Page 18 of Past Tents

He stood up from the swing. Somehow even taller now.

Confident. Towering. Smug.

Hot.

“I can teach you in one weekend everything you’ll need to know to be a top-notch co-chaperone.”

“But why? Why would you want to do that?” I was genuinely confused by his willingness to help.

He shrugged. “Sounds like a fun challenge.”

“No, it’s an awful challenge, an impossible challenge. You could convince anyone else on the faculty to go with you. And Pin Dick would probably agree.”

“You call him that to his face. I think you’re the only one he’d let get away with it,” he observed. I wondered if he’d been wanting to ask me about this for a while.

“I’m also the only one he makes come to unnecessary after-hours meetings in his office.”

Clay’s eyes went big and his hands flexed. “He ever cross a line?”

“Nothing that would stand up as an overt hostile work environment. He’s sneaky like that.”

“I want to pound him into the asphalt.” Clay’s voice dropped an octave, deep with anger. He was usually so restrained and affable that it took me aback to see his dark expression, jaw locked and tense. His protectiveness stunned me.

I placed a hand on his forearm. “Don’t do that. Just do me a solid and ask him for another co-chaperone.” Then I let my hand linger for an extra couple of seconds because, holy hot-for-teacher, his forearms were firm and roped with muscle. Reluctantly, I let it drop and felt a shiver roll down my spine.

“He’ll never go for it. We need someone there who knows first aid. There will be a ranger with us at the campsite, so you’ll mainly be wrangling the kids, and you know all of them, so it’s actually perfect.”

“Perfect except for my whole fear-of-the-woods thing.” I was doubly glad to have a porch swing as I dropped onto the bench where Clay had sat moments before. I knew I was cooked.

He pointed at me. Decision made.

“Here’s what we’re gonna do. I have a closet full of camping supplies at my house, so we’re going to have a little dry run at camping.”

“What’s that mean?”

“We’ll camp out in my yard. Twenty feet from the house, if anything spooks you. But the terrain will be similar, so we’ll pitch some tents, build some fires, and do some hiking. By the time the retreat rolls around, you’ll know everything you need to know, and you just might enjoy yourself in the great outdoors.”

I held up a hand to push away the crazy idea, but he stepped closer at the same time, so I ended up pushing against his chest. His rock-hard chest. “Let’s not get carried away with theenjoyingpart,” I said, swallowing thickly.

“You can do this, Alexandra. I promise.” He held up a finger and wagged it. “But only if you’re okay. You’re not hiking anywhere until a doctor clears you. Much as I’d like you on the trip, you’re not going if you have a concussion.”

He tapped two fingers against my temple and the contact sent a zing of electricity coursing through my veins. Suddenly, the concussion escape route didn’t feel as enticing.

“I think I’m probably okay, but, yes, I’ll get checked out.”

Watching me, Clay nodded slowly. He took a couple of careful steps backward before turning to jog down my front steps toward his truck. “Take it easy tonight. And if you need anything, call me. Okay?” he called.

I nodded weakly, unaccustomed to this side of him, a side that was the polar opposite of the stoic, hurried professorial guy I knew at school. Hot heartthrob Clay Meadows was actually kindof a softie. Which made no difference whatsoever because he was staying away from relationships.

And that was just as well, because so was I.

CHAPTER

SIX

CLAY

I’d always surmised that I was in danger of falling hard and fast for Ally Dalbotten if I ever stopped moving long enough to get to know the woman she is now. Which was why I never stopped moving. Knowing her better would only do destructive things to my heart.

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