“Take hold of the grab handle and pull yourself up.”
She shot him an incredulous glance. “Just like that?”
He chuckled. “Just like that.” He couldn’t wait to see this.
Blowing out a breath, she reached up for the handle, hefted her weight, tottered in her spiky shoes for a scary moment, then slung herself into the seat. She shot him a cocky smile. “What are you waiting for?”
Admiring her pluck, he jumped inside and started the ignition, and they were on their way.
As he pulled onto Main, she shouted directions over the loud engine. He drove through town, enjoying the cool temperatures and cloudless sky. With a sideward glance, he saw Grace’s hair blowing in the wind while she uselessly tried to control it. Her tight, white knuckles grasped the handle for dear life as he took the turns. What a trouper. The idea of this woman, who had no use for nature, running her mother’s outdoor adventure business struck him as a bit absurd, but he enjoyed the juxtaposition. Finally, a few miles outside town, she pointed down a winding road leading to a large warehouse nestled between tall pines and scraggly scrubs.
“Just pull up in front.”
He did as she said, parked and followed her to the front door beside the large roll-up door beside it. Once inside she flipped on a light and led him to the center of the vast structure.
“Canoes and kayaks on this side.” She pointed out the location. “Camping gear on the other.”
The inventory was clearly laid out for easy access.
“There’s a trailer on the other side of the building that’s used to transport everything when needed. I didn’t notice. Do you have a hitch on the Jeep?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Her gaze encompassed the room. “Any questions?”
“Nope. You’ve covered everything.”
Except why she didn’t like being back in Golden, what was up with her family issues and why the Tremaines pushed her buttons. It wasn’t his place to ask, even though he wanted to. He was here for one thing only, to get the dirt on James Tate and report back to his brothers. The Harper family dynamics were none of his concern.
Grace headed for the door. “Let’s get back to the office.”
As they started to leave, Deke noticed a few posters hanging on the wall, one featuring people water rafting and another of a campground at dusk, a fire flaring in a circle pit. He tried to picture Grace in either setting but had to admit he couldn’t, not with her buttoned-up look.
“So what are the odds I can get you up the mountain or out on the lake?”
She snorted. “Zero to none.”
He chuckled. “Good to know.”
They walked back to the Jeep, Grace’s expression resigned as she climbed in. “Let’s get this over with,” she said.
* * *
WHY ON EARTH anyone would enjoy traveling around in this hunk of metal was a mystery, Grace decided as Deke drove her back to the office. Every dip and bump jostled her and jarred her teeth. Thank goodness for the seat belt preventing her from sliding off the leather seat every time he took a turn. Her heels were not the best shoes to keep a good purchase on the floor and she just knew when they got back, her clothes would carry the odor of gas all day. She swore she’d gotten a bug in her teeth. A bug! Someone save her from the great outdoors.
Before long they pulled into the parking lot. As soon as Deke cut the engine, she swung down from his death machine. She shook her shoulders, smoothed her hair and faced him head-on. “Next time we take my car.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Please, call me Grace. I don’t plan on being here long enough to really be your boss.”
He shrugged. “Grace it is.”
They walked back to the office. His long stride made her pick up the pace to keep up. When she’d noticed his arm muscles flex as he’d steered the Wrangler, she’d had to force herself to look away. Yes, he was in good shape, and yes, he was good-looking. But he was an employee and she didn’t mix business with pleasure. Even though his dark blue-gray eyes, which held a hint of sadness, made her curious. She chastised herself. She was in no position to ask about his secrets.
“Any other questions?” she asked.
“I think you covered everything.”
“Once we’re inside, I’ll give you a key to the warehouse so you can get in whenever you need to.” She unlocked the front door to the office and fished through the top drawer of the desk to hand him the key.
“Thanks. I think I’ll go check out the path to Crystalline Falls.”
“It’s not taxing, but some of our clients misjudge how much of an incline they can handle.”
She took a seat, hoping he’d leave so she could get some work done. Too much of his woodsy scent and masculinity for one morning. She needed to focus and with Deke around that was next to impossible.
“Quick question,” he said. “Where’s a good place for lunch?”
She rose, went to the counter and pulled a paper brochure from a clear plastic holder. “This lists all the stores and eateries in town. Depending on what you’re hungry for, you can find it here.”
“This helps a lot. I was going to walk back and forth along Main Street to familiarize myself with the area, but this gives me a heads-up.” He opened the brochure to find a detailed map and scanned the information. “Golden seems to be quite a tourist destination.”
“When I was a kid, there were only a few places for tourists to visit, but when Mr. Tremaine Sr., Carter’s father, began promoting the town, it gradually grew to what you see today. We still have a long way to go to compete with some of the more established vacation spots.”
“The son is following in the footsteps of the father?”
“Looks like that. The Tremaines are all about publicity, and the other important family in town, the Mastersons, are big into real estate.” She might not like Carter and Lissy Ann, but she had to admit, they were committed to making Golden a premier tourist stop, which in turn kept her mother’s finances in the black.
His head jerked up. “Masterson?”
“Yes.” Her suspicion meter started clanging again. “Do you know them?”
“Maybe. I have a friend, Logan, in Atlanta with the same last name.”
“He would be from the same family.” She paused. “The wayward son.”
“Huh,” he said, then went back to the map. “Small world.”
“I suppose.” She tilted her head. “He never mentioned Golden? I mean, since you decided to head up here to hike?”
“To be honest, I haven’t seen Logan in about six months.”
Made sense. She had to remind herself not everyone had ulterior motives.
“I see there are lots of shops listed up and down Main Street.” He paused. “Jerky?”
“You’d be surprised what’s been popular through the years. The buildings all remain the same. It’s the type of businesses in each one that vary depending on current trends. Right now jerky and specialty sauces seem to be big sellers.”
His perceptive gaze caught hers. “You have your finger on the beat of the business community, too?”
“From time to