Swept Away (4 page)

“The tributaries, like Hidden Creek, are much more affected by the heavy snowpack,” Carson informed her.

“Tell me about it.” Lily had learned that the hard way. She’d come here, hoping to start over, to stand on her own two feet, to be the strong woman she knew she could be. If it wasn’t for these two, she wouldn’t be standing at all. “I’ll be sure to steer clear of the river from now on.”

“That would be a shame.” Carson glanced over at her, trapping her in his gaze. The sensation of being pulled under was stronger than it had been in the river.

“Yeah,” Cody added. “The river is life.”

They talked for a while, the guys becoming more and more animated as they discussed their lives on the water. Their passion for their jobs and the outdoors was clear. They had been shaped by the river. Not just their bodies—those sculpted arms, shoulders, and abs certainly didn’t come from a gym—but who they were on the inside was a result of the years spent guiding.

“You should come rafting with us,” Cody suggested.

“No, that’s okay.” Lily shivered at the thought of being on the river. “I think I’ll stay away from the water for some time.”

“Don’t give in to the fear.” There was something in Carson’s voice that reeled her in. “I’d hate for you to miss out on one of life’s great pleasures.”

“You’re that good?” Lily finished off her tea, wishing she could forget the feel of Carson pressed against her. His hand on her breast. His strength completely enveloping her.

“Honey, we’re the best,” Cody joined in, lightening the mood. His flirting, she could deal with. He made her feel feminine and attractive, but she knew he didn’t mean anything serious.

“I’ll think about it.” They were right, of course. But still, she was afraid. Of the river, sure, but she was more afraid of spending too much time with the Swift brothers.

* * * *

They had a problem. Carson gripped the steering wheel of his truck as he backed down the long driveway. Lily was safe and warm in her cabin. She’d showered, dressed, and finished her tea. After playing hostess, offering them drinks and snacks, she no longer seemed dazed or confused as she’d been when Carson had first pulled her out of the river.

But he was confused. Not about why he and Cody both found her attractive. That was perfectly understandable. No. What he couldn’t figure out was why he felt such a strong need to protect her. He was looking for less responsibility, not more. Yet some instinct rose inside him. It was almost primal.

And it made him want to spar with the other male competing for her attention.

“You went a little overboard with the come-ons in there.” Carson wasn’t sure if he was more jealous or embarrassed by Cody’s blatant flirtation. “I mean, ‘We can light your fire?’ Who says that?”

“I was just trying to be helpful.” Cody had that innocent, “Who me?” tone in his voice.

“It was too much, even for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” As if he didn’t know.

“Helpful would be maybe waiting until she dried off before trying to get her into bed.”

“You’re the one who felt her up on the side of the river.” Cody sounded a little defensive.

“I was trying to keep her warm. Hypothermia can be a real danger, especially this time of year when the water is still barely above freezing.”

“Listen to Mr. Boy Scout.” Cody chuckled. “You want her and you know it.”

Carson didn’t respond. There was no use arguing, so he concentrated on the road. On putting distance between him and Lily.

“So if I said I saw her first…” Cody wouldn’t drop it.

“I went in after her,” Carson reminded him.

“I like her. I really like her.”

“You like every attractive woman you meet.” They’d had this conversation too many times. “Until you get them into bed.”

“Lily’s different.” Cody almost sounded sincere.

“Leave Lily alone”

“I don’t think so. I’m not going to step aside just so you can have her.”

“She’s not a prize to be won.” Carson couldn’t help himself. He was protective of her. A little possessive, even.

“Afraid of losing?”

“No.” Carson had learned a long time ago that it was easier to let Cody win. But not this time. “It’s just that I’d hate to see her added to the tailings of your pathetic love life.”

“The tailings of my love life?” Cody choked out a laugh. Maybe Carson’s words hit a little close to home.

“Yeah, all those women you just tossed aside. After you dropped your shaft, you couldn’t care less about the destruction you left behind.”

“Hey, my shaft is bigger than yours.” Wow. A penis metaphor. There was something new.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Carson gripped the steering wheel tighter. “You can’t treat women that way.”

