to that again? Still think I’m a serial killer?”
“I haven’t made up my mind. But surely, this can’t be your idea of a quiet backpacking trip. Why are you still traveling with us?”
Jaime stirred the fire, watching embers dance as they rose from the flames. “You want me to make up something witty or just tell you the truth?”
“I’m a big advocate of the truth.”
“Okay.” Jaime leaned forward too. She met the blue-green eyes across from her and held them captive. “The truth is, I think you’re cute as hell and I find myself extremely attracted to you.”
Sara’s breath caught. “Excuse me?”
“Besides, I have a great view from the back of the line. I think you have a very sexy walk.”
“ Excuse me?”
“You said you wanted the truth.”
Sara was at a loss for words. Jaime Hutchinson had to be the most conceited, arrogant … flirt she had ever met. All she could do was stare at her.
“No comment?” Jaime finally asked. “You’re not going to tell me the feeling is mutual?”
Sara smiled and shook her head. “I’m not sure I even like you.”
“You’ve got to give it time. I’m sure I’ll grow on you.”
“I don’t think we have that much time.” Sara stood and brushed off her jeans. “Make sure the fire is out.”
Jaime nodded and watched as Sara retreated into her tent.
“Damn, but she’s cute. Sexy and cute,” she murmured as she stirred the fire again.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Three days later, they were crossing the Mt. Harvard trail at ten thousand feet. They had explored a large rock formation for nearly an hour and everyone sat on the edge of the cliff, feet dangling over the side as they enjoyed the views. Everyone except Sara, who insisted they were entirely too close to the edge.
“Well, while you’re standing back there, Sarge, why don’t you take our picture?” Jaime suggested.
“You’re insane.”
“It’s not that bad, Sara,” Abby said. “It’s a gradual drop-off.”
“This would make a great picture,” Sandra said, turning around to hand Sara her camera. “Make sure you get all of us.”
Sara took a step closer to grab the camera, too embarrassed to tell them that she had a slight fear of heights. She walked backward, trying to fit them all into the frame. They turned their heads and leaned into each other, the same smiles on all their faces, Jaime included.
“One, two … three,” she called, snapping the picture. She lowered the camera. “Happy now? Will you please come away from the edge?”
“I think she’s worried about you,” Celia teased quietly.
“I think she’s worried about a lawsuit,” Jaime said which caused Sandra to burst out laughing.
Sara scowled at them. Jaime was a troublemaker, she decided.
But Sara was as excited as the rest of them. They were within an hour of the springs Jaime had been telling them about. Springs as large as a swimming pool, she promised. Hopefully, they wouldn’t have to share it with bears.
“And you know, Sara, if we stayed for two days, we could do laundry,” Jaime suggested, remembering Celia’s request for an extended visit.
“Laundry? God yes,” Abby said. “I’m afraid if I take these jeans off one more time, they’re going to walk away on their own.”
They all laughed and Sara looked down at her own dirty jeans.
She’d instructed them all not to bring more than three changes of clothes. Yes, probably a laundry day in the springs would be a good idea. That and a bath.
“Okay. I suppose we can stay two nights there,” she agreed. Her announcement was met with cheers.
“I like her more and more every day,” Jaime said. Sandra was a few steps behind her and she turned to wait for her when something caught her eye. A reflection, perhaps, high up on the ridge behind them. As she watched, it disappeared. “You going to make another hour, Sandra?” Jaime asked, her eyes still scanning the mountainside behind them.
“No problem. Not when I know we’ll have two
“I haven’t made up my mind. But surely, this can’t be your idea of a quiet backpacking trip. Why are you still traveling with us?”
Jaime stirred the fire, watching embers dance as they rose from the flames. “You want me to make up something witty or just tell you the truth?”
“I’m a big advocate of the truth.”
“Okay.” Jaime leaned forward too. She met the blue-green eyes across from her and held them captive. “The truth is, I think you’re cute as hell and I find myself extremely attracted to you.”
Sara’s breath caught. “Excuse me?”
“Besides, I have a great view from the back of the line. I think you have a very sexy walk.”
“ Excuse me?”
“You said you wanted the truth.”
Sara was at a loss for words. Jaime Hutchinson had to be the most conceited, arrogant … flirt she had ever met. All she could do was stare at her.
“No comment?” Jaime finally asked. “You’re not going to tell me the feeling is mutual?”
Sara smiled and shook her head. “I’m not sure I even like you.”
“You’ve got to give it time. I’m sure I’ll grow on you.”
“I don’t think we have that much time.” Sara stood and brushed off her jeans. “Make sure the fire is out.”
Jaime nodded and watched as Sara retreated into her tent.
“Damn, but she’s cute. Sexy and cute,” she murmured as she stirred the fire again.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Three days later, they were crossing the Mt. Harvard trail at ten thousand feet. They had explored a large rock formation for nearly an hour and everyone sat on the edge of the cliff, feet dangling over the side as they enjoyed the views. Everyone except Sara, who insisted they were entirely too close to the edge.
“Well, while you’re standing back there, Sarge, why don’t you take our picture?” Jaime suggested.
“You’re insane.”
“It’s not that bad, Sara,” Abby said. “It’s a gradual drop-off.”
“This would make a great picture,” Sandra said, turning around to hand Sara her camera. “Make sure you get all of us.”
Sara took a step closer to grab the camera, too embarrassed to tell them that she had a slight fear of heights. She walked backward, trying to fit them all into the frame. They turned their heads and leaned into each other, the same smiles on all their faces, Jaime included.
“One, two … three,” she called, snapping the picture. She lowered the camera. “Happy now? Will you please come away from the edge?”
“I think she’s worried about you,” Celia teased quietly.
“I think she’s worried about a lawsuit,” Jaime said which caused Sandra to burst out laughing.
Sara scowled at them. Jaime was a troublemaker, she decided.
But Sara was as excited as the rest of them. They were within an hour of the springs Jaime had been telling them about. Springs as large as a swimming pool, she promised. Hopefully, they wouldn’t have to share it with bears.
“And you know, Sara, if we stayed for two days, we could do laundry,” Jaime suggested, remembering Celia’s request for an extended visit.
“Laundry? God yes,” Abby said. “I’m afraid if I take these jeans off one more time, they’re going to walk away on their own.”
They all laughed and Sara looked down at her own dirty jeans.
She’d instructed them all not to bring more than three changes of clothes. Yes, probably a laundry day in the springs would be a good idea. That and a bath.
“Okay. I suppose we can stay two nights there,” she agreed. Her announcement was met with cheers.
“I like her more and more every day,” Jaime said. Sandra was a few steps behind her and she turned to wait for her when something caught her eye. A reflection, perhaps, high up on the ridge behind them. As she watched, it disappeared. “You going to make another hour, Sandra?” Jaime asked, her eyes still scanning the mountainside behind them.
“No problem. Not when I know we’ll have two
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