Page 10

Chapter Nine

Perry

I woke with my sweaty skin stuck to the sheet. Ugh. Gross . Despite feeling less than fresh, my head was lighter, the weight of earlier gone. Nate was right—I needed sleep. My medications helped with my migraines, but sometimes the true answer was simply giving my brain a rest. Sleep didn’t always accomplish that, but more often than not, it helped.

Peeling the sheet off my body, I stretched before slipping on my shorts and heading for the bedroom door, which was cracked open. Nate wasn’t in the living room, and there wasn’t a note lying about telling me he’d gone on a walk.

Grabbing my discarded T-shirt, I opened the front door and found Nate camped out on the porch. His position looked horribly uncomfortable. If I’d fallen asleep like that, I would have needed help unraveling my pretzeled limbs.

Mouth hanging open, Nate’s head was tilted back, and his feet were propped on the railing. One foot appeared to barely be hanging on.

Nate’s chin was scruffy. He needed a shower and shave. Not that I minded the facial hair. My fiancé looked ruggedly handsome with a little scruff. With his mouth hanging open the way it was, handsome wasn’t the first word most would use to describe Nate Harmon. My eyes were clouded with sappy love, and I skipped over the less glamorous aspects of his current appearance.

I took a step forward, the floorboard beneath my feet protesting. Nate’s eyes immediately flew open, and his right hand shot to his hip, reaching for an absent weapon.

Holding still, I held up both hands and said, “Whoa, just me.”

I could see Nate’s pulse hammering away in his neck. Slowly, that pulse eased, and the deer in the headlights look vanished from Nate’s expression.

“Shit. I think I fell asleep,” Nate said with a yawn.

“You think?” I grabbed a nearby chair and scooted it a little closer. My bare feet tapped the wooden floor. I’d probably get a splinter if I kept shifting my feet about.

Nate rubbed his chin, wincing at the scratching noise his scruff made. “What time is it?”

I didn’t have my watch on, and I hadn’t brought out my phone. Nate’s was sitting on the railing ledge, and I reached for it, waking up the screen and squinting at the numbers. I’d forgotten my sunglasses inside, and the light was too bright.

Nate gently took the phone from my hand and read the screen. “6:33 p.m. You think we missed dinner?”

“Only one way to find out. Let me put on some shoes, and we can head to the main pavilion.” I quickly grabbed a pair of flip-flops I’d stuffed into the suitcase last minute. They wouldn’t be safe to wear a lot of places around here, but I didn’t think they’d be so bad if we were just heading to the dinner hall.

I grabbed my phone, stuffed it in my pocket, slid my sunglasses back on, and headed outside. Nate was standing and popping his joints when I exited. He rocked his neck back and forth, more popping ensuing.

“Not the best sleeping position,” Nate said after a wince.

“No. You should have crawled into bed with me. I would have made room.”

“That would have been a lot wiser. I don’t think my nap was exactly planned. I just planned on resting my eyes, and the next thing I know, you’re standing in front of me, and it’s after six thirty.”

I didn’t mention Nate’s reaction when I startled him awake. Instead, we walked to the common pavilion to see about food. Sandwich boxes were already made and ready for people to grab when they got hungry. Nate and I picked ours, along with some fruit and chips. Drinks were on another table, sitting in large coolers filled with ice. Some of our group were scattered about at a smattering of tables. The pavilion wasn’t air-conditioned, but there was a breeze coming through the open sides of the building.

Nate and I chose a table and sat down, digging into our meals. I knew the retreat was meant to get to know my fellow employees better, but I made no move to socialize, and beyond a friendly wave, neither did they.

“This seat taken?”

Nate and I looked up in unison, neither of us recognizing the face that went with the broad man filling out his forest green ranger shirt and khakis. His name tag read “Hank” and was neatly stitched onto the left side of his shirt. Hank’s light brown hair barely peeked out from behind what appeared to be a fishing hat. His smile was warm and puckered his cheeks like a chipmunk’s.

I shot Nate a silent glance, eyebrows raised in question. He gave me an equally perplexed look and when I shrugged, Nate answered our guest and said, “Have a seat.”

“Thanks,” Ranger Hank said while pushing his hat off his sweaty forehead. He had one of the dinner boxes in his hand and set it on the picnic table, popping open the sides and digging out his turkey sandwich. Without so much as another word, Hank took a huge bite. From his rolled-back eyes, I thought Hank’s sandwich must be a lot better than mine. Maybe his had some secret, saucy ingredient.

“God, that tastes good.” Hank unscrewed the cap on his water bottle and downed half of it in one go. I was glad there were more because it looked like our table guest was going to need it. “I got caught up on the distant side of one of the trails. It was supposed to be a simple cleanup but turned into a bigger job than anyone expected. Long story short, I missed lunch.”