“Hey, I let them know up front what they’re getting into.”

This wasn’t just about Lily. It was a conversation they should have had years ago. They weren’t twenty-two anymore.

“Yeah, and you think they actually believe you.” Carson couldn’t believe his brother didn’t know the difference.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Sure, they agree—no strings, no worries,” Carson said the words through a clenched jaw. “But most of them tend to think that maybe, just maybe, they’re special. That they might be the one woman who can tame the raging beast inside you.”

“Lily could be that woman. Give me a little credit, will you?” Cody cranked the volume on the radio, tuning his brother out.

They were traveling in uncharted territory. Amazing that they hadn’t ever both been interested in the same woman before. Or maybe Carson had stopped being interested in the kind of women Cody lured into his bed and sent out the back door the next morning because he didn’t care enough to walk them to their car.

Maybe Carson was ready for something more. Something that didn’t involve Cody.

“So not everyone stays friends with the women he sleeps with,” Cody said after several minutes of silence between them.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Carson kept his eyes on the road ahead. They were almost to the highway.

“I mean, you manage to stay on speaking terms with every woman you bring home.” Cody’s voice held a note of contempt, and maybe a little bit of wonder. “Hell, some of them even invited you to their weddings. What’s up with that?”

“I didn’t sleep with all of them,” Carson admitted. But he wasn’t sure if he was proud of the fact or not. “Some were just friends. That’s why they stayed friends.”

“So you’re saying you never slept with any of those women?” Cody’s voice rose an octave.

“No. I’m just saying I haven’t slept with every woman I’ve brought home.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Cody wondered aloud.

“Nothing’s wrong with me.” Carson shook his head, still not looking at his brother. “I just don’t have to prove anything to anyone by sleeping with every woman I meet.”

“You know they have pills for that now,” Cody teased. As always. It was starting to wear on him. No. It had grown old years ago. It was just now he had a way out. A plan to make a life of his own.

Carson fiddled with the radio, switching from music to sports talk radio. The Giants had lost their game earlier and the callers were demanding drastic measures. A trade. Bringing up that prospect. Dumping the guy who’d been the big hero last year.

Was that what Carson really wanted? A major shake-up?

“I know I’ve always been kind of a catch and release guy.” Cody wouldn’t let it go.

“You’re bummed we didn’t get a chance to fish.” Carson couldn’t help but get in one more jab. “I kind of thought it was worth it.”

“That’s what I’m trying to say, asshole.” Cody raised his voice, acting like a spoiled child. “I never hung on to a woman because I never met a woman worth hanging on to.”

“Until Lily.” Carson sighed.

“Lily’s not like any woman I ever met.” Cody sounded like he actually meant it. “She’s like coming home. Just not any home we ever knew.”

“What are you, Tom Hanks?” Carson quipped. “No, that’s right, you’ve never sat through a chick flick for a woman.”

“What are you talking about?” Cody sounded beyond irritated.

“So you really feel something for her?” Carson said, all teasing gone from his voice.

“Yeah.” Cody leaned back into the seat. “I just wish the hell I knew what to do about it. I mean if it’s just sex, that’s easy. But maybe I want something more.”

“Really?” Carson was skeptical. He knew Cody all too well. “Since when?”

“Since I realized it’s time for us to grow up,” Cody grumbled. “I can’t take another summer doing the same old thing.”

“The same old thing, as in a different woman every weekend?” Carson wasn’t going to make this easy on him. “You’re ready to try something different? The same woman every night?”

“If Lily’s that woman, you bet.”

“Nah, I don’t like to take bets with you. You tend to get stupid lucky.”

“So that’s it, you’re just going to step aside?” Cody sounded skeptical. “I don’t think so. I think we both take our best shots. Let Lily decide who she wants.”

“What if she doesn’t pick either of us?” That would be the best thing. For everyone.

Lily slept in until seven-thirty—late for her. As tempting as it was to stay in bed all day, her mind was racing. Yesterday’s events replayed in her mind and her dreams. The river. The river guides. The sensation of being swept away both by the water and the emotions of being caught up in their world. Surely it was the added excitement of being rescued that made them seem much more attractive than they really were.

