Every Step She Takes (Who's Watching Now Book 2) by Jannine Gallant Read Free Book Online Page A

take off his jeans. Crouching by the edge of the pool, he splashed his chest and arms. Cold was an understatement. The freezing water deflated his ardor to the point where he could safely remove his pants. Chucking them onto the rock, he waded in wearing nothing but a pair of plaid boxers.
    Gritting his teeth, he stopped waist deep and lathered up. “How long have you been in there? You’re going to turn into a Popsicle.”
    Long, dark lashes fluttered against her cheeks. “I have a high tolerance for cold.”
    “Lucky you.” Travis finished his makeshift bath, dipped in to wash off the soap then waded back to shore. He was covered in so many goose bumps, he looked like plucked poultry. Not exactly the manly image he wanted to project. Rubbing briskly with a towel to get the blood flowing, he glanced over at Grace. “Dinner should be about ready.”
    She ducked under the surface and came up laughing. Water streamed from her long hair and ran in rivulets down smooth skin, flowing over the slopes of her breasts. She was so beautiful his breath seized in his chest. But her perfection made it easier to take a step back. Normal guys like him didn’t belong with women like Grace Hanover.
    He pulled on his jeans and draped the towel around his neck. “The stew will stay warm so don’t feel you have to rush.”
    She blinked wet eyelashes, and her lips tightened. “I don’t bite, Travis.”
    “You sure?”
    The frown disappeared. “Not hard, anyway.”
    “That’s what they all say.” Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. “I’ll go set up the tent while you dress. Then we’ll eat.”
    “Travis.”
    He paused and looked over his shoulder. Her green eyes were as soft and vulnerable as the first buds of spring.
    “Thanks for being a good sport. I’m pretty self-sufficient, but camping alone would have scared the crap out of me.”
    His heart fluttered. “Not a problem.” With his control stretched to the limit, he bolted up the short incline to the campsite. Away from temptation.
    * * * *
    Grace stretched her hands out to the campfire’s blaze, welcoming the steady heat. Temperatures had plummeted as the sun lowered behind the mountains. Her knees hurt, but thankfully the scrapes hadn’t been deep. Her whole body ached, though not in a bad way. More like the tired satisfaction of a good workout. If only she had a nice firm mattress to stretch out on instead of the thin pad waiting for her in the tent. The tent she’d be sharing with Travis. Thinking about it sent an uneasy mixture of anticipation and wariness racing through her veins.
    “Sure you don’t need help?”
    He glanced over his shoulder before throwing the end of a rope over a stout branch on the cedar tree. “I’ve got it.” Hoisting the stuff sack full of food high above his head, he tied off the rope, leaving their supplies dangling.
    “I would never have known to hang my food. Bears would probably have eaten it—and me—before the first night was over.”
    Travis wandered back to the fire and studied her across the leaping flames. “I’m surprised Guthrie rented you a pack. How in the world did you convince him you could be trusted alone in the backcountry?”
    She smiled. “I told him I was with you, that we’d had a lover’s quarrel and I was determined to patch up our relationship. Worked like a charm.”
    His disbelieving expression morphed into one of pure admiration. “Wow, you’re good.”
    “I have my moments.” Reaching down, she stroked Wylie’s rough fur. The dog lay next to the rock where she sat, his eyes focused on the shadowed forest beyond their camp.
    “I was hoping a day on the trail would change your mind about this little adventure. Any chance I can convince you to head back to the lodge in the morning?”
    Her hand stilled then continued stroking. “I’m afraid not.”
    Planting his feet further apart, he crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s what I figured. You don’t look like you give up