Nate and I shared another questioning look. That was all well and good but didn’t explain what Hank was doing sitting next to us, eating a dinner box for Maverick Insurance employees.

I started to ask just that when Hank swallowed his latest bite and continued his one-sided conversation. “That trail isn’t a very well-used one, but it’s important for something Mr. Johnson has planned for your retreat. There are a lot of old trees out that direction and some of them aren’t in the best of shape. Typically, we let nature take its course. Several animals and birds use decaying trees for their burrows. It becomes a problem when those trees are near trails. Sketchy trees can be dangerous. Mr. Johnson was grateful we got the path opened back up and told me to grab something to eat.” Hank smiled again. Given how much food he’d stuffed into his mouth, he looked even more like a chipmunk than before. “Hope you fellas don’t mind me snagging some of your food.”

Considering I hadn’t paid for it, I shook my head. “I don’t mind. There’s plenty more water where that came from,” I said while pointing at his nearly empty bottle of water.

“I’ll get you another one,” Nate offered and was out of his seat before Hank could say, “Thank you.”

“Man, it’s toasty out there,” Hank lamented. Grabbing one of the napkins the boxed meal came with, he wiped his brow. “Don’t get me wrong, I love summer, but sometimes the heat gets to you.” Grinning, he said “We’re rarely happy. We complain that it’s too cold in the winter and then bitch about the summer heat. I suppose there’s no pleasing humanity.”

I was chuckling and nodding in agreement when Nate returned, setting a cold water beside Hank’s diminished bottle. “True enough.”

“What’s true?” Nate asked, and I quickly filled him in on humanity’s fickle weather rants.

“Ah, then I heartily agree.”

Wiping his mouth, Hank wadded up his used napkin and tossed it into his nearly empty box. He still had a bag of chips and an apple, but instead of digging into those with the same gusto, he scooted away a little so he could see Nate and me better.

“Shit, sorry about my manners. I’m Hank Shelton.” Holding out his hand, Hank shook Nate’s hand.

“Nate Harmon,” Nate answered as he clasped Hank’s hand.

When Hank stretched his arm across the table, I followed Nate’s lead and said, “Perry Atherton.”

“Nice to meet you. Since you’re sitting in the pavilion with empty boxed dinners in front of you, I’m assuming you’re here as part of the Maverick Insurance group.”

“You assume correctly,” I answered easily.

Hank aggressively nodded. “It’s a good venue. We get a few companies at the park. Mostly, it’s family get-togethers.” Hank chuckled. “You know, those get spicey now and again. Two weeks ago, Ranger Erikson and I got called out to break up a domestic disturbance. Turned out some dirty laundry got aired, and the response was less than congenial. Some of their party was asked to leave the park. I asked Erikson if that had ever happened before, and she told me they get half a dozen each year.” Hank’s eyes widened, showing off deep brown irises. “Can you believe that? My jaw dropped when Dezi told me that.”

I could only assume that Dezi was Ranger Erikson. Tilting my head to the side, I asked, “But that was your first?”

“Oh yeah.” Hank opened his bag of chips and stuffed a couple in his mouth. He chewed and took another drink before continuing. “I’m only in my second month. I worked at a state park in Ohio before moving to Indiana.” Hank’s eyes became momentarily distant, and his lips thinned from a smile into a hard line. His jaw ticked before his eyes refocused, and the smile reappeared. “I was happy to get this job. The park’s beautiful. I can’t imagine working a desk job.” Hank’s eyes widened, and his already flushed cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to offend anyone, what with this being an insurance company retreat and all.”

Nate waved a dismissive hand in the air. “No worries. I don’t work for Maverick Insurance.”

“And I’m a janitor,” I said. “I don’t really sit behind a desk.” Nate didn’t tell Hank what he did for a living or that he, in fact, did spend a lot of time sitting behind a desk. Nate was also out in the field and worked unpredictable hours.

“Really?” Hank’s gaze traveled the expanse of the pavilion. Our numbers had dwindled further, and only a few stragglers came in now and again to snag a dinner box. Most of them took a grab-and-go approach and didn’t stay in the pavilion to eat. “I just figured…” Hank waved a hand around the general area.

“Nope,” I answered easily. “I don’t know the first thing about insurance.” Nate choked on a drink of water. When he lowered the bottle, his voice was hoarse, and he pounded on his chest.

“S-sorry,” Nate managed. “Wrong pipe.” He pointed at his throat before taking another drink. A few coughs ensued, but his annoyed trachea finally calmed down.

