I took the small booklet from his hand and started looking carefully over the multitude of activities offered. Unlike the general brochure, this booklet had dates and times.
“I have no idea what you’d like to do,” I muttered as I looked over the large list of things to do while residing in the world’s biggest “tent” that was climate controlled and offered every available luxury. “I’d love to go horseback riding.”
“I can ride,” he answered.
I looked up and met his eyes. “I’m not very good. I traveled by horse a few times to complete some wildlife studies. But this would probably be a lot better.”
“We can go today,” he answered. “Do you want to hike tomorrow?”
“You know I do,” I said enthusiastically.
“This trip is for you, Jade. It’s not about me. Pick whatever you like.”
My heart ached from his words.
I was his priority.
And all he wanted was for me to have a good time.
While I thought he was being sweet, I didn’t want to decide alone and leave him stuck doing things he wouldn’t like.
“But I want you to have fun, too. You never get time to take a vacation, Eli. This has to be about you, too.”
“Like I said, I’ve been here before. A couple of times, actually, so I’ve done a lot of those things,” he informed me, nodding his head toward the brochure.
I picked out a few activities from the list, and we planned the next couple of days together before we ordered breakfast in our luxury tent.
When we’d finished eating, I rummaged through the suitcases.
“How did you know what size I wore?” I asked curiously as I took out a pair of jeans that were my exact size from the suitcase, and then removed a sweatshirt.
I stopped as I saw all of the matching lingerie sets.
I noticed that they, too, were my size.
“I might have looked in your bedroom while you were in the kitchen at your house,” he confessed, not sounding the least bit sorry.
“If you were poking into my underwear to keep this a surprise, you probably noticed I’m not really all that into nice lingerie.”
“I know,” he rumbled. “But I wasn’t about to buy you anything a billionaire wouldn’t wear. I’d look like a cheap bastard.”
I sighed as I picked up a black bra with matching panties. They were lacy, silken, and beautiful. “I guess they’ll have to do,” I teased as I added them to my pile and picked everything up.
“Look in the zippered area of the big suitcase,” he said. “I brought you back something that belongs to you.”
As he requested, I felt around in the pocket once I’d gotten it open.
To my surprise, I pulled out the book I’d been reading the day Eli had arrived in the backcountry, and a work of science fiction.
“I’ve been wondering where that went,” I told him as I examined the steamy romance paperback.
“I didn’t take it intentionally,” he said in a remorseful voice. “I know how it is when you’ve started a book and want to read the rest. I picked up both books while I was packing up, but had yours sticking out of the top so I could hand it over to you. I guess I got distracted.”
“Is this one good?” I asked as I put the sci-fi book on the coffee table.
“So far,” he replied. “I haven’t gotten very far into it yet.”
I went to lay my book beside his, but then thought better of it and put it on top of my pile of clothing.
“Toss it there,” he suggested. “Maybe we can get in some time to read.”
Eli had obviously seen my reluctance, and my face started to turn pink.
“It’s dirty,” I told him.
“Looks like a romance,” he said nonchalantly.
“It is. An incredibly steamy one.”
“How’s the story?”
“Really good. She’s one of my favorite authors.”
“Then why did you hesitate to put it down?”
“Because it really is dirty,” I explained.
“It’s a book that you want to read. I read sci-fi to escape. I think most people read to take a break from the real world,” he answered. “Besides, I like it when you’re dirty,” he said in a dangerously sexy voice.
I dropped the book next to his sci-fi title. Eli obviously didn’t give a damn if I read erotic romance. I wasn’t sure why that fact touched me so much, but it did.
“Thanks,” I said.
“For what?”
I could thank Eli for a lot of things.
Thanks for caring about my sexual pleasure.
Thanks for caring about your dog so much.
Thanks for the incredible experiences I’ve had over the last week.
Thanks for noticing the small things, because it makes me feel important.
Thanks for every single day I’ve spent in your company, because you’re so much fun to be with, and so damn considerate and nonjudgmental.
In the end, I settled with “Thanks for being you.”
I walked out of the room and headed toward the bathroom so I could take a shower.
CHAPTER 14
ELI
I spent the next few days trying to figure out what was even remotely good about me being me, but I couldn’t think of one damn thing to justify Jade’s gratitude.
Mostly, I was a workaholic. My break with Jade was the longest I’d ever taken since my dad had passed away.
I didn’t do commitments, so I had no fucking idea how to be good to a girlfriend. But the idea of claiming Jade in some way was starting to look pretty damn appealing.
And maybe Charlie was a little spoiled, but it wasn’t difficult to spend my free time with him, and he deserved an owner who treated him well. He’d spent way too much of his short canine life in misery.
Honestly, I thought Jade deserved better than a guy who was only around so he could satisfy his carnal urges.
I was thoroughly convinced that once we’d gorged ourselves on sex, one of us would eventually get bored and move on.
Problem was, I wasn’t so sure I’d be the one who wanted to break things off quickly once our itch was scratched.
So I’d avoided having sex with Jade, even though it was fucking killing me.
The longer it takes for us to have sex, the longer she’ll be around, right?
I’d made certain we were worn out every single day with planned activities: exploring Yellowstone, bike riding, horseback rides, white-water rafting, and some very long hikes.
By the time our day was over and we’d had a few drinks after dinner, Jade had conked out almost as soon as she hit the bed.
I wasn’t quite so lucky.
There was no way I was going to sleep in another bed. I liked feeling her warmth draped over me, or snuggled up to my side.
But every night was torture.
I couldn’t figure out what in the hell was wrong with me. I’d achieved my goal. Jade was willing, and we were both adults. Why the fuck was I putting off what I knew would be the most satisfying sex of my entire life?
She’s making me crazy.
There was no other explanation.
Our days had been an eye opener for me. Although I’d already known that Jade was gutsy, because of her survival expertise, I’d also discovered just how fearless she was when confronted with any kind of outdoor activity.