She looked past Paul, scanning the open grass for her charge. Since she’d taken refuge in the trees, Nate had moved closer to the house, and away from the pond.
“Before you take off,” Paul said, stepped forward, reaching for her. But a quick glance at Eric and Paul dropped his hand without touching her. “I heard you’re into outdoor sports. I’m off tomorrow night and was planning to hike the Columbia River Gorge, see the waterfalls, maybe camp out. I’d like the company if you’re interested.”
“I—”
“She can’t.” Eric moved to her side, placing his palm on the small of her back. It felt as if every nerve in her body rushed to greet his hand and beg him to stay, to keep a hold on her. “She has plans. I need her tomorrow. To work.”
Georgia reached for anger. He didn’t have a right to claim her, to steal her away from an adventure and demand that she work overtime on a Friday night. But his hand on her, and her body’s needy response, said otherwise.
She struggled to find her righteous indignation. But it wasn’t there. She walked into his space the other night. She’d invaded, demanding that he pay attention to the desire burning between them. He was fighting hard against it. But in this moment, he’d let it rise to the top.
“Sorry,” Georgia said to Paul. “Maybe some other time.”
Eric’s fingers pressed into her back, a silent hell, no.
Paul backpedaled, moving out of the trees, his eyes darting back and forth between her and Eric. “Sure thing. I’m going to grab another beer. Take care, Georgia.”
Paul disappeared into the crowd, and Eric’s hand fell away. Georgia grabbed it, holding tight to keep him from vanishing into the open space.
“I have plans?” she asked. “Is that true or were you just trying to save me from an adventure?”
Eric frowned. “A long walk uphill through the woods doesn’t sound exciting.”
Georgia looked over at where Paul stood, fresh beer in hand, talking to his buddies with his broad back to them. “He’s a firefighter. He works search and rescue in these mountains. I bet he could have carried me up the gorge.”
“You’d never let him.” His tone was clear and decisive.
Georgia opened her mouth to object and then closed it.
“You’re right,” she said finally. “I wouldn’t. Not when I’m perfectly capable of reaching the top on my own two feet. And I think a climb sounds like fun.”
“Georgia—”
“Maybe I should find a sitter for tomorrow and take him up on his offer.” She released him and stepped toward the cleared, fresh-cut grass.
Eric grabbed her arm and she froze. “Find a sitter and I’ll take you out. Hiking, climbing, whatever you want.”
Georgia looked down at his fingers wrapped around her bicep and then up at his face. His blue eyes burned intense and unwavering, making her feel as if she were the only person for one hundred miles. She saw darkness and desire—as if she were seeing another part of the career-focused, do-the-right-thing man she’d known forever.
The corner of her mouth lifted, and her pulse sped up a notch. “Why?”
“Just being a good friend.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that? I think you crossed the line.”
“Not yet, Georgia.” He let go of her arm, turning toward the group of men gathered around the beer. “Not yet.”
Chapter Five
ERIC TURNED INTO his driveway. As the house came into view, he could no longer ignore the fact that he’d agreed to an adventure with a woman who was living and working for him. A woman he was supposed to keep out of trouble. He could tell himself he was playing the part of the concerned friend until he was blue in the face. It wouldn’t change the fact that when someone else offered to take Georgia hiking, he wanted to scream: she’s mine.
But Georgia didn’t belong to anyone. And judging by the way she’d reacted to the crowd, she needed a friend more than anything. Georgia had a mountain of issues to work through. She was like a wildfire, burning out of control. He wanted to help rein her in, but he didn’t want to get burned in the process.
Eric tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Whatever he felt for her, he had to bury it. Deep. As he had for the past decade.
He pressed the button on the remote. Waiting for the garage door, he glanced to his right. In the grassy area beside the house, Georgia stood in a pair of form-fitting blue jeans, cowgirl boots, and a flowing white tank held together in the back with a panel of lace. Between the boots and the frilly top, she was a picture-perfect farm girl. Holding a gas can.
Eric’s foot hit the break. With the nose of his car in his parking space, he watched her fill up one of his four-wheelers. When she finished, she turned to the second. On the back of that one, he saw a picnic basket, two bows, and a quiver of arrows bungee corded to the rack.
Eric drove into the garage, stepped out of his car, and went to find Georgia. “Four wheeling to dinner?” he asked.
She turned the cap on the second gas tank before glancing up at him. “I thought a picnic would be more discreet. And this will ensure we’re home before dark.”
He raised a brow. “Turning into a pumpkin when the sun sets?”
“I don’t want to ruin your reputation, Mr. Straightlaced.”
She headed into the garage and Eric followed, watching as she rose to her tiptoes and reached for a high shelf. Her shirt rode up, revealing a slim section of her back. Mr. Straightlaced? He wasn’t so sure.
His mind traveled back to the other night when she exploded in a rush on his bed. He wanted to touch her, but he didn’t want to stop there. The things he wanted to do to her . . .
Eric shook his head, pushing the images away. It was one thing to take his best friend’s little sister on an adventure, just the two of them, because he couldn’t stand the thought of another man hiking and camping with her. It was another thing entirely to want dirty, downright kinky sex. And Georgia took his fantasies to a dangerous new place.
She slid the gas can onto the shelf and turned around. “Our sitter also needs to get home on the early side tonight. Katie’s inside with Nate if you want to say hello and change,” she said, glancing at his business suit.
He nodded. “I’ll be back soon.”
Inside, he found Nate and his sitter playing trains on the kitchen floor. Three bowls sat beside the track—carrot sticks, dip, and fish-shaped nuggets.
“We’re having a train picnic,” Nate exclaimed, springing from the floor and hurling his small body at Eric.
“Hey, buddy.” Eric lifted him up and hugged him tight. Coming home to this kid—he was everything. From the day Nate moved in, every other piece of Eric’s life took a backseat to his nephew—his company, his personal life, everything.
Hold that thought.
“We add a cargo car every time we finish a vegetable.” Katie rose from the floor, smiling at Eric.
“Thanks for hanging out with him tonight,” Eric said. “We’ll be back before dark, so I can put him to bed if he wants to stay up.”
“Yes!” Nate hugged him tighter.
“Sure thing,” Katie said. “But don’t rush home on my account. I want Georgia to enjoy her night off.”
One look at the knowing sparkle in Katie’s eyes, and it dawned on him. She thought this was a date. And shit, he’d gone to school with her brothers. So had Liam, not that he spent much time with the Summers brothers now, but if Katie talked . . .
“We’re just heading out for a little target practice,” he said.
Katie’s smile widened. “I don’t need to know the details. And don’t worry, Eric. I won’t tell anyone about the two of you. I promised Georgia.”