Seven Nights With Her Ex. Louisa Heaton

grin had pulled her in like a fish to a lure and she’d been hooked. His attitude had been so different from anyone she already knew—so different from that of any of the men in her own family. He’d been that breath of fresh air, that beam of light in the dark, that sparkling, tempting palace in a land of dark and shadow.

      He’d shaken her hand then and introduced himself, and instantly she’d heard his soft, lilting Scottish burr and been charmed by it. The very way he’d said her name had been as if he was caressing her. He’d made her feel special.

      She’d not wanted to be dazzled by a charming man. Not at the start of her career. But family, love and marriage were high on her agenda and she’d desired what her parents had. A good, steady partner, with a love so deep it was immeasurable. Beau had had no doubt that she would find it one day.

      She just hadn’t expected to find it so soon.

      Gray had stuck to her side and they’d worked together, played together, studied together and then, after one particularly wild party, slept together. It had seemed such a natural step for them to take. He’d filled her heart with joy. He’d made her feel as if she was ten feet tall. Every moment with him had been as precious as a lifetime. She’d wanted to be with him. She’d wanted to give him everything—because that was what love was. The gift of oneself.

      And he hadn’t disappointed her.

      Afterwards, as she’d lain in his arms, she’d dreamed about their future. Wondering about whether they would get married, where they might live—not too far from her parents, not too far from his, so their children would have a close relationship with each set of grandparents—and what it would be like to wake up next to him every day for the rest of their lives together.

      She’d liked the way he acted differently with her—calmer, more satisfied, considerate. Relaxed. He’d been a hyperactive buzzing student when they’d met, full of beans and so much energy. He’d exhausted her just watching him. But when he was with her, he wasn’t like that. As if he didn’t need to be. And she had found the side of him that she could fall in love with...

      Gray smiled now. ‘I hear you. Cooperation and peace. Seems like a good start to me.’

      Beau chose not to disagree with him. It was already looking as if it was going to be one very long week ahead, and this adventure was going to be uncomfortable enough as it was.

      I’m letting go of the stress.

      So she smiled back and nodded.

      Mack suggested that they all get going again, if they were to get to the first scenario and have enough extra time to pitch their tents for the evening.

      They walked through scrub brush, conifers and thick deep grass. The overhead sun powered down upon them and Beau stopped often to drink and stay hydrated. At one of her stops Gray came alongside and waited with her.

      ‘How are your parents?’

      Beau fastened the lid on her water bottle. It was getting low. Hopefully there’d be a place to refill soon. ‘Not that they’re any of your business any more, but they’re good, thanks.’ She answered in a clipped manner. ‘Yours?’

      No need for her to go into detail. What could she say? That they hadn’t changed in over a decade? That they still went to church every Sunday? That they still asked after him?

      ‘They’re fine.’

      ‘Great.’ These personal topics were awkward. Perhaps it would be best if they steered away from them? Gray’s parents had always been an awkward subject anyway. She could recall meeting them only a couple of times, and one of those occasions had been at the wedding! They’d been a bit hard to talk to. Gruff. Abrupt. Not that keen on smiling. She’d babbled on their behalf! Chattering away like a radio DJ, musing on life, asking and answering her own questions. She’d been relieved to leave them and go and talk to others, and had just hoped that they’d liked her.

      They’d turned up to the wedding anyway. Mr McGregor in his wheelchair, his face all red and broken-veined.

      They trekked a bit further. Beau snapped pictures of columbines and hellebores and a herd of moose they saw in the distance. Then Mack brought them into a large clearing that had a stone circle in the centre.

      ‘Base Camp Number One, people! I’ll teach you later how to safely contain your campfire, but first we’re going to get working on our first medical scenario—soft tissue injuries. As I said before, these are some of the most common injuries we get here in the park, and they can be minor or major. A soft tissue injury is damage to the ligaments, muscles or tendons throughout the body, so we’re looking at sprains, strains and contusions. This sort of damage to the body can result in pain, bruising or localised swelling—even, if severe, loss of function or blood volume.’ He looked at each of them with determination. ‘You do not want to lose either. So what can we do out here with our limited kit? Gray? Care to enlighten us?’

      ‘Normally you’d follow the PRICE protocol—protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation.’

      ‘Perfect—did you all hear that?’

      The group all murmured agreement.

      ‘Now, unless you’re in the North or South Pole, you aren’t going to have any ice, so you might have to skip that step, but can anyone think of an alternative?’