Page 50 of Just Act Natural

“Just a few fun things. Rafting. Biking. Visiting a lake.”

She sighs so heavily I’m surprised she doesn’t collapse from lack of oxygen.

“It might help with your website and presentation.” I sound like my sister-in-law when she’s wheedling. The thing is, wheedling works a surprising amount of the time. Even when I think I’m going to hold my ground, Eliza’s skilled at getting her way.

“You play dirty.”

“Are we enemies to lovers now?”

“Depends on how many outdoorsy things you ask me to do.”

“Think of them as add-ons to your hike.”

Sarcastic laughter bubbles out of her. “I hate this whole idea, but…more research might help me get that promotion. Ugh. This is the worst. Okay. Fine.”

“Great. That’s solved. What else?”

Another long pause, but this one’s punctuated by a deep breath in. “We should probably talk about how physical we’re going to be.”

Heat rushes down my spine. I’m all about enthusiastic consent, but this feels more like hammering out a business deal than anything else. It’s not how I would have envisioned this conversation going.

“How physical do you want to be?”

I follow a long drive deeper into the woods to a log cabin-style building. A wrought iron arch over the main entrance spells outMoonlight Lodge. As secluded as it is, the full parking lot gives away its popularity.

I turn off the engine and face Lila. She’s still staring at me, but this isn’t the death glare when I proposed my outdoor activities trade. Her eyes hold a spark of heat that lights an answering flame inside my chest. I would pay good money to know the thoughts dancing behind those eyes.

She swallows, and my gaze is on her lips when they part. “Maybe we should figure that out as we go.”

Probably for the best, since right now, I’d be tempted to practice absolutely anything she suggested.

Inside the lodge, everything from the massive central fireplace to the stout wooden furniture hits a note of rustic upscale. Even therusticparts are more luxurious than the types of places I usually book for myself.

“It started out as a bed and breakfast, with just this building.”Lila gestures around like she’s giving me a tour. “But they’ve been adding cabins to their property over the last few years. You can fish on site, they offer horseback riding, and they have miles of walking trails. It’s like camping.”

I lift an eyebrow at her.

“With toilets and beds and showers, and no marmots,” she adds. “Betterthan camping.”

“And here I thought I’d won you over.”

She tips her chin up. “Even you aren’t that good.”

“I’ll try not to take that personally.”

“I was doing pretty well until the ants.”

I laugh. “That was the first day.”

“Yup.”

At the front desk, a red haired woman finishes her conversation with two guests and sees them on their way before she notices us. She straightens her black plastic glasses and pushes her hair behind her ears. “Lila! I didn’t know you were dropping in today.”

“I’m just here to help Grant get settled in his cabin. Grant, this is my friend Charlie Callahan. Her family owns the lodge. She’s behind all their great ideas these last few years.”

Charlie laughs. “You should talk like this to my parents. I could use a raise.”

“Charlie, this is Grant Irwin.”

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