Page 22 of Camping with the Boss (Pride Camp 2025 #9)

Chapter Twelve

Wade

My head spins as we leave the bathroom. What is going on? This thing with Meredith already has me on edge, and now someone is stealing from the company?

“You’re quiet.” Canyon watches me. He’s worried about me. That, more than anything, keeps me from snapping.

“Devising a plan.” I lead him away from the main area. “Are you game?”

“You want my help?” His face lights up, lifting my mood.

“Absolutely.” I place my hand on his back, and he leans into my touch.

“Let’s start by talking to George. He’s not the current CFO, but he’s been around the longest. If anyone’s stealing from us, he’d know about it.

Or at least know if it’s possible.” He was also Tim’s boss. Everything seems to tie back to Tim.

“Good plan, boss,” Canyon says, a smile in his voice. “But, um, usually at this time, George is sitting on a bench by the dock doing crossword puzzles.”

Bumping our shoulders together, I grin at him. “We’re taking the scenic route.” Once the wooded area swallows us, I take his hand. Just pretending this is all real and not ending in less than two days.

We walk over the small wooden bridge and are close to the clearing when I stop. “Hold on.” Nothing. I thought I’d heard a rustling. But that could have been the trees. Or maybe a squirrel.

“Wade—” I put my hand over his mouth and listen.

Still nothing. No one in the clearing and no one behind us.

I remove my hand but put my finger up to my mouth, indicating he needs to stay quiet.

That’s not easy for Canyon, and I grin at him.

Taking his hand, I pull him away from the clearing.

His confusion turns to desire as I push him against an oak tree and kiss him.

He quickly gets the memo and deepens the kiss, sucking on my tongue.

Why did I start this? Now, I don’t want to stop.

Canyon stretches his arms above his head and grips the tree.

He’s spread out for me, and I press my body against his, unable to draw this out like I want, but I’m also unable to resist a submissive Canyon.

Submissive except for the smirk on his face.

I kiss him because I need to with every cell in my body.

He nips at my mouth, teasing, and fuck, I need more of that.

Starting at his wrists, I brush my fingers down his arms and over his sides.

He sighs breathlessly. Sweetly. I slip a hand under his shirt, squeezing the strong muscles on his back and moving to the front.

His collarbone. His pecs. Pinching his nipple.

I swallow his needy gasps as I twirl my thumb over the other nipple.

I pull away, placing a finger against his lips. “Shh…” Holding his gaze, I use my ring finger to lightly trace the scars on his chest. He tips his head back against the tree as he pants cute little breaths and thrusts his hard cock against mine.

God. I need more. I want to turn him around and fuck him against this tree. Or strip him bare, his legs around my waist as I fuck into him. I can almost hear his moans as his back scrapes against the bark.

I can’t do any of that, so I hold his face in my hands and kiss him hard before sinking to my knees.

“What are you doing, Wade? We can’t.” But his eyes say differently.

“I need three minutes. That’s it.”

He tries not to grin, but it’s there at the corner of his mouth. “Three minutes, huh?”

This is stupid and dangerous, but I can’t stop.

Pulling down his shorts and briefs, I release him and nuzzle the underside of his already half-hard cock, tracing the vein with my tongue, enjoying the taste of him.

I want to take my time, but that’s one thing I don’t have, so I wrap my lips around his cock and suck, hollowing my cheeks.

His earlier confidence turns to needy desperation, and I draw it out as long as I can.

He cries out against his arm to muffle the sound.

Afterward, we kiss. Canyon trembles as I wrap my arms around him and kiss his temple. “I don’t want to move from this spot,” I say, kissing his neck.

“Please don’t make me be the grown-up today.” Canyon clings to me. “It’s your turn.”

Laughing, I kiss him one last time and pull him into the clearing. We drop our hands immediately. Just in case.

The camp is alive with animals. The ducks on the lake. Bluebirds singing.

Squirrels planning murder.

Or just gathering nuts, but I don’t trust them. Despite the squirrels, I’m not sure I want to return to the office. Not that I have a choice.