After a cup of coffee and another dose of Advil, Lily booted up her laptop, thankful to have internet in such an out-of-the-way place. She quickly found the website to Swift River Adventure Company and Resort. The home page showed a picture of the twins, smiling at her as if they knew what she looked like naked. So maybe they did. Mostly. But they also appeared as if pulling half-naked women out of the raging river was something they did every day.

She browsed the website, paying special attention to safety information. Impressive. All of their guides were experienced and well trained. Most had been trained in CPR, first aid, and several of them—including the twins—were certified in swift water rescue techniques.

Lily had nothing to worry about. It would be as safe as driving down the highway. Or hiking one of the nearby trails. If she’d wanted to stay holed up in her house with bars on the windows, she could have kept her house in Sacramento. If she was going to live here, she couldn’t be afraid to walk out her front door. Especially since the river was right there, just a few steps away.

No, she would brave the river with the Swift brothers as her guides, and then she’d get on with her life. It wasn’t like meeting them was a life-altering experience. Life saving, maybe, but not life changing. She knew better than to fall for that kind of fantasy.

She printed the list of items she would need for a day trip down the river. In a boat this time. They would provide the raft, a life jacket, and their expertise in guiding her down ten miles of rapids. She hoped their store would supply her with the few items she’d need to bring with her—a bathing suit chief among them.

Lily grabbed her purse, keys, and a spare pair of sunglasses. Now was as good a time as any to face the river. And the two men who’d pulled her from its chilling grasp.

Lily turned off the main road into quite possibly the most beautiful setting she’d ever seen. The morning sun filtered through numerous pine, oak, and cottonwood trees. Blackberry brambles tangled around a rock building that looked like it had been there since the gold rush.

“Welcome to Swift River.” A cheerful young man stepped out of the information booth. Part surfer, part mountain man, he had longish sun-bleached hair and a scruffy looking copper-colored beard. “What’s your pleasure? Are you here to get wet or get dirty?”

“Pardon me?” Was he flirting with her? She’d gone years without being noticed by the male population, least of all her ex-husband. Now she seemed to have a neon sign above her head advertising her newly single status. And the last thing she needed was another man distracting her.

“Are you here for rafting or camping?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye that made Lily think those weren’t her only options.

“Actually I’d like to just look around, if that’s okay?” Now that she was here, Lily wasn’t sure if she could go through with it.

“You can do anything you want.” His tone was suggestive. Somewhat flattering, even. “If you decide to stay, come on back and I’ll fix you up.”

“I bet you will.” Lily laughed, feeling about ten years younger. She took the map he offered and drove slowly into the compound. She peered through the trees at the small cabins and tent sites cleverly tucked away so that each spot was its own oasis. Even the RV sites were hidden from each other, offering privacy and a feeling of being someplace special.

Picnic tables dotted the edges of a large meadow, the perfect spot for lunching on a lazy afternoon. Horseshoe pits and a volleyball court provided recreation for those seeking a more active distraction. Log benches surrounded a fire pit and a granite slab looked like it could serve as a stage. Or an altar for small, intimate outdoor weddings. Not that she was ever going to walk down that aisle again. She’d learned her lesson—happily-ever-after didn’t exist.

She parked behind the large log building that housed the main office. A wide porch lined with benches overlooking the river looked like the perfect spot to sip a cold drink and chat with friends old and new. Guests could mingle on the porch or duck into the store for last minute supplies.

Lily stepped inside, bells tinkling overhead as she opened the door. Coolers along the back wall displayed soda, sports drinks, beer, and wine. One whole section contained locally produced juice and fresh fruit. There were packages of deli meats and a variety of cheeses for picnics. They also sold four different kinds of trail mix, including a nut and gluten free mix for those with allergies.

She found displays of T-shirts, bathing suits, sunglasses, and hats. Not to mention sunglass straps and those funky sandals the twins wore. Sunscreen, first aid supplies, and… Oh my, condoms were also available for purchase.