Page 4 of Just Act Natural

“You don’t have to go that far,” his wife Cindy says. “We had averygood time in Bend the last time we passed through.”

“I regretted it for a week, though.” Brian taps the side of his head. “Too much craft beer.”

“What about here in Sunshine?” I ask.

Cindy’s mouth twists, giving me my answer. I guessed as much when I drove in this morning. It’s a nice little town, but it’s quiet. Probably not the best bet for anyone looking for a night out, but it’s the perfect choice for my month off the grid.

“There’s some shopping here,” she says. “And a couple of good restaurants, but I don’t think it has much in the way of nightlife. We never stay in town, though.”

“I can give you better options.” Brian’s smirk is too much like Rhett’s flurry of emails full of wilder alternativesfor how I might spend my vacation. “Sunshine isn’t really the place to go if you’re looking for something unexpected.”

The door behind us chimes, and a woman says, “Is this the right place for the wilderness adventure thingy?”

Her voice dances through me like a sparkler, and I spin around slowly. Now thisisunexpected.

It’sher. The woman from the coffee shop, complete with glittery purple roller bag. She’s all bright smiles and eager eyes, standing there in black leggings and a blue plaid camp shirt. My chest warms, flickering to life against my better judgment. If this is still some sugar-induced fever-dream, I don’t want to wake up.

“Lila! You’re just in time.” Deena leads her closer to our small group for quick introductions. Everyone welcomes her to the party, shaking hands all around. By the time she gets to me, I’m smiling like a dope, staring at this glorious vision like it’s the only thing my half-functioning brain is capable of doing.

“Hi.” She slips her hand into mine, and I’m done for.

Five days in the wilderness with her? Rhett’s mantra echoes in my head until it’s a deafening chorus.Do the stupid thing.

Don’t mind if I do.

Then I remember just how stupid I’ve been in the past, and my smile comes crashing down.

This could be a problem.

TWO

LILA

I’moff to a great start.

Turn up late to a trip I don’t want to take? Check. Meet the hottest man I’ve seen in eons? Check. Feel an absurd zing shiver across my skin when we shake hands? Double check.

Watch as his smile turns from friendly to frosty in a matter of heartbeats? Also check.

I smile even wider. I got used to being dismissed by the tech bros I used to work with and my ex-fiancé, who was their king. The key to dealing with it is to never let them know when they get to you. So when this guy’s smile does a disappearing act? I don’t even notice.

Even if a tiny little worm of insecurity wriggles around inside me, reminding me that I do, in fact, notice.

Honestly, he’s a very noticeable guy. Tall and broad, with wavy dark hair that just kisses his forehead, sky blue eyes that seem designed to see straight into my soul, and an actual dimple in his chin.

Oh, and also? He’s watching me with his mouth tugged down like I just ruined his vacation. The moment doesn’t last, and he smiles at me again, but it’s not the same.

“Grant Irwin, from Texas,”Deena had said. Well, Grant Irwin from Texas, you can go jump in a lake.

Considering the trip we’re about to go on, he would probably love to do exactly that, but whatever.

I try to put the guy out of my head—no small task—and turn back to Deena. “Did I miss anything?”

What I want to say is,“Can I miss everything?”

The closest I get to “outdoorsy” is driving around in my Honda Accord blastingFolklorewith the windows rolled down—exploring the woods has never been on my list of to-dos.

Not that I would complete a to-do list if I ever made one.

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