Not Really the Outdoor Type (2 page)

Before she could speculate on an answer to either of those questions, the door opened and the girl came out, followed by a tall, well-built and even-better-looking-than-she had-remembered Jason Maxwell. One look into those gorgeous blue eyes and she felt like she was back in high school again. Jeans and a plaid shirt had never looked so damn sexy on a guy.

As he took in her long, blonde hair, gray eyes, and slender figure, Kendall thought she saw a flicker of recognition in his blue eyes, but she couldn’t be sure.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

Kendall wet her suddenly dry lips. “I don’t know if you remember me, but we went to high school together—Kendall Merriweather.”

He hesitated, as if trying to remember her, then nodded. “Oh, yeah. Your parents own the campground near the lake, right?”

A little hurt that the only thing her high school crush could seem to remember about her was that her parents owned a campground, Kendall nodded. “I heard you were looking to hire some extra help, and was wondering if the job was still available.”

Jason folded his arms across his broad chest and regarded her speculatively. “It is. But I usually hire high school kids for this kind of thing. I mean, it pays okay for what it is—stocking shelves and working the register—but it’s not like you’re going to make a career of it or anything. And there aren’t any benefits to speak of, unless you count all the live bait you can use.”

Make a career of it? She hoped not. “Actually, I’m just back in town for a while and could use the extra money. You can keep the live bait.”

He chuckled. “Have you ever worked in a store before?”

She gave him a smile. “Does the college bookstore count?”

“That’s good enough for me.”

Her smile broadened. “Does that mean I got the job?”

“If you want it.” He flashed her a grin. “I could use another adult around here anyway.”

After filling out the usual employment paperwork, Kendall left the store with a stack of navy blue Outdoor Outfitter T-shirts in hand. One thing was for sure. If working at the store didn’t help get her mind off Keith, having a boss as gorgeous a Jason would.

* * * * *

Jason couldn’t believe it when he’d walked out of the back to find Kendall Merriweather standing there. He’d heard she was back in town—hell, he’d spent the past two days trying to figure out a way to run into her without looking like he’d meant to—but there she was, wearing a tank top and snug-fitting jeans that reminded him why he’d lusted after her in high school. As if he needed reminding. She’d always been pretty, but now that her slender figure had all those lush curves, she was a complete and total knockout.

He’d been so busy trying to ignore his hard-on he almost didn’t hear her ask for a job. To say he was surprised was an understatement. The last he’d heard, she was working in the marketing department at some big-time advertising agency in LA. He wondered what had brought her back to Copper Canyon. Back in high school she couldn’t wait to get away from here.

Since then, he’d alternated between kicking himself for letting her get away and thanking God he’d been too chicken to ask her out. Because while being with her would have been beyond amazing, she would have broken his heart for sure the day she’d left Copper Canyon for the big city. And something told him you didn’t simply “get over” a woman like Kendall.

Which was why he was damn well going to keep his distance this time around, too, no matter how hard it was. And considering they were going to be working together every day, it was going to be hard as hell.

Chapter Two

Kendall arrived promptly for work the next day. She had to admit that throwing on jeans and the standard-issue Outdoor Outfitters T-shirt was a nice change from the business suits she wore at her old job. The ad agency didn’t do casual, on Friday or any other day.

Nicole, the red-haired girl she’d met yesterday, was behind the counter, and she looked up as Kendall walked in.

“Hey,” she said. “Jason said you’d be starting today.”

Kendall returned her smile. “Is he here?”

As if in answer to her question, he came walking out from the back of the store. He was dressed the same as he’d been yesterday, in jeans and a button-up shirt, only today the shirt wasn’t plaid, but a chambray blue that brought out the color of his eyes. He grinned when he saw her.

“Ready to get started?”

She had been when she’d walked in a few minutes ago, but now she wasn’t so sure. Something told her that working alongside a hot guy like him was going to make it difficult to concentrate on anything but those broad shoulders of his. Damn, he was seriously built. Clearly, working in the great outdoors did a body good.

