Read Online A Little Surprise for the Boss (Mills & Boon Desire) by Elizabeth Lane - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Lane
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Rasmussen, a local boy with freckles and red hair, was snoring, his mouth open, his head drooping to one side. George Redfeather, Evie’s nephew, handsome and polite, had fallen into a quiet doze. Glancing at them, Terri smiled. Both young men were good-humored and likable. Eli could sing and play the guitar, and George was a master Native American storyteller. They’d been Buck’s first choice for this trip, and she knew they would give it their all. For their sakes, Terri could only hope the four sheikhs would be generous tippers.
Up ahead, she could make out the low prefab buildings that marked Lee’s Ferry, the launching point for boats running down Marble Canyon, into the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon. She checked her watch. Time to wake the boys. With her help, they’d have a little over an hour to get everything ready before the helicopter was due.
One vital member of the team would be meeting them here. Arnie Bowles, an expert river pilot, lived in Page, the big town near the Glen Canyon Dam. He’d be dropped off by his wife, Peggy. Terri glanced around for him as she pulled the truck into the parking lot. He was nowhere to be seen.
“Maybe Arnie had car trouble.” Eli had jumped out of the cab and was opening the back of the trailer.
“Maybe so. He usually gets here early.” Terri began moving the food coolers out of the way while George hauled the first of two outboard motors down to the water’s edge. They worked swiftly and efficiently, each one knowing exactly what needed to be done.
Half an hour later, Arnie had yet to arrive. Terri was getting concerned. He had her cell number, as did the office, but no one had called her. Maybe Buck had heard something.
At eight thirty, they heard the whirr of the approaching helicopter. Minutes later, the machine touched down, sending up clouds of red dust before the rotors slowed. Buck jumped to the ground. The four sheikhs, swarthy, handsome men dressed in rain gear for the river, climbed out behind him.
Spotting Terri, Buck beckoned her close. “There’s been a change of plans,” he said. “Arnie can’t make it. We’ll need you to take his place.”
Terri’s eyes went wide. “But—”
“Listen to me.” His gaze drilled into her. “If you can’t do the job, we’ll have to cancel the whole trip.”
“You can’t reschedule for tomorrow?”
“No time. They’re due for meetings in Vegas right after the trip.” He leaned close to her. “Listen, Terri, they’re already disappointed about the girls. The only way to salvage this is to give them a good river run.”
“But what about the office? What about Quinn—and my grandmother?”
“It’s only for three days. We can cover that. I’ll make some calls.”
Before Terri could protest again, he turned back to the four men. “We’re good,” he said. “Give us a few minutes, and we’ll push off.”
Terri knew better than to argue. Once Buck made up his mind there was no stopping him.
She had just a few more weeks to put up with his high-handed insensitivity. After that, Buck Morgan, the ten years she’d been at his side and that one hot encounter in his bed would be history.
Thankfully, Arnie’s rain gear, needed for protection against the chilling spray of the river, had been stowed in the client boat. While Buck made his calls, she decided to get the waterproof pants and jacket, and slip the set over her clothes. But first, knowing what could happen to possessions on the river, she gave her purse to the helicopter pilot, a man she trusted, and asked him to leave it at the hotel desk for her.
To get to the waiting rafts, she had to walk between the truck and the clients, who were standing in a close group. As she passed the tallest of the four men, she felt an unexpected press on the seat of her khakis.
Terri stifled a gasp. There could be no mistaking that touch. That arrogant, billionaire jerk had just patted her on the rump.
CHAPTER FIVE
T he river was
Up ahead, she could make out the low prefab buildings that marked Lee’s Ferry, the launching point for boats running down Marble Canyon, into the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon. She checked her watch. Time to wake the boys. With her help, they’d have a little over an hour to get everything ready before the helicopter was due.
One vital member of the team would be meeting them here. Arnie Bowles, an expert river pilot, lived in Page, the big town near the Glen Canyon Dam. He’d be dropped off by his wife, Peggy. Terri glanced around for him as she pulled the truck into the parking lot. He was nowhere to be seen.
“Maybe Arnie had car trouble.” Eli had jumped out of the cab and was opening the back of the trailer.
“Maybe so. He usually gets here early.” Terri began moving the food coolers out of the way while George hauled the first of two outboard motors down to the water’s edge. They worked swiftly and efficiently, each one knowing exactly what needed to be done.
Half an hour later, Arnie had yet to arrive. Terri was getting concerned. He had her cell number, as did the office, but no one had called her. Maybe Buck had heard something.
At eight thirty, they heard the whirr of the approaching helicopter. Minutes later, the machine touched down, sending up clouds of red dust before the rotors slowed. Buck jumped to the ground. The four sheikhs, swarthy, handsome men dressed in rain gear for the river, climbed out behind him.
Spotting Terri, Buck beckoned her close. “There’s been a change of plans,” he said. “Arnie can’t make it. We’ll need you to take his place.”
Terri’s eyes went wide. “But—”
“Listen to me.” His gaze drilled into her. “If you can’t do the job, we’ll have to cancel the whole trip.”
“You can’t reschedule for tomorrow?”
“No time. They’re due for meetings in Vegas right after the trip.” He leaned close to her. “Listen, Terri, they’re already disappointed about the girls. The only way to salvage this is to give them a good river run.”
“But what about the office? What about Quinn—and my grandmother?”
“It’s only for three days. We can cover that. I’ll make some calls.”
Before Terri could protest again, he turned back to the four men. “We’re good,” he said. “Give us a few minutes, and we’ll push off.”
Terri knew better than to argue. Once Buck made up his mind there was no stopping him.
She had just a few more weeks to put up with his high-handed insensitivity. After that, Buck Morgan, the ten years she’d been at his side and that one hot encounter in his bed would be history.
Thankfully, Arnie’s rain gear, needed for protection against the chilling spray of the river, had been stowed in the client boat. While Buck made his calls, she decided to get the waterproof pants and jacket, and slip the set over her clothes. But first, knowing what could happen to possessions on the river, she gave her purse to the helicopter pilot, a man she trusted, and asked him to leave it at the hotel desk for her.
To get to the waiting rafts, she had to walk between the truck and the clients, who were standing in a close group. As she passed the tallest of the four men, she felt an unexpected press on the seat of her khakis.
Terri stifled a gasp. There could be no mistaking that touch. That arrogant, billionaire jerk had just patted her on the rump.
CHAPTER FIVE
T he river was
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