Read Online Mad Hatter's Alice by Kelliea Ashley - Free Book Online

 
    Alice Grace tripped as she hurried across the hot July asphalt of the parking lot. Swearing beneath her breath, she tried to adjust her backpack without falling flat on her face thanks to her brand new hiking boots. The climber’s dreamscapes, her ass! The boots were heavy, ugly, and promised her all sorts of disastrous adventures in the near future. She grunted as she looked up to find the tour bus already filled with people from work. A white-haired man dressed in khaki shorts, a white shirt, and cream colored windbreaker looked up at her over a clipboard as she approached. Pointedly glancing at the glinting watch on his wrist, he frowned darkly at her.
    “If you’re here for the Adventurer’s Team Building Weekend, then you are late, late, late! Tardiness is a key factor in the failure of any team’s success. It will not be tolerated and by the end of this weekend, you will have learned to be on time.” He once more glanced at his watch. “Oh, dear. We’re already ten minutes late for departure. This will come out of our planned bathroom breaks. I hope you pee fast.”
    “No worries, I’ll just squat in the woods. Birds do it, bees do it...” Alice tilted her head with one of her sweetest smiles. “Or should I say bears do it?” He didn’t laugh, but his glower darkened noticeably.
    “Definitely bears.” A deep male voice behind her laughed. She turned and the tall man easily dodged a potential impact with her heavy backpack. At first glance, she had the impression of a tall behemoth with a scruffy five o’clock shadow beneath dark brown eyes rimmed with a small circle of gold that twinkled as he grinned down at her. She couldn’t see the color of his hair for the floppy camo army hat covering his head.
    “Funny, but we don’t have time for guffaws this morning. Names?” The guide turned his attention back to the clipboard.
    “Alice Grace.”
    “Wayne Quinton.”
    “Very good. My name is Robert Hopps. I am placing a note next to both of your names. Tardy and Jokesters . Two traits I hope to drill out of you before this weekend is over.” Hopps quickly wrote on the clipboard, making Alice sigh.
    This trip was certainly off to a great start. Why did she agree to come in the first place?
    “Mad Hatter! You made it!” Oh, right. That’s the reason. Andrew Blake leaned down out of the bus’s door. His big blue eyes and wide grin could curl her toes and have her girlie parts melting in a pool of molten lust.
    “Hey, man!” Tall, dark, and handsome moved to clasp hands with her black-haired god of a boss. “I thought we agreed that you wouldn’t use my nickname if I came to work for you?” He stood blocking her view and making her wait to get on the bus. Behind her, she could hear Hopps impatiently tapping his foot on the pavement.
    “Sorry, bud. It’s the hat. It takes me back to our days at boot camp.” Andrew laughed. She loved the sound of his laughter. Sexy, rich, with a calorie-filled goodness, it made her thoughts go directly to French silk pie and satin sheets.
    “Can we hurry this along, gentlemen? We’re already running behind.” Hopps’ voice squeaked as it rose to a panicky complaint.
    “Sorry, sir.” Mad Hatter, or Wayne, turned to motion her to go ahead of him. “After you, Alice.”
    “Thanks.” She nervously stepped up on the first step, but her backpack caught on the railing, stopping her with a hard tug.
    “What did you do, bring your closet with you, Alice?” Andrew shook his head as he flashed a set of pearly white teeth. She felt embarrassed heat rise to her cheeks beneath his stare.
    “Hold on. Let me help you with that.” Wayne’s hands easily took the straps of her backpack and lifted it off her shoulders. “I’ve got it.” She looked over her shoulder and their gazes met and caught. Within the dark depths of his eyes, that circle of gold seemed to hold a magical pull that she couldn’t seem to look away from. His head dropped an inch toward