She stifled a moan and nodded in answer to his question.

“Come on,” he said. “I’ll show you around.”

Though she tried not to, Kendall’s gaze automatically went to his jean-clad butt as he led the way. She’d always thought her ex Keith had a great ass, but not compared to Jason. And she hadn’t even seen him naked. Yet.

Yet?
She made it sound as if she was going to sleep with him.

Okay, she needed to get hold of herself. She worked for Jason, which meant she shouldn’t be entertaining thoughts of sleeping with him. Outdoor Outfitters probably had some policy against that, right? Even if they didn’t, getting involved with him when she was going back to LA soon would be stupid. Besides, she had a rule never to get involved with anyone when she was on the rebound.

Trying to focus on the real reason she was there, she followed Jason into the back of the store and through the door marked
Employees Only
. As they made their way down the hallway, her new boss pointed out the different rooms on either side of them, including the restroom, employee breakroom and his office. Beyond that, was the stockroom, which was filled with boxes and boxes of various items the store carried.

After he’d shown her around in the back, he gave her a tour of the store, taking her through the different areas to familiarize her with each section. Though Kendall really did make an effort to pay attention to everything he said—especially since she didn’t know the first thing about most of the stuff—she spent more time listening to his sexy voice than focusing on what he was saying. His rough, husky timbre seemed to have established a direct connection with her erogenous zones. Sort of like a verbal vibrator. The more he talked, the more insistent the purring in her pussy became until she was sure she was going to have run to the restroom to play with herself. She was about to do just that when he said something about showing her how to work the cash register.

Kendall almost sighed with relief. Maybe if he went back to his office, she could get control of her lust. But instead of passing her off to Nicole or one of the other employees so they could show her the ropes, Jason did it himself. Which made learning anything hopeless. The minute he launched into a discussion about inventory software, she could only stare at his sensuous mouth and wonder what it would be like to kiss him. A few days around him and she’d be saying, “Keith who?”

Having him hovering near her elbow while she was taking care of customers later that morning was almost more than she could take. She’d already shortchanged one and given another too much money back. If she kept it up, Jason was probably going to think that he’d hired a total idiot. But apart from a slight frown, Jason made no comment about her math skills—or lack thereof.

“I have some things to do in the back,” he said as she closed the register. “Will you be okay on your own?”

She blinked. After how many times she’d messed up, she’d thought he’d want to watch her like a hawk. “Yeah, of course.”

“Good. If you need me, just yell.”

As she watched him go, she couldn’t help but think again how different he was from her ex-boyfriend, not only in looks, but in every other way, too. Whereas Keith always had to let people know he was in charge, Jason seemed to have that confident, take-charge attitude about him that made her think he’d fit in just as easily in corporate world as he did in Copper Canyon.

After giving out the wrong change earlier, Kendall was more careful the rest of the day. Until Jason came out to work the other register later that afternoon. Not only did working beside him make her body respond to her new boss in ways that were extremely unprofessional, it also made her mess up and give several more customers too much change. As a result, she came up short but almost a hundred dollars on her cash drawer when the store closed that evening.

She gave Jason an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know how I did that.” She knew exactly how it’d happened, but she couldn’t tell him that. “You can take it out of my pay.”

He frowned, but shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Just be more careful.”

“I will,” she said. “I promise.”

Apparently, her words didn’t carry much weight because the next day Jason asked her to do inventory instead of work the register. His lack of faith stung, but she supposed she couldn’t blame him. She’d already cost him a hundred dollars. Besides, being out on the floor only gave her more time to look at Jason.

She was so mesmerized by her boss that a customer had to call her twice before she heard him. Chiding herself, she gave the man an embarrassed smile.

“I’m sorry. What can I do for you?”

“I’m looking for Buck Lure. I can’t seem to find it.”

She frowned. “Buck Lure?”

“Yeah.” The man nodded. “You know, you rub it on when you’re out hunting and it makes you smell like a deer in heat. That way, your prey can’t pick up your human scent.”