George is in his spot. The place he is every day at this time. Sitting on a bench near the dock and working on his crossword puzzles, only stopping now and then to throw pieces of bread to the birds. He’s also not alone. We both stop as we catch sight of the other people.

“What is going on?” Canyon asks.

I shake my head, but the image doesn’t change. Jared and Ander are talking to George. And instead of responding, he’s staring at his crossword book. Every so often, he writes in his book as if they aren’t even there.

“George,” Jared says in a sharp tone, and the man’s head snaps up.

“What do you want from me? I don’t know, okay? I’m just trying to do my job.”

Ander catches sight of us and slaps the back of his hand against Jared’s stomach. Jared stops mid-grumble and glances up. His demeanor changes back to the happy-go-lucky guy who’s everyone’s friend. I’ve seen it happen before. I’m not usually on the opposite end.

My brother, the one possibly working with Meredith to take the company from me, is now chummy with my best friend. And they’re talking to the one guy who has the potential to screw up my entire life. What are the odds?

I grab Canyon’s arm. “We should talk to George later.”

Canyon stares at me. “Why wait? Maybe Jared and Ander found something.”

That’s what I’m afraid of. I rub my palms together, trying to dispel this itchy feeling. Ander frowns and Jared can’t even look at me.

Did he tell my brother the truth about Tim? So much for loyalty.

It was one fucking mistake that still haunts me.

My stomach clenches at the thought of Canyon finding out. It might be selfish, but this thing between us can’t last, and I don’t want to lose the few days we have left.

Jared and Ander walk toward us. Fuck. I should have told him already.

“Beautiful day for a walk,” Jared says, and I snort.

Canyon elbows me. “Behave.”

“That’s my line, sweetheart.” Maybe distracting him will work.

He lifts his brows. “What are you doing?”

“Just…fuck. I don’t know,” I answer truthfully.

They reach us just in time to hear my words. “That’s a first. My brother admitting he doesn’t know everything? Unheard of.”

“Funny.”

Canyon knocks into my arm again. “Hey, guys,” he says to Jared and Ander. He nods. “What’s up with George?”

So much for making it through this unscathed.

Jared and Ander look at each other and back at us. “Nothing. Just being friendly.” Jared says, and Ander tries to hide his grimace. You’d think being a lawyer, Jared would be better at lying to his friends.

Relief floods through me, mixed with a healthy dose of guilt. They aren’t going to tell Canyon about Tim.

But you should.

Wednesday, June 11 th , 4:45 p.m.

Nothing goes right after that for the rest of the afternoon.

One mess up after another. River had pre-prepared the Walk a Mile in My Shoes scenario and character cards, but when Canyon went to do the activity, the cards were missing.

He swears he had them in our cabin, but he’s also been distracted.

Canyon improvises, and it goes well, but his spark is gone.

After this and the trust fall activity, he seems disheartened.

Canyon doesn’t push me away, always responding to my questions, my touches, my kisses, but he doesn’t initiate contact or challenge me in any way either, and it fucking sucks. I almost tell him about Tim more than once, but the words get caught in my throat.

I corner Jared before dinner. Just to test him out. “Let’s talk.” I nod toward the activity room.

He hesitates, his eyes going to the door. “Now? Can it wait?”

Stepping in front of him, I pin him with a determined look. “I need my lawyer.” He nods, and the lines on his forehead clear. Jared is in professional mode. I search his face. Leaning in, I add, “And my best friend.”

He nods once. “I can spare a few minutes.”

I pack away the memories of Canyon against the green door, submitting to me. It’s easier when I face the other direction. The wooden hedgehog on the bookcase has colored pencils for quills and beady eyes that seem to watch me. But he’s still less distracting.

Jared folds his arms across his chest and waits.

And this is how I know something is off about our relationship.

Normally, Jared would be eager to know what was going on.

Ready to fix things with his legal expertise.

Not this wariness like he’s afraid to hear whatever I have to say. Or afraid of what I might ask.

Twenty years of friendship. What happened to loyalty. It’s enough to get me started, even if it’s not in the right direction.

“How’s George?” I ask, failing to keep the anger out of my voice.

“Fuck this.” He heads for the door, pushing past me, and I grab his arm.

