Page 64 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

She tied her blindfold around her eyes, making sure it was snug.

"No peeking," I teased.

"Me? I would never peek."

Laughing, I said, "Okay, then, just follow the sound of my voice, and I'll try not to kill you."

"Thanks?"

Curious about what others were doing, not Jared, I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Marcella taking Jared's hand, guiding him straight ahead. His easy grin as he trusted her without hesitation sent an annoyed flutter to my stomach.

Damn it. I needed to keep my attention on Mona.

"Cordelia?" she asked.

I refocused on my friend, who had one foot in the air, her hands outstretched.

"Yep, yep, all good. You're good. You're safe to take a few steps forward."

Mona giggled nervously as she took a few tentative steps. "I trust you," she said.

Just as I opened my mouth to respond, I heard a deep laugh echo behind me—Jared's laugh. My pulse took off, and I found myself looking back again to see Jared chuckling at something Marcella had said, his broad shoulders shaking slightly. What the hell was so funny?

"Hello?" Mona called out.

Turning back, I felt a pang of guilt that I'd lost track of heragain. See? Men were bad news. I made a mental note to stop letting myself get distracted. Especially by him.

"Sorry, Mona. I'm right here. You can take a big step to the left to avoid a rock in your current path."

Following Ranger Jim's directions, we walked all around the clearing, even venturing a little into one of the many surrounding paths that led into the forest. It was trickier there,pitfalls like branches and rocks everywhere, something that seemed like no big deal when you could easily see them.

By the time our fearless leader told us to switch, I was exhausted, both from guiding Mona and from trying to keep my thoughts on her and her alone.

And now, it was my turn. Wondering when the last time I'd been blindfolded was, I tied mine tightly over my eyes, debating whether I should loosen it a bit to sneak a peek underneath. Even though it was Mona and I knew already that I could trust her, vulnerability washed through me.

Being lost to the darkness heightened all my other senses, the scent of pine needles filling my nose, the warm, breezy air against my skin.

"Okay, babe," Mona said, her tone clear and reassuring, "you're fine to take just a few steps forward."

I gave her a wobbly smile as I followed her directions. This wasn't too bad actually, and it definitely made me appreciate something I usually took for granted—my sight.

Leaves crunched under my foot, and I heard the rustle of trees surrounding us. Where was Jared? Was he now holding onto Marcella, her clutching him back, giggling and flirting with him?

It became silent around me, like everything had paused.

"Mona?" I asked into the strange void, frowning beneath my blindfold. "Are you still there?"

Not thinking clearly, I took a step and my foot caught on something—a root maybe? Tipping forward, a surge of panic shot through me as I flailed, my hands grasping at nothing but air.

Suddenly, a large, warm hand closed around mine, steadying me before I could fall. I sucked in a breath, the world still dark around me, but the feel of that grip sent a lightning bolt of awareness through my entire body.

"I've got you, baby." The words were whispered right near my ear, the deep, familiar voice unmistakable.

Jared.

My heart fluttered, and an unwelcome smile tugged at my lips. His hand was so strong and sure, and I didn't want to let it go. But I should. I really should—because this was Jared.

"Don't call me baby," I managed to say, trying to inject some of my usual bite into the words. But I knew I didn't mean it, not this time.

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