Page 5 of The Summer Intern

On the phone, Sutton said, “Might have to look into that.So, what do you say?Come up this weekend?We have a cozy cabin for you to stay in and everything.No strings.”

I bit my lip, thinking about it.A weekend cozied up with the sexy Sutton?“Would it be okay if I bring my brother?He’s a better driver.”

“Sure, yeah, the cabin has two twin beds,” Sutton said.

Okay, my vision of the weekend got less sexy when I pictured my brother there with me, in a twin bed.“I was thinking he could stay in a different room.He snores.”

“I do not!”Oliver protested.I wasn’t sure if Sutton could hear him, but Sutton laughed.

“The camp is empty right now, and we have plenty of accommodations.Whatever you need.”

“Okay.Let me think about it.But I’m very interested.”

We exchanged our details, and Sutton promised to email me some further information about what they would be looking for.And I hung up, a little smile on my face.

“Did you just volunteer me to drive to Washington so you could have a meeting with some hot guy?”Oliver asked.

“Maybe?”I hedged.“But you like the outdoors!Think about it, getting away from the city, to … do things outside!Um, like kayaking!”

“It’s the winter.”

“Is there no snow kayaking?”I asked.

Oliver just started laughing.But I knew I had him.There was no way he’d let me drive that far on my own.I might die!Or hit a deer!

three

Casey

April21

I gripped the armrest as Oliver turned onto a narrow road that our GPS said led to Camp Eagle Ridge, suddenly nervous about working so far out in the middle of nowhere.Who were these people, and why had they lured me out here into the forest?

The towering evergreens lining the road were blanketed in snow, their branches sagging under the weight.There were no buildings in sight, just the vast wilderness, a stark reminder of how far I was out of my comfort zone.

Oliver slowed as the pavement became snow-packed, and I glanced at him.“Is this okay?”

"The roads are slick, but we have good tires," Oliver muttered, leaning forward to peer through the windshield.

I swallowed hard."Maybe we should turn back?I mean, I could always do a job in the city like I'd planned…"

Oliver shot me an exasperated look."Casey, we've already driven for hours to get here.We're not turning back now."

"Fine," I sighed."But if we slide off the road and freeze to death, I'm blaming you."

"Yeah, it’s my fault we came up here," Oliver snorted.After a moment, he added, "You know, you should get more comfortable driving.I'm not sure I want to make this trip every few weeks just for your job."

I bristled at that."I can drive!I just...choose not to."

"Uh-huh.And why's that again?"

"Because other drivers are maniacs!"I exclaimed, waving my arms."Have you seen the way people drive in the city?It's like Mad Max out there."

Oliver rolled his eyes."Are you sure it’s the other guys who are the maniacs?"

"Shut up," I grumped, crossing my arms over my chest.“That one time, in the parking lot, that old lady almost backed into me, and then SHE yelled at me!”

“That happened three years ago!”

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