Page 34 of Chasing Sunrise

“No. Plus, I have a job.”

He persisted. “Surely, you can come up for the weekend.”

“Kasey, I’ve seen your show. There’s no way I’m going adventuring with you.”

“This will be nothing like my show.” He drummed on the table with his thumbs. “I have the equipment we need to enjoy the luxuries of everyday life.”

“I need a detailed list of these so-called luxuries you’d be providing, and they’d have to include a house with plumbing.”

“Well, I can’t promise that luxury.”

She wiped her hands on a napkin. “That’s a deal breaker.”

Poor guy, he looked tired and like he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days. “I have to get away and unplug.”

“Why don’t you ask one of your friends?”

“Everyone’s too busy.” He made a sad face, his hazel eyes pleading with her. “I have no one except you.”

“You’re trying to guilt me into going?”

“Is it working?”

“No.”

He crossed his arms. “Let’s say you have children one day. You’ll want them to enjoy camping, won’t you? Kids should go camping.”

“Their dad can bring them.”

“Just once, Amanda. You’ve got to try everything once.”

“No.” Her phone buzzed, and she checked the text. “Damn. I have to go. The speaker for Thursday canceled, and I have to find someone else to address the seniors.”

“Who was going to speak?”

“My principal’s husband. He’s a dean at a local college, but he’s got the flu.”

He lifted his glass and took a sip of tea. “What if I speak? I can talk about my forestry degree and answer questions.”

“They’d rather hear about how you got your own reality show.”

“I can tell that story too.”

He’d found her weakness. “Where are you going camping?”

Triumph gleamed in his eyes. “I’m not sure yet. It won’t be more than a couple of hours away.”

She took a deep breath. “If you speak to my seniors and have a Q&A session during their English classes on Thursday, I’ll drive up to your campsite on Saturday and stay for twenty-four hours.”

“Come on, take a couple of days off.”

She had days stored up, but she knew herself. Camping sounded like her version of hell. She could endure it perhaps for a day. “Twenty-four hours. Deal or no deal?”

He glowered. “Deal.”

~

The more Amanda becameacquainted with Kasey, the more she envied the way he made everything look effortless. She’d accompanied him to each English class today. Although he’d given his spiel many times now, it seemed fresh each time. And he somehow made the drab forest ranger uniform he wore look good.

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