Page 47 of New River Gorge(ous)
Despite his completely professional demeanor toward me, I have a moment of anxiety when he leads me to the storage room.
“Did you bring a headlamp?” he asks. “Or do you want to hold a flashlight? When you’re on your own, you’ll need a headlamp to get all the gear safely.”
He unlocks the door. It swings open and reveals a dark space. There are some windows along the far wall, but shelves block most of the light. The idea of walking into this space with Logan feels strange, and although I know Beck’s friend is a good guy at heart, I don’t want to be stuck in there alone with him.
“I … uh …” I stutter for a moment before I shake my head and remember that I’m a big girl and I can do my job. “I have a headlamp,” I say with the confidence in my voice that earned me the nickname I don’t actually love, but right now am grateful for.
“Great, do you want to … put it on?” Logan asks, raising a brow.
“Oh, yeah. I should do that.” I pull the headlamp out and adjust it across my forehead.
“So,” Logan says, clicking his own headlamp on, but leaning against the door to keep it open. “This is the storage area. We keep rafts, air pumps, patch kits, life vests, and other things in here, but it’s really important you remember this.” He bends andpulls a large stone from the corner, wedging it between the door jamb and the door. “Always,alwayskeep the door propped open if you’re in here.”
I nod as he leaves the ajar door and begins showing me the organization system in the storage room. He’s kind and pleasant, and makes absolutely no indication that he’s interested in me, to my relief.
When we finish the tour of the admittedly creepy storage room, Logan checks his watch. “Awesome. We have ten minutes before today’s group is supposed to arrive. I’ll be working with securing the equipment, but Lynette is here to help you with the check-in and everything since it’s your first day. You good?”
I nod, and he tosses me a wink and a megawatt smile that makes me realize just how charming Logan is. It’s no wonder the tourist women all flock to him. Still, it’s nothing compared to the broody doctor who left a headlamp on the porch swing and the way he wrote my name on the note.
Without meaning to, my hand drifts to the pocket where I folded the note, and I touch it as if touching it would be as effective as a touch from the man himself.
It isn’t, but I’ll take what I can at this point.
Once the rafting group has been sent on their way, I’m free to leave. That was what Logan told me anyway. Lynette didn’t need to help me with anything because the system is so easy to use, which made it possible for her to gather extra supplies for the rafters from the storage room.
Lynette hopped on the bus with the supplies while Logan stayed back to check in with me. He’ll meet them down the riverin his own vehicle. He’s just tossing something into his trunk, and I’m shutting the computers down when an SUV pulls into the gravel lot.
The door opens, and Logan mutters something about people thinking this is a walk-in activity and how reservations are clearly needed to raft, but I don’t fully hear what he says because someone I know hops out.
She has long red hair, long legs, blue eyes, and a smile so big I can’t believe she’s here.
“Paige?” I call, hardly trusting my eyes. When I turn a little, I find Connor outside the driver door.
“Brooke!” Paige says as she hurries toward me, Connor not far behind.
Logan suddenly appears at my side. “Are these friends of yours?” he drawls.
“I can’t believe you’re here. So this is where you chose to come on adventure week?” I say to Paige, then turn to Logan. “Logan, this is my friend Paige, and this is Connor. We all worked together a few summers ago at a camp.”
“A camp,” Logan says as he studies Paige and smiles that blinding smile at her.
Paige brushes a hair off her face, and I spy the glint of her wedding band in the sunlight.
“I take it you’re not here to raft?” he asks Connor.
“No, sorry, man. We’re here to see Brooke,” Connor replies in typical good-natured fashion.
“Eh, that’s ok. Rafting’s cool, but you have to have reservations.” Logan turns back toward me. “I have to head out to meet the group. Great job today, Brooke. Looking forward to having your help from now on.”
He waves, and we all wave in return.
“So, Brooke,” Connor says, after he plants himself firmly next to Paige and slips an arm around her waist. “What should we do on this adventure?”
“Uh … do you have a place to stay?” I ask.
“Yep! It’s only for two nights before we’re onto the rest of our adventure. It’s the cutest little rental…” Paige looks up at Connor with a tiny blush, and I immediately direct the conversation away from their house because it’s clear they love each other very much in private right now, and I’d prefer not to know more about that.
“Great! There’s tons of hikes. Rafting, ziplining, rock climbing, fishing, kayaking…” I trail off.
