Whitewater Rendezvous

“I thought it was your tent,” Pat said to Megan. She frowned sympathetically. “Poor kid.”

“I don’t suppose anybody would be willing to consider trading tent mates tonight?” Megan asked, trying not to sound too desperate.

When there were no takers, she added, “Twenty bucks a night ‘till we get home? Thirty?”

There was laughter and smiles all around, but no one raised a hand.

“I can’t be that bad,” Justine protested.

“You’re worse,” Pat said.

“You beat out my husband, and I thought he had a corner on the market,” Yancey said. “Fortunately, he only snores when he sleeps on his back, so I make him sleep with one of those antisnore-ball thingies pinned to the back of his pajamas. Works like a charm.”

“Wouldn’t help even if I had one. She snores on her stomach, her back, her sides, you name it,” Megan told them.

“Megan! Some friend you are!” Justine reached over and punched her lightly on the arm.

Megan laughed. “Justine, you know I love you, but you’re a record-class snore bucket, and I’ll take drastic measures if I have to, to get in another tent tonight.” She turned toward the rest of her friends.

“Do I hear any takers at forty dollars a night?”

Sally hoped that Chaz would forgive her for what she was about to do. “I’ll swap with you,” she volunteered. “My husband snores. I’m used to it. You can stay with Chaz.”

It was hard to say which of them looked more shocked at her suggestion, which told Sally all she needed to know. Megan looked aghast, her eyes as big as saucers, and Chaz looked taken aback too, for a moment—though she regained her composure much faster.

“Or I can stay with Chaz, and Megan can stay with Yancey,” Elise offered, before either of them had a chance to say anything.

Megan turned to stare at Elise. Like hell you will. “No! I’ll swap with Sally.”

It was out before she could think about what she was saying.

She just knew she didn’t want Elise staying with Chaz, that’s all. She looked toward Chaz for confi rmation and only then really realized what she’d done.

Chaz was eyeing her with a bewildered expression, as if her

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KIM BALDWIN

acceptance of the arrangement was the last thing she’d expected. Which of course it was, since Megan had been treating her like shit. Suddenly the mental photograph she’d taken of Chaz in the nude roared up out of nowhere and implanted itself on her eyelids. Oh, shit. What the hellhave I done? She looked away, her brain scrambling to fi nd a way out of this mess she’d somehow gotten herself into. She turns my brain tomush. I can’t be held responsible for my actions.

“Whatever you like,” Chaz said. “I’m fi ne with it.”

“It’s settled then,” Sally said. “We’ll swap beginning tonight.”

“Sure I won’t keep you awake, too?” Justine asked sheepishly.

“Nah, I can sleep through anything. This’ll be fun,” Sally said.

“I’ll get a chance to hear some great inside stories about TV news.”

And I’ll get the chance to see how well I can hide the fact thatshe’s really getting under my skin, Megan thought, glancing at Chaz.

The guide was watching her with an unreadable expression. “All right, then,” Chaz said. “If we’re all done eating, why don’t we pack up and get ready for another day on the river.”

O

Despite the breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife they spotted, a good portion of the hours passed in a blur for Megan. Oh, she got out her binoculars when Chaz pointed out the snowy owl, his white feathers starkly contrasted against the gray-green spruce tree he was perched on. And she thrilled with the rest of them at the fi rst caribou they spotted, a small group of eight adults far in the distance. But she got totally lost in thoughts of Chaz for great long periods of the day.

She was comfortable and confi dent now in the kayak, and able to daydream as they mostly drifted in the wide, slow current. Over and over again, she replayed the small loop of images she’d captured of the handsome guide. Her sculpted back, as she dug her paddle into the water. That brief look of attraction and desire that had crossed her face as she stared at Megan’s breasts during the rolling lesson. I didn’timagine that. I know I didn’t.

And of course it was impossible to keep that mental picture of the naked, relaxed Chaz at bay. Megan was tortured relentlessly by those round breasts and dark nipples, the glimpse of hair at the apex of those long legs.

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