Hank rubbed his hand over his chin before leaning in and asking, “My wife and I’ve been thinking about taking out mutual life insurance policies.” Hank waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Nothing major, just enough to cover expenses if the worst happens. Maybe a little extra to help with some other expenses too. Do you think your colleagues would mind if I pestered them for information?”

I immediately thought about Delia and said, “You should talk with Delia Carpenter. I mean, the others are probably good too, but that’s who I’d speak with. I can introduce you sometime if you’d like.”

Hank’s face lit up. “That’s super kind of you. If the timing works out over the next few days, I might take you up on that.”

Stretching his arms above his head, Hank’s shoulders popped, and a look of bliss softened his features. Arms back down at his sides, he rolled his shoulders and said, “Thanks for the company. I’d better get going. I’ve got a couple of hours before the park shuts down, and it’s time to hightail it out of here.”

“Dawn to dusk?” Nate asked.

Hank nodded. “Just about. Of course, those staying at the park have access twenty-four seven, but if you’re not staying, then no one’s supposed to enter the park after dusk. We open at eight a.m.”

“Do you have opening duties tomorrow?” I asked.

“Nope.” Hank grinned. “I get to sleep in until about eleven. My shift starts at noon tomorrow.” Standing, Hank swung one leg and then the other over the picnic table seat. I wasn’t certain how tall he was. Probably Nate’s height, if I had to guess. Plopping his hat back on his head, Hank grabbed his trash and stuffed the apple in his mouth, biting down and holding it in place to free up his hands. He made some type of muffled noise I took as a goodbye and headed out of the pavilion.

I watched Hank leave, a darker patch of sweat discoloring his green shirt. Nate had been sitting next to him, and I hoped Hank’s working odor hadn’t been too overpowering.

“He seemed nice,” I said, wondering how Nate and I had managed to share our table with a park ranger and not one of my coworkers.

Nate nodded in agreement, biting into his own apple. He crunched it for a few seconds before swallowing. “Sounds like an interesting job. For someone who likes to be outside.” Nate frowned and added, “I can’t imagine doing it in the winter.” He shivered for effect. “I imagine it’s one of those jobs we’re all jealous of when the weather is perfect while simultaneously pitying when the weather inevitably turns to shit.”

My fingers drummed along the wooden table as I contemplated the life of a park ranger. Honestly, I had no idea what that position truly entailed.

While I mulled that over, Nate asked, “What do you think Malcom has planned?”

I blinked while trying to follow Nate’s train of thought. I finally got on the right rail and asked, “Regarding the path Hank was clearing?”

Nate grunted before taking another bite of apple. After he’d swallowed, he answered, “Sure.”

Not knowing what to make of that, I said, “I’m not certain.” We’d gotten a loose itinerary, but there were a lot of holes sprinkled here and there. Malcom said he wanted it to be that way, so we’d be surprised. Considering I’d never been to anything like this before, I figured even knowing the details wouldn’t negate the surprise where I was concerned.

Nate’s crunching continued until he was down to the core. It was still early enough that the sun was bright, but it was that slightly faded version that let you know even the sun got tired.

“You ready to head back, or maybe go on another walk?” I asked.

Nate’s scrunched eyebrows relaxed as his attention turned to me. A lazy grin pulled the edge of his lips. “You good for another walk?”

I flexed and extended my newly rebuilt knee. It tweaked a little, but not nearly enough to put me off a walk in the woods. “My knee seems to be hanging in there. Probably best not to push it too far, but I think something short would be okay.”

Mimicking Hank’s earlier exit, Nate stood, grabbed his trash and mine, and headed for the nearby refuse bins. He placed the recyclables in one bin and the trash in another. Grabbing my hand, Nate laced our fingers together and leaned down to whisper, “Just a short walk. I’ve got a promise to make good on, and I don’t want to get too fatigued. I’m not as young as I once was, Perry. I want to put my resources into more pleasurable pursuits.”

My cheeks heated while a second, hotter fire ignited farther south. I knew what promise Nate referred to, and my cock swelled just thinking about it. Swallowing hard, I turned and tilted my head just enough that our lips shared the barest brush. Close enough to share oxygen, I said, “That’s good to hear, Harmon. Very considerate of you. I’d expect nothing less from my fiancé.” Nothing stoked Nate’s libido more than when I pulled out that particular f-word.

“I love it when you call me that,” Nate said, his fingers slipping through my hair.

My reply was simple and easy. “And I love being able to say it.”

Nate closed the distance, eating at my lips like a man dying of starvation. Our walk wound up being even shorter than planned. After all, it wasn’t that far from the pavilion to our cabin.