Page 4 of Catch and Release Groom

The stark contrast between her ivory skin and long, dark locks drew further attention to her big blue eyes. Combined with those vivid, full lips, there was no denying she was pretty. He’d passingly noticed, even before the gaping robe incident. The tiny straps of her tank top could hardly contain the assets she had in spades, and her impractical shorts and sandals combo displayed nearly every inch of her shapely legs.

His canine companion chuffed, a doubtful noise that called Easton out on his bluff about not caring. Fine, so he’d never handled the unexpected very well, and the wedding-themed decorations that’d smattered the lobby and resort grounds only compounded his dread over spending so much time around lovey-dovey honeymooners.

The agitation that’d snapped his spine and shoulders into a rigid line eased as his early morning client picked her way through the dew-dampened grass. Soon, he’d be knee-deep in water, losing himself to the gurgle and flow. This was his favorite side hustle, and he’d hate to get fired over something as silly as leaving a guest behind.

It didn’t prevent his ornery side from loudly revving the engine as the woman who’d called out his grouchiness approached the passenger door. Ecstatic they were not only about to head out, but with another person in tow, Gator bounded across the seat and pushed her nose against the glass.

“Oh, so while all I need is you, you’d prefer a whole pack? Is that what you’re saying?”

A shameless bark pierced the air, and Easton hit the unlock button for the now-scowling, vacationer. The rusted hinges creaked as she heaved open the passenger door, and a frown spread across her face as she scrutinized the distance from the ground to the lifted cab of his truck.

No idea why she’d put on lipstick to go fishing, but the bright shade emphasized her dismay. As red as a firetruck, it made his libido wail as loudly as the siren atop the vehicle.

Because of how long it’d been since he’d parked himself in anyone’s garage. Yeah, that was the only reason.

“Need a boost, sunshine?” he asked, and she lobbed a glare at him that insinuated she’d rather die. “Or there’s—”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Sure she was. “And the name’s Imogen.”

He draped an arm over the wheel and settled in for the duration. She came at the challenge a couple of different ways, each of them overly proper and ineffectually delicate, before determination set her jaw. She retreated a couple of paces and then leaped inside the cab, the edge of the bench seat hitting her in the her gut and forcing out a grunt.

Gator praised her efforts by rushing forward to lick her cheek, and Imogen quickly used the purchase she’d gained to haul herself the rest of the way onto the seat.

“Well, Gen, you certainly showed me,” Easton snarked, his customer service persona still struggling to fully engage. His friend Shep, who taught at the local high school and sat on the board, had laughed at the idea of someone as brusque as Easton teaching anything to anyone. Proving he could impart nuggets of wisdom just fine, he added, “Who needs that built-in step I was gonna mention when you’ve got hops like that?”

“It’sImogen,” she huffed, barely sparing a glance in his direction. “And, since you clearly skipped out on etiquette lessons, this is the part where you give meyourname.” Her tone and expression softened as she drove her fingers through his mongrel’s thick coat. “Or at the very least, this cutie’s name, as that’s far more important, anyway.”

This was why Gator didn’t get to go for rides in the police cruiser. Justice could hardly be served if the culprits were in danger of getting licked or snuggled to death. Not that there was much crime to speak of in Uncertainty. Half the time he responded to neighbors arguing over property lines and if someone else’s pig had or hadn’t crossed it and eaten their flowers.

He admired Imogen’s gumption—not many people charged inside the ring with him for a round of verbal sparring. “I’m Easton Reeves, and that there is Gator. Not even a year old yet, and she’s better at fishing and conversation than most humans.”

“Aww, such a badass name for such a super cuddly, fluffy puppy.”

“Not really. Her full name’s Gator Bait. If we get out on the water and run into trouble, she’ll give me extra time to get away.” Snorting a laugh, he automatically reached over to pet his overgrown puppy. His fingers bumped into Imogen’s, and when he lifted his gaze to hers, he noticed the horrified expression. “It’s a joke. Do city folk not have any sense of humor?”

“Are there alligators where we’re going? Because I didn’t sign up for alligators.”

“They’re not something you really sign up for. We’re the ones infringing on their turf, but as long as we’re cautious and show them respect, they’ll do the same.”

Imogen’s large eyes flew that much wider. While the mascara and eyeliner were unnecessary for fishing, he couldn’t argue with the results. The makeup emphasized the crystal blue of her irises, as well as the fact that she prioritized style over being prepared for their day.

If he were a betting man—and weekly poker nights confirmed he was—he’d wager this woman was a bona fide city girl who lived a cushy, coddled life. Why she’d chosen to honeymoon in the sticks when she was obviously accustomed to having everything at her fingertips, was anyone’s guess. But that wasn’t his business, same way it wasn’t his business to speculate as to why her other half wasn’t accompanying them this morning. And, since Easton refused to turn hypocrite and pry, he let the tiny squeak that’d escaped Imogen at the mention of alligators spur him in a different direction. “Unless they’re hungry, of course.”

The laugh that slipped free over how easy she was to tease couldn’t be helped, nor the goosebumps spreading across his skin at the same rate as Imogen’s disturbingly sweet smile.

“Oh, Easton, I can’t tell you how excited I am for my first fly-fishing lesson.” Her voice held a slightly nasal quality that grated at what little of his patience she hadn’t already used up, but with any luck, the rush of the water would help drown it out. “It’s going to beso much funshowing you what an apt pupil I can be.”

Considering her getup, he wasn’t holding his breath.

Chapter Two

The shocks on Easton’s truck squeaked out a complaint as he turned off the gravel road that barely qualified as such and maneuvered closer to the grassy, cragged shore. It was far from a smooth ride, but his truck was built well enough to prevent them from bouncing around the cab like heated popcorn kernels, so Imogen could relax her grip on the “oh-shit” handle above the passenger door.

The instant Easton cut the engine, Imogen launched herself out of the cab like she couldn’t wait to flee his presence, and Gator went bounding after her. This time, he bit back his sarcasm, heroically refraining from asking where all this haste had been when he’d knocked on her door for theirscheduledlesson.

Two steps into her journey, Imogen abruptly came up short. As she scanned the area, Gator stuck her nose to the ground and sniffed, eager to assist, regardless of being clueless as to the object of their search mission.

The reason behind her paranoia hit him then, along with the choice of whether to ease her worries. It’d be difficult to teach the woman anything if she were high-strung as a fiddle the entire time. “This part of the river moves too fast for gators. Don’t hesitate on their reptilian account.”

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