I gape at him. “I did not—”
“Something about trail markers,” he says smoothly, ignoring my protest. “Really urgent.”
Dan frowns, his hopeful expression faltering. “Oh. Well, I wouldn’t want to keep you from your work. Will you be free later today?”
“I’m afraid not. Sorry, Dan, but I’m way too busy to go out with your grandson. He sounds nice, though. Good luck to him.”
“That’s unfortunate.” Silence fills the air until Dan shifts awkwardly. “We’ll, uh, be on our way then. Thanks for all your help.”
Before I can say another word, they’re heading for the door. Donna pauses to snap one last picture of the grizzly bear, and then they’re gone without buying a map or even a bear-shaped keychain.
I turn my attention back to Sawyer and shake my head. “Trail markers? Really?”
He shrugs, unbothered. “Seemed like you needed a rescue.”
“I didn’t ask for your help.”
“No, but you looked like you were two seconds away from throwing a stapler at poor Dan.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t even have a stapler here. I keep them in the backroom.”
Gosh. Even I realize how ridiculous I sound.
Sawyer doesn’t move a muscle. Instead, he studies me with an infuriatingly amused look. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“For what?”
“Saving you from a blind date with ‘accomplished lawyer grandson.’”
I roll my eyes. “Ugh. You’re the worst.”
His grin widens. “You’re welcome for that, too.”
“For what, annoying me?” I shake my head and stop him before he can utter another word. “Just cut to the chase. Why are you here, Sawyer?”
“Well, I need a favor. From you.”
“Me?”
He gives me a shrug of the shoulder. “Believe me, it pains me to admit it, but I need help, and you’re the only one who can offer it to me.”
“Me?” I repeat. “No way. I want nothing to do with whatever you’ve got planned.”
Sawyer sighs dramatically. “You’re going to make me beg, aren’t you?”
“You bet I am. It’s going to be the highlight of my day too. Of my week. So yeah, do it. Beg,” I say, biting back a smirk.
But instead of looking surprised or shocked, his expression shifts into something else. Determination. A little bit of smugness even.
“Oh, I’ll beg, Reese,” he says, his voice low and teasing, “but I guarantee by the time I’m done, you’ll be the one saying yes to me.”
My heart involuntarily skips a beat, surprisingly so. I give my body the memo about how we don’t like Sawyer, but there seems to be a faulty connection between mind and body, because all I feel are stupid flutters in my chest.
Ugh. It angers me that he has this effect on me.
“Stop with the overly dramatic lines and say what you have to say, Sawyer,” I tell him, a teeny tiny bit curious about what favor he wants from me.
Chapter Two