“Not me,” Kaeden told him.
The other three men reached for their devices.
“No need,” Jade told them as she stepped off the dirt-packed trail with a large plastic bag in her arm. “When we hike farther up the trail there’s a long break in the trees, and that’s the best area to get reception.”
Kaeden looked over at her and noticed the edges of her short hair were damp and slightly curling. Her smooth complexion was even fresher looking and completely free of makeup. He wondered briefly if she had walked back to the campground’s public showers a couple of miles back.
That made him think of her nude and sudsy. Getting hot.
And then that erotic vision made the blood coursing through his body want to race straight to the long and heavy length of his penis. Getting hard.
“Whoo!” Kaeden started jogging in place and air boxing to fight off the erection.
Everyone paused in what they were doing to eye him oddly, including Jade. “Just a little morning workout ritual of mine,” he lied.
His impending erection eased and Kaeden cast one last look at Jade as she began to help break down the camp. He had the distinct feeling that Jade thought he was a bumbling fool. That hadn’t been the goal of him coming camping.
In truth, he wanted Jade Prince—what he knew of her he liked—and although the woman made him feel like an awkward high school nerd trying to gather up the courage to talk to the pretty, popular cheerleader, he was going to use this trip to at least try to have his dream girl in his life.
He was taking a chance going for a woman like Jade, but life—the best life—was always about reaching for the stars.
Kaitlyn sighed in unadulterated pleasure as she wiggled back in the vibrating massage chair while a nail technician worked absolute magic during her deluxe pedicure. She firmly believed in a woman treating herself to the little pleasures in life. A mani-pedi. A luxurious splurge on shoes by her favorite designer. Weekend trips to sunny places with turquoise water. Chilling at her favorite bar for drinks with her best girlfriends.
“Now, ladies, isn’t this a better way to spend a Friday than moping around the ranch worrying about the men?” Kaitlyn asked.
At their silence, she leaned forward to eye her mother and her two sisters-in-law in their own pedicure chairs. “Right?” she prodded again.
“Right,” they answered, not at all sounding like they meant it.
Kaitlyn just leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. That’s why she was enjoying living life to the fullest and not even thinking about falling in love. There were too many men, too many dates, and too many fun times to be had to spend any time moping about missing a man!
Felecia sat cross-legged on her floor beside her chest. She sighed and tilted her head to the side as she updated her wedding portfolio. Since she’d closed the office early for the day, she spent her time watching Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? and gotten some new ideas for her own dream wedding.
Picking up her cell phone she tried to call Kaeden, but his cell was still out of range. She thought of Kaeden—her Kaeden—in some secluded forest with Jade Prince, and her hands curled into tight fists filled with tension. But she forced herself to relax. Kaeden and Jade were as compatible as oil and water.
Just two more nights and he’ll be back. Still, she wanted the trip over and Kaeden back in her grasp where she could snatch him up for good.
“Where are they camping, the dang on Bermuda Triangle?” she snapped before dropping the phone onto the carpeted floor.
She opened her folder and smiled at the advertisement of a bride and groom with her head and Kaeden’s taped on top of theirs.
She firmly believed that to achieve it she had to believe it!
Jade hitched the wide straps of her backpack higher on her rounded shoulders as she led the men single file along the trail. They had hiked and fished away the morning. It took longer than usual because the men wanted to stop and fish anywhere along the trail that struck their fancy. Everything about the hike exhilarated her. The fresh air, the scent of the earth beneath their feet mingled with the sweetness of the wildflowers blossoming among the trees. It always amazed her how the woods could be serenely quiet even as they were filled with the backdrop of nature.
“Jade, don’t you think that little grove is the perfect spot for making love?” Kaleb asked near her ear.
Jade rolled her eyes. Now, why this Negro have to interrupt my peace?
“We’re going to camp right up ahead on the left,” Jade hollered back to the men, completely ignoring Kaleb, who was giving her a serious migraine.
“We can set up camp quicker if you and I share a tent,” he offered.
Jade whirled on him but had to force herself to count to ten to keep from shoving him into the lake. Forcing a smile, she pushed all of her frustration into making a fist that pressed the tips of her short nails into the flesh of her palms. She just hoped he laid off or she was going to lay her fist square against his jaw. Seriously.
“Okay, fellas, we’ll camp here for the next two nights, and for anyone interested, there are some really beautiful and interesting wildflowers just a little bit deeper into the woods going toward the north,” Jade told them as they began to set up camp.
A deer went flying past amongst the trees. Kahron shook his head as he pushed his shades atop his head. “I shoulda brought my shotgun and we’d be having deer meat for dinner,” he said dryly.
“Hashed down with onions and peppers with that brown gravy spread over white rice,” Kade added with a lick of his lips.
“The ten point I killed last season was the best-tasting deer meat I had in a while,” Jade added as she grabbed her water jug and unscrewed the top, tilting her head back to take a deep sip.
“You hunt?” the men all asked in unison.
Jade knew she was no ordinary woman, and she liked that about herself. “I’ve won shooting matches at the county fair,” she told them with just a bit of swagger in her tone. “Sorry, men, but I don’t do stereotypes.”
“With my wife’s temper, I don’t need her learning to shoot a gun,” Kade joked as he raked his fingers through his moist silver curls.
“Sure she doesn’t already know how?” Kael Strong drawled.
The men laughed in agreement as they continued setting up camp.
Jade quickly erected and staked her own bright pink pop-up tent a few feet back from the fire ring. She sprayed a fresh layer of bug repellent on her legs and arms since she was wearing khaki capris and an orange T-shirt. “Ready, fellas?” she asked, looking up just in time to see Kaeden take a small toke from his inhaler.
Jade frowned before she walked over to him. “Are you having a hard time breathing?” she asked him, lightly touching his back. “Is the hike too much? Do I need to keep a close eye on you?”
Kaeden jumped like she’d surprised him. He turned and looked down at her. “You need to keep a close eye on me?” he asked, his baritone tone sounding amused.
Jade crossed her arms over her ample chest and tilted her head to the side as she looked into his eyes through the glasses. “Yes,” she stressed.
Kaeden laughed a little before he bent his tall frame suddenly and swung her up into his arms easily.
“Hey,” Jade yelped in surprise as her hands shot out. She was afraid he would drop her.
“Don’t let these glasses fool you,” Kaeden told her low in his throat, the cool breath from his mouth breezing lightly against her chin.
Jade’s