Page 27 of Wild Child
”Daniel—“
He held up two hands, shutting me up again. “However,” he drawled, “this would be a great learning experience for you, and they specifically asked. I don’t want to tell them no. But,” he held up that finger again when I opened my mouth, “I’m not about to send you into the mountains for five nights with two men I don’t know that well. Sorry.” He slammed the cash register shut. “Not going to happen.”
My lips clamped shut again, and my nostrils flared. Yes, I resented the insinuation that I couldn’t take care of myself, but I also understood it at the same time. Did I think Kimball would be an issue? Definitely not one I couldn’t handle. But that didn’t speak for his friend Steve or the entire situation.
If life had taught me anything, it was that most men couldn’t be trusted. The rest had to be verified through years of proof, like Mav, JJ, and Daniel.
And Devin, at one point.
To that point, I also didn’t trust Kimball entirely either.
“Okay,” I said.
Daniel blinked twice. His head tilted to the side slightly. “What?”
“I said okay.”
“So I heard you correctly?” he asked. “There has now been a moment where we’ve actually agreed on something?”
I rolled my eyes again, just for emphasis. “Yes. I agreed with you.”
“That’s why I’m questioning it. You never agree with me.”
“Ha ha,” I muttered. “I’m not going to fight you on it.”
He leaned back a little. “Why?”
“You’re not wrong.”
“You want the guide so bad you’re buttering me up by agreeing with me, so I’ll eventually give in.”
“Yes and no.” I folded my arms across my chest and shrugged. “It’s probably a wise move to have someone else out there with me. Besides, how hard could it be to find another person to go with me? Someone who wants to give up days of their life to go into the mountains, without reception or amenities? Especially someone I could trust?”
He scowled, eyebrows low.
“Of course, that’s one more person for you to pay,” I continued doggedly, “which would kill all profit from the guide. But who needs to make money? It’s not like you run a company with skin-tight margins while you live on a prayer that more people book more guides or buy more t-shirts.”
His eyes tapered to slashes now, but I wasn’t about to stop.
“Especially considering my extensive history with self-defense,” I continued, “my intimate knowledge of every inch of these mountains and my skill with a knife. We already know I’m not afraid to take almost-lethal action to save myself. But . . . that’s your decision, Daniel.”
His eyes had become thin lines. He was onto me, but my argument would still work into his brain to nestle some doubt. Oh, I knew the source of his bleeding heart: money. Profit. Dollar bills. He expected me to fight back, but he just didn’t know my game yet.
“Nice try,” he muttered. “But I’m ahead of you. Already got someone!” He grinned. “Should be a good guide. Kimball said they want to see beautiful things. Pitch their own tent, eat fish from a stream, that kind of idea.”
A careful bud of hope revived in my chest. Was he giving this guide to me then? Who had he asked?
“Sounds great.” I straightened up, arms falling to my side. “I’ll take them up Buccaneer road and into the canyon to Nightingale Pass. It has all they requested, and the hikes aren’t too challenging. Easy river valley in most spots. So many moose to see, if they want wildlife.”
He grunted, which meant he approved. At least he hadn’ttoldme where I’d have to take them. That morsel of trust was something, and I’d worked hard for it. The only thing that puzzled me waswhohe had found.
There was really only one option.
“Are you coming with us?” I asked.
He snorted. “No.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