“Wait.”

He shakes me off. “I thought you needed my help.”

As he reaches the door, I throw the words out. Words that will stop him. “I’m going to tell Canyon about Tim.”

He stops. His hand smacks the door with a thump, and I jump. When he turns back to me, his face is impassive. “As your attorney—as Darian Enterprises attorney—I advise against it. You’d be violating your NDA.” His eyes meet mine. “You will get sued. And you will lose.”

“Yeah. Okay.” I expected as much, but it was still hard to hear. Or was it? Part of me is relieved. I can’t tell Canyon. But neither can anyone else, including Jared.

His face softens minutely, but it’s there. A tiny piece of my friend. “The NDA protects you, Wade. I made sure of that.”

I nod. The purpose of the NDA was to keep all parties from discussing Tim’s termination and the details behind it or his allegations that he was fired for being gay.

But the way my brilliant lawyer wrote the NDA also keeps Tim from discussing any dealings he had with me, including the fact that he tricked me into sleeping with him.

Very few people know that part, and I want to keep it that way. “I’m sorry. I just…I like Canyon.”

His brow raises, and there’s a twinkle in his eyes. “I’m glad.”

“Really?”

“You deserve to be happy…”

“But?” I ask, knowing there’s more.

“Do you think he’ll sign an NDA?”

Wednesday, June 11 th , 6:15 p.m.

After dinner, Canyon and I relax on the couch in our cabin. I needed to get away from people for a while. Jared and Ander are off doing something. Probably interviewing Lydia about missing desserts.

At least, for now, we’re alone.

“Everyone’s hiding something,” Canyon says, his brow furrowed.

“Jared and Ander. And by extension, George. During the trust falls, Al and Owen got into a fight over something minor. Vivian and Carol and their mysterious thief.” He rubs his fingers over his forehead.

“And what’s going on with Dillian and Jet?

So much tension there.” He laughs. “And between Lydia and everyone? Your team’s a mess, Wade. ”

He’s not wrong. “I can explain some of that. Lydia has a sweet tooth.”

“I noticed.”

“Everyone hides their dessert when she’s around. I’m not saying Lydia is the one raiding the breakroom fridge and eating all the desserts, but they all suspect her.”

“Oh. That’s weird. Maybe she has a tapeworm. That’s a thing, right?”

I laugh and kiss him. “It is.” Ducking my head, I add, “I can explain the Dillian and Jet thing too.”

“Go on. But look at me when you do.”

“That’s my line.” I smile and then nod. “River is cute?—”

“Hey.” He smacks my arm.

I hold out my hands. “According to several of my employees. But Dillian and Jet are the only ones River encourages. I’ve seen him do it. And I warned him that interoffice relationships are highly frowned upon—stop looking at me like that. I’m a hypocrite. I own it. And you’re…irresistible.”

“You’re forgiven,” he says, kissing me. And any thoughts of confessing and breaking the NDA vanish. “Do you think River slept with them?”

“Not sure. But I think that’s where the tension comes from. Jared told me they all went out the night before the retreat?—”

“What?” He sits up and glares at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought you knew.”

“He went out Sunday night. That’s why I was so worried about him getting up, but he just said…some friends from work. Oh.”

I rub his arm. “I know this is hard for you. Have you heard from him?”

He shakes his head. “But I’m tired of the secrets, Wade.” And for a moment, I think he’s talking about me. “Wait.” He grabs his papers off the table and scans through them.

“What are you looking for?”

“Here it is. River listed things to do around the campfire. I initially dismissed a few Jared would probably deem too risky. But Jared’s keeping secrets, too, so maybe that’s exactly what we need. Something to help us get to know each other better.”

“I’m afraid to ask,” I say in a joking tone, but I mean every word.

He grins, so different from the man I met two days ago.

But I’m not the same person either. I’m a better person around him.

And I want to hold on to that for as long as possible.

“This might even be fun.” He scribbles a few notes, circles something, and nods, excitement in his eyes.

“We’ll sit around the campfire, roast marshmallows, and play a game. ”

I groan. “Please tell me it’s not Truth or Dare .”