Seriously? Kendall glared at him. “As if hunters don’t have enough of an advantage. You already have guns—what more do you want? But then again, I guess you’ll do just about anything to get a trophy for your wall, wouldn’t you? Too bad we don’t sell machine guns, otherwise you could get one of those to go along with your Buck Lure.”

The man’s face turned red. She supposed it was too much to hope it was from embarrassment.

“Now, wait just a minute—”

“Is there a problem here?”

Kendall jumped at the sound of Jason’s deep voice. She half turned to find him regarding her questioningly, but before she could answer, the man spoke.

“I asked her where I could find Buck Lure and she went all tree hugger on me about hunting. I don’t know what kind of employees this store hires, but—”

“I’m sorry for the confusion, sir.” Jason said tightly. “The Buck Lure is in the hunting section, on the shelf with the rest of the accessories. Right over there,” he added, pointing toward the other side of the store.

The man drew himself up, gave Kendall a sneer, then stormed off toward the hunting section. Kendall watched him go, her hands gripping the clipboard she held. Jerk.

“What the hell was that about?”

Kendall whirled around to face Jason, surprised by the sharpness in his tone. “I just told him what I thought about him using something as underhanded as that Buck Lure to kill some poor, unsuspecting deer for the sole purpose of putting some trophy on his wall. I guess he got offended.”

Jason clenched his jaw. “Dammit, Kendall. I hired you to stock shelves and work the register. Keep your opinions to yourself.”

Her face colored. “But—”

His eyes narrowed warningly. “I mean it, Kendall. This store—hell, this town—survives on the money from the hunters and fishermen that come here. If you’re going to have a problem with them, tell me now.”

And if she did? He’d what—fire her? Kendall swallowed hard. She liked working at the store, she really did. Why the heck couldn’t she learn to keep her mouth shut? “I don’t. It’s just that I don’t like hunting, that’s all. I guess I saw Bambi too many times as a kid.”

Jason regarded her in silence for a long moment before letting out a sigh. “Okay, don’t worry about it. Just don’t let it happen again. When you’re done here, I need to you put sale prices on some of the gun cases.”

Kendall nodded, listening intently as he explained which cases were supposed to be on sale. She didn’t want to mess up anything else.

She was halfway through pricing them when she saw Jason take over working the cash register for Nicole so the girl could take her break. Should she ask Jason if he wanted her to take over instead? Maybe not. After yesterday’s fiasco he probably didn’t want her near the cash register.

She grabbed another gun case and slapped a brightly colored sticker on it.

“Afternoon, Jason.”

“Hey, Clyde. What brings you in today?”

“Came in for some fishing line and ended up getting a few of these beauties, too. Couldn’t pass up the price.”

Kendall glanced up just in time to see a heavyset man dump a pile of gun cases on the counter. She remembered him eagerly reaching around her to get at them earlier.

Jason’s grin disappeared as he looked down at the cases, and for a minute he seemed confused.

“Something wrong?” Clyde asked.

“What?” Jason shook his head as if to clear it. “Oh. No, nothing’s wrong. I’ll ring these up for you and get you on your way.”

Kendall went back to pricing as Jason rang up the man’s purchases, listening with half an ear as they made small talk. When she looked up again, it was to find her boss standing beside her.

“I didn’t want you to put the sale prices on all the gun cases,” he said.

“I know. I’m only putting them on the ones you told me to put them on.”

Jason scanned the shelf, his jaw clenching. Swearing under his breath, he grabbed two of the cases and held them up. “Do these look like the same kind to you?”

Was this a trick question? But since he asked, she supposed not. “Aren’t they?”

His mouth tightened. “One is imitation leather. The other is real.”

Kendall looked more closely at the cases he was holding, then reached out and ran her fingers over each. “Oh yeah, one is real leather. They look the same, though. Sorry about the mistake.”

“Yeah, well your mistake cost me a lot of money. I just sold a customer half a dozen of the leather cases for less than what I paid for them.”