that will make this trip a success for you? If you get the promotion?”
He doesn’t sound like he’s trying to be judgy, but his comment still hits something tender I don’t want to look at too closely. “It is why I’m here.”
On a normal day, I’d be sitting at my dining table, editing photos and planning social media messages about the Fourth Fest. I’d also be freshly showered and relatively free of bug bites.
“Sometimes I can plan for months for a mountain climb, but once I get there, I have to turn away before I reach the top because of unexpected bad weather.”
Hmm. Feels like alower your expectationsspeech. “Are you trying to tell me to prepare myself for figurative bad weather?”
“No. I’m saying, the outcome isn’t always a guarantee. So it’s good to find things you enjoy in the process, too.”
Okay…he might have a point. I do sometimes get too obsessed on the end result and wind up losing focus on the middle bits. But this time around, it’s like it’sallforgettable middle bits. “You still owe me something fun.”
He grins. “I’m working on it.”
I’m still smiling like a fool when we catch up to the others. They’re stopped at an overlook, gazing out at a huge blue lake. Pine trees grow right up to the edge of the water. In the distance, the Three Sisters mountain peaks complete the scene.
It’s a great shot, and I have my phone out immediately, snapping pictures. I’ve been rationing the battery, but I’ll need to plug it into my power bank tonight.
“Do you want some of you?” Grant asks. “For your behind-the-scenes, day-in-the-life stuff?”
I kind of love that he remembered that. A lot of people tune out as soon as I start talking about my social media. “Oh, no.Even if my followers were interested in mountain lakes, they don’t want to see me without makeup. The last time I posted an all-natural picture, my comments were flooded with helpful hints about the importance of concealer.”
I force a laugh, but he just frowns.
“Then your followers don’t know real beauty when they see it.”
He holds my gaze, his compliment swirling through me, leaving glitter in its wake. For a laid-back mountain man, he sure can be a sweet talker.
“It makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it?” Shannon says to no one in particular.
I don’t have it in me to come up with a snappy response. Ididwalk myself here. That’s an accomplishment of sorts. And I can’t deny the beautiful view. I soak it up, hoping for some kind of outdoorsy transformation. At least I’ll have one moment of triumph to relay to Hope when we get back.
“That’s our swimming hole today,” Deena announces. “Trimble Lake. It might be brisk, but it’s our best bet to avoid leeches.”
I slowly turn to face Grant, who’s watching me with soft amusement. Clearly, he’s expecting a reaction. Predictably, I give him one.
“Leeches?” I mouth. It’s more of a silent scream. He just lifts a shoulder like it’s no big deal. Look, I like the man, but it’s hard not to question a guy’s life choices when the threat of bloodsucking parasites is such a blasé thing. NoShould I wear a wet suit to avoid infection?NoObviously we don’t want to swim if it’s only our “best bet.”Just a shrug andWhat are you going to do?
His unbothered attitude is strangely attractive.
“Did she scare Lila off the swim?” Scott’s question is twenty percent curiosity, eightypercent glee.
“I’ll swim if everyone else is getting in.” If this is some hiker hazing ritual, then forget it.
“Oh, we’re swimming.” Cindy fans at her armpits. “It’s time.”
A chorus of agreement moves around the group.
