Page 28 of Bedding The Best Man (Bedding the Bachelors)

She’d always felt most comfortable talking with Gabe, even more so than with Eric. In her mind, it was as if they’d known each other for a thousand years.

Such silly, schoolgirl thinking.

Gabe cleared his throat. “Okay, now your guests won’t have to help with the set-up, obviously. We’ll make sure the entire field is all ready, full of sparkling lights, a huge fire. I figured we should set up the stage down by the river, so the acts are framed by the horizon. It gives a kind of natural amphitheater effect, don’t you think?”

Brianne could imagine everything he suggested, and agreed. It would be a magical fairyland, all ready for adults to have a big adventure. “We need a little bandstand, and a dance floor,” she enthused, expanding on his theme. The more she spoke, the more excited she became. Now that she was here, onsite, she could see it more clearly—and the picture in her mind wasn’t anything like the miserable campsites she’d visited in the past. One weekend in particular had been torture. The previous campers hadn’t cleaned up after themselves, the whole place had been unkempt, and the facilities had been the stuff of nightmares.

That memory made her gasp. “Oh my goodness, the bathrooms!”

“Don’t worry, we can rent really fancy toilet and shower blocks these days,” Gabe reassured her. “They even have them at some of the music festivals. I also know of a company that does solar powered showers, little cubes that open up to the sky so you have complete privacy, but you can still see the big blue.”

“That sounds so lovely. You know so much about this. I can’t believe you’ve never put on a glamping event.”

He shrugged. “The equipment’s too custom to carry in the stores, but my customers come from all sorts of backgrounds, so I’ve done my research. Whether it’s someone who wants to hang out as close to nature as they can, or someone who wants to hear the rain and wind on the roof in complete comfort, I need to be able to know my stuff.”

“I guess that’s what makes you the best, huh?” Brianne could hardly believe her ears. Was she flirting?Down, girl, she reminded herself.Just because you slept with him, doesn’t mean flirting’s a good idea. Remember: you’re friends.“You should be proud of what you’ve built for yourself. I know I am.”

He shrugged. “It’s no big deal. But thanks, I appreciate that.”

She frowned. Humility was one thing, but what Gabe had achieved was a big deal. Or was the fact he shrugged off her compliment a sign that she’d made him uncomfortable by flirting with him? The thought made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

Gabe walked to the cab of his trunk, pulled out a huge bag, and began removing its contents, including a mass of canvas and wooden lattices.

“What’s that for?”

“This is our tent.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Really.”

He was nonplussed by her attitude—in fact, he seemed to expect it. “Yep. Hold this rope right here.” Brianne complied, hoping he wouldn’t make her do anything really involved as she was all thumbs.

For the next twenty minutes, Gabe worked on erecting the tent, asking her to do this and that occasionally, before stepping back to admire the final product. The tent was actually more of a yurt, round and with an elegantly sloping roof. It was pretty, and she had to admit it felt really good to have been a part of building something that looked so cozy.

“It’s like a perfect little house!” she cried, clapping her hands and laughing—more at herself and her previous apprehension. “And it didn’t take long at all to get it up.”

“Wait until we get in all the rugs and cushions, the bed and the fire pit,” Gabe said, grinning at her reaction. “The big question for you is, would you rather have pink lanterns or a full-on chandelier for your lighting?”

She laughed. “Can I be greedy and have both?”

“I don’t see why not. Now, pass me those floor mats and let’s get this place looking perfect enough for even a Whitcomb to bed down in.” She punched him on the arm, but headed back to the truck to help him to move the beautifully patterned mats.

A few hours later, Gabe and Brianne had set up everything. Even though it had been hard work, it had also been some of the most fun she’d ever had. From simply sitting beside him in the truck as they’d driven over, to spending an entire afternoon in his company, laughing and joking, to watching him bend down in front of her, the worn denim of his jeans straining with his every movement, it was all fun because she was with him. They were all memories she’d cherish. Even better, she truly believed now that a glamping adventure was the way to go for the fundraiser.

The yurt looked like as elegant and comfortable as her own apartment, though everything was in one room. Gabe had lit the fire pit, and the flames danced merrily, the mosaic tiles on the lip glinting in the flickering light. Her chandelier graced the very center of the roof, raining down light in teardrop shadows and shapes. The pink lanterns around the curved sides flickered. She couldn’t help but think it was the most romantic sight she had ever seen.

“You ready for some food?” Gabe’s strong voice called from outside. “I’ve brought some steaks. Think you could whip up a salad while I broil these babies?” he asked as she emerged.

“Sure, but jeez, I don’t think I’ll even get through a quarter of that thing!” The huge porterhouse steaks were the size of dinner plates.

“Don’t worry, I’ll hoover up anything you can’t get through,” he said, seeming unable to stop smiling. He was so clearly in his element, and his enjoyment was definitely catching. Or maybe it was just the enjoyment of being with him. Either way, she was smiling, too.

Then, she grimaced. “Um, well, first…I know we were talking earlier about the facilities…”

He laughed. “I didn’t bring anything as fancy as we talked about, but we have a composting toilet. Just pop a layer of the sawdust over the top when you’re done, and pop your paper in the bin. There’s something about the sawdust and its antibacterial properties because a friend of mine has one at his house, and I’ve never smelled anything vaguely unpleasant coming from it.”

A composting toilet? Well, it certainly fulfilled all her environmentally aware requirements. Gamely but cautiously, she walked toward the small square tent he must have set up while she was setting up her lanterns. She couldn’t help but notice just how many details he’d accounted for to make this experience a fun one for her. It touched her deeply.

She unzipped the little tent and was surprised to see a normal toilet sitting in front of her. It was on a raised plinth, a box underneath it. She peered curiously into the seat – no water, just a pile of sawdust at the bottom of the box. It wasn’t what she was used to, but it would do.

---