“Why not? You said you like me. Well, I like you, too. You’re bright and funny.” He stroked her cheek. “And damn sexy. Why wouldn’t I want to get to know you better?”
She smiled. “We’re sort of stuck together on this river for the next few days, anyway.”
“Good point. Is that a yes?”
“Sure.” She peeked up at him through her lashes. “Now what?”
He leaned in to cup her face in his hands. “Since this was almost a date, I kiss you good night then get the hell out of the tent before I’m tempted to do more.”
“Sounds like an offer…” She paused when her voice went breathless. “…I can’t refuse.”
His lips settled over hers, firm and warm. One big hand moved to the back of her neck, fingers burrowing into her hair. When her mouth opened, his tongue slipped inside. The kiss went on…and on…and on. Finally, he pulled away.
Breath coming in bursts, Devin leaned her forehead against his. “Wow. Maybe I was a little hasty in cancelling the revenge sex.”
His whole body shook with laughter. “I’d have to agree, but this new plan is better.”
“It is?” She touched his neck where the pulse beat strong and steady beneath her fingers.
“Yes, because this way we have a shot at making something work between us.”
She nodded as uncertainty wrapped around her. “We can give it a try, at least.”
He pulled back then dropped another quick kiss on her upturned lips. “I hope so. Good night, Devin. Sleep well.”
“You, too.”
“I’ll try.”
She sat very still for several moments after he left the tent. Did I make a mistake? That kiss had seemed…personal. Unlike the quick romp in the sack she’d envisioned. He’d touched something deep inside with his kindness. Healed a bare and bloody piece of her heart with thoughtfulness and compassion.
Eyes wide as she stared into the darkness, she lay back down.
When the river trip was over, walking away from Sawyer might not be as easy as she’d anticipated.
Chapter 5
“Sawyer! Oh, my God, stop, stop! Now!”
He dug into the current with his paddle as they rushed through a set of fast moving rapids then glanced over at Devin. She was twisted around, staring upriver, eyes wide.
Turning to glance over his shoulder, he swore. Roman’s raft had run up onto a boulder and tipped sideways. All the occupants were floundering in the water.
“Shit! Damn it, help me maneuver to the shore. On the left, paddle hard.”
The raft swung around. Arms aching and legs braced, he strained to push the craft against a strengthening current. With a grunt, he rammed the nose up onto the rocky beach.
“Alex, hop out and hold us steady.” When the boy complied, Sawyer gestured toward Devin. “Drop over the side and grab the rope. Pull the raft while I push.”
With his crew following orders, Sawyer jumped off the back and shoved hard. The loaded raft scraped across gravel as they edged it up onto a narrow strip of beach.
Devin grabbed his arm then pointed with her free hand. “I see Liam and Charles in the water, but where did Walton and Roman disappear to?”
Sawyer scanned the river. Two heads bobbed in the water as they came through the rapids some distance apart. “Roman’s back near the raft. Looks like he’s trying to keep it from flipping. Shit, I don’t know where Walton is.”
Alex’s lips pinched tight as he stepped up beside them. “Are they going to be okay?”
“They’ll be fine. Grab a paddle and stick it out into the current to pull your dad and Liam to shore when they float past. Try not to fall in. Devin, come with me.”
Running up the rocky beach, Sawyer scanned the river, searching for movement beneath the water. The rapids were fairly shallow with only a few deep holes. Even if Walton had hit his head, his life vest would surely keep him afloat.
A flash of color near some submerged rocks caught his attention.
“Son of a bitch!” Ripping off his vest, Sawyer splashed through the shallows then dove into deeper water. Kicking hard to reach the rocks, he grabbed hold of slick nylon and tugged. The person—surely his godfather—didn’t budge. Wrapping his arms around the man’s waist, Sawyer pulled harder. Nothing.
Lungs bursting, he released his grip to surge to the surface. Gulping in air, he dived again and felt his way down to the river bottom. Walton’s leg was wedged tight in a crevice between two boulders. With a hard shove, he moved the nearer rock a bare inch and jerked him loose. Holding tight to his arm, Sawyer towed him toward the surface. When his head burst free of the water, he drew air into starving lungs, gasping and choking.
“I need help.” Chest heaving, he fought the current, making little progress with the heavy weight.
Devin was beside him in a moment to take Walton’s other arm. Kicking hard in tandem, they hauled him ashore. Sawyer fumbled at the straps to loosen the life vest and pull it open. Walton’s face was colorless, mouth slack.
“He’s not breathing.” Her voice broke. “We have to do something!”
“Don’t freak out on me. I need you to stay calm.” He steadied his own voice as he checked for a pulse. “Breathe into his mouth when I tell you while I do the compressions. Do you know CPR basics?” At her nod, he positioned his hands over his godfather’s chest and pressed. “One, two, three, one, two, three, breathe.”
Two quick, hard breaths.
Sawyer pushed again…and again as Devin breathed between compressions.
Long seconds later, Walton coughed and choked. After tilting him to the side, water poured out of his mouth. With a moan, he flopped onto his back as a bit of color seeped into his face.
“Is he going to be okay?” Devin’s eyes were enormous as she pushed dripping hair off her face. Water, or possibly tears, ran down her cheeks.
“God, I hope so, but we can’t know for sure how long he was underwater.”
Rising to his feet, he shaded his eyes to glance mid-way across the river. Roman had somehow managed to level the raft without losing the entire load and stood on the rock beside it.
“Is he alive?” The shouted words carried over the rush of water.
“Yes.” He clamped his teeth together. “Get over here. Now!”
Roman shoved off then leaped into the raft. Paddling hard, he hit the shore not far below them then dragged the raft partway up onto the rocks.
Dropping down onto his haunches, Sawyer felt again for a pulse at Walton’s neck. Weak but steady. Eyes closed, the man was barely conscious.
“What can we do?” Devin’s voice quavered.
“I’ll get a thermal blanket from the case on the raft. The water isn’t cold enough to induce hypothermia, but we still need to warm him up, get the blood circulating.” Reaching out, he squeezed her shoulder. “Talk to him to see if you can get a response.”
Standing, he ran, slipping and sliding on the rocks, to the raft where Roman was tying it off to a bush growing out of the sandy soil.
“I need a blanket.” He climbed over the side, pulled out one of the waterproof cases then flipped the latch to open the lid. “What the hell happened?”