I’d love to hear some stories about what terrors they were as little boys.”
“As little boys? You mean you think they grew out of it,” Tess said with a grin that made both of them laugh. Trey turned around from his conversation with Travis in the front seat and gave the women a quizzical look.
“What’s so funny back there?” he asked, knowing the girls were up to something.
“Not a thing, boss-man,” Cady said, breaking into a round of giggles. “Not a thing.”
Travis rolled his eyes while Trey shook his head. They were going to have to keep an eye on Tess and Cady together. Throw Lindsay into the mix and the guys were definitely in big trouble.
Arriving in Maupin, the eight of them soon found themselves getting into the raft along with their guide. Brice and Ben took the front seats with Trent and Lindsay behind them. Tess and Travis took the next two as Trey and Cady brought up the rear with the guide sitting at the back of the raft. All of them wore helmets, life jackets and wetsuits.
Signing up for a half-day trip that would take them about three hours, Lindsay, who was an outdoorsy-adventure kind of girl, and the guys could hardly wait to get going. The other two females in the raft were not quite as excited.
Tess took a firm grip on her paddle and mentally prepared herself for whatever was going to come. She closed her eyes, convincing herself she could make it through three hours.
Feeling warmth next to her ear, she smelled Travis’ spicy aftershave along with his minty gum.
“How you doing, Tess?” he asked, putting a warm hand on her shoulder.
“I’m doing fine. I think,” she said. “Tell me when we’re done and I’ll open my eyes.”
Travis laughed a deep rumbling sound that created an echo in her heart and a smile tilted the corners of her lips.
“I bet I can make you open your eyes,” Travis whispered while running a finger along what little skin of her neck was exposed above the top of the wetsuit and life jacket. Her hair was stuffed inside her helmet and he kept envisioning the kisses he could press to her neck with her hair out of the way. He watched goose bumps break out on her skin and smiled to himself. Maybe she wasn’t as immune to him as he thought.
“Nope. I’m keeping them closed,” Tess said, trying to keep a straight face.
“All right then. Have it your way,” Travis said and grew quiet. Tess felt something cool and slimy along the skin of her neck under her chin, heading toward her chest. Gasping she opened her eyes and looked down to find Travis trailing a gummy worm along her skin. Slapping at his arm, she snatched the candy from his hand and threw it at him.
“You are so juvenile,” she said, trying to act irritated, but failing. Travis could see the laughter in her eyes as it bubbled up inside and spilled out her rosy lips.
“That’s me, the juvenile. And idiot, right?”
“A certified idiot,” Tess said, staring into his blue eyes and fighting her desire to get lost in them. Just when she thought she might surrender to her longings, they launched into the Deschutes River for their fifteen-mile journey.
The guide called directions and the group followed his orders. The first section of the trip required their full attention. Tess and Cady both were a little scared as they began their journey. The middle section of the adventure was on calm water through a desert canyon. They could see sagebrush, osprey, and the most amazing basalt rock formations from their vantage point on the water.
Enjoying the beautiful scenery, Tess looked back to see Cady relaxed and happy as well. They gave each other a thumbs-up sign that made both Trey and Travis laugh. Continuing on down the river, they hit some rapids that had the women squealing and then they were paddling up to the take-out site for the raft.
Once they were all out of the raft and removed their gear, they stood letting the sunshine warm them from the cool river water.
“That was awesome!
“As little boys? You mean you think they grew out of it,” Tess said with a grin that made both of them laugh. Trey turned around from his conversation with Travis in the front seat and gave the women a quizzical look.
“What’s so funny back there?” he asked, knowing the girls were up to something.
“Not a thing, boss-man,” Cady said, breaking into a round of giggles. “Not a thing.”
Travis rolled his eyes while Trey shook his head. They were going to have to keep an eye on Tess and Cady together. Throw Lindsay into the mix and the guys were definitely in big trouble.
Arriving in Maupin, the eight of them soon found themselves getting into the raft along with their guide. Brice and Ben took the front seats with Trent and Lindsay behind them. Tess and Travis took the next two as Trey and Cady brought up the rear with the guide sitting at the back of the raft. All of them wore helmets, life jackets and wetsuits.
Signing up for a half-day trip that would take them about three hours, Lindsay, who was an outdoorsy-adventure kind of girl, and the guys could hardly wait to get going. The other two females in the raft were not quite as excited.
Tess took a firm grip on her paddle and mentally prepared herself for whatever was going to come. She closed her eyes, convincing herself she could make it through three hours.
Feeling warmth next to her ear, she smelled Travis’ spicy aftershave along with his minty gum.
“How you doing, Tess?” he asked, putting a warm hand on her shoulder.
“I’m doing fine. I think,” she said. “Tell me when we’re done and I’ll open my eyes.”
Travis laughed a deep rumbling sound that created an echo in her heart and a smile tilted the corners of her lips.
“I bet I can make you open your eyes,” Travis whispered while running a finger along what little skin of her neck was exposed above the top of the wetsuit and life jacket. Her hair was stuffed inside her helmet and he kept envisioning the kisses he could press to her neck with her hair out of the way. He watched goose bumps break out on her skin and smiled to himself. Maybe she wasn’t as immune to him as he thought.
“Nope. I’m keeping them closed,” Tess said, trying to keep a straight face.
“All right then. Have it your way,” Travis said and grew quiet. Tess felt something cool and slimy along the skin of her neck under her chin, heading toward her chest. Gasping she opened her eyes and looked down to find Travis trailing a gummy worm along her skin. Slapping at his arm, she snatched the candy from his hand and threw it at him.
“You are so juvenile,” she said, trying to act irritated, but failing. Travis could see the laughter in her eyes as it bubbled up inside and spilled out her rosy lips.
“That’s me, the juvenile. And idiot, right?”
“A certified idiot,” Tess said, staring into his blue eyes and fighting her desire to get lost in them. Just when she thought she might surrender to her longings, they launched into the Deschutes River for their fifteen-mile journey.
The guide called directions and the group followed his orders. The first section of the trip required their full attention. Tess and Cady both were a little scared as they began their journey. The middle section of the adventure was on calm water through a desert canyon. They could see sagebrush, osprey, and the most amazing basalt rock formations from their vantage point on the water.
Enjoying the beautiful scenery, Tess looked back to see Cady relaxed and happy as well. They gave each other a thumbs-up sign that made both Trey and Travis laugh. Continuing on down the river, they hit some rapids that had the women squealing and then they were paddling up to the take-out site for the raft.
Once they were all out of the raft and removed their gear, they stood letting the sunshine warm them from the cool river water.
“That was awesome!
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