Wilde One (32 page)

“She does.” He gave a quick nod. “I’ll call, just as soon as the damn plane lands. Thanks, I appreciate the advice.”

“No problem. Maybe you’ll do me a good turn one day.”

* * * *

Ainslee smiled across the table at her oldest and dearest friend. Devin’s honey blond hair was shorter than the last time she’d seen her, cut in a feathery chin-length bob. With her bright blue eyes and delicate features, she looked more like Tinkerbell than the ultra-efficient aide to one of the top politicians in the country. They’d become instant pals the first day they’d met in nursery school and had managed to maintain their relationship even after Devin’s family moved from Iowa to Vermont when the girls were in middle school. A brief stint as roommates after Ainslee took the teaching job in New York further cemented their friendship.

“God, it’s good to see you.” Devin reached across the varnished wood surface of the small table in the corner of the hotel bar to pat her hand. “You look amazing. Getting out of New York obviously agrees with you.”

“It was time.”

“I bet.” Her friend’s eyes sparkled. “You’re a country girl at heart. I can’t believe you lasted as long as you did in the big, bad city. I can’t believe
I’m
still in DC. Who would have thought my job with a fledgling congressman would turn into what it has. I knew Walton was ambitious and driven when I met him, but who would believe he’d go so far so fast.”

“You’re ambitious and driven, too. You and the congressman make a good team.”

Devin frowned. “I don’t know how I’ll hold up under the pressure if he gets elected. At first, running for president as an Independent candidate was just a way to gain real attention in Washington, but now…” She let out a long breath. “He could actually win.”

“He’s got my vote. The man’s smart, and he has some excellent ideas.” Ainslee sipped her club soda. “But I want to hear about you. Any new men in your life?”

Her friend rolled her eyes. “They either want to date me to get close to Walton, or they’re TSTL.”

“Huh?”

“Too stupid to live. I’m drawn to good-looking morons. It’s a serious problem.”

Ainslee covered her mouth to hold back a laugh. “That’s hilarious.”

“Not so much. I asked the last gorgeous specimen his opinion of the Independent party platform, and he wanted to know if that was the trendy new club he’d heard rumors about.” Devin let out a deep sigh. “I need to meet a guy who doesn’t have any ulterior motives, curls my toes when I look at him
and
has a brain. Is that too much to ask?”

“No, because I found one.”

Devin set her glass down with a thump. “Let’s hear it. I want details.”

“I’ve spent the last” —she counted the days back in her head— “oh, my God, not even two weeks yet with a man I met on a scavenger hunt. It seems like I’ve known Griff forever.”

She planted her elbows on the table. “And this is the first I’m hearing of it? Dish the dirt.”

It took a while to explain about Victor’s letter and the crazy cross-country adventure they’d been on.

“And I thought my life was exciting.” Devin leaned forward. “Tell me about Griff.”

“He’s funny and caring and smart and hot…very hot.”

“So why do I see anxiety dimming the light in your big, brown eyes?” She dropped a hand over Ainslee’s. “You shredded your napkin while you talked.”

“We may have a few issues.” She let out a long sigh. “I’ve completely fallen for the guy. Love, Devin, not just a bad case of lust. A forever kind of love…in less than two weeks.” She pounded her fist against her forehead. “Obviously I’ve lost my mind.”

“Why? What’s wrong with knowing your own heart? How does he feel about you?”

“He cares. I know he does. But, he doesn’t like clingy women. I get the feeling his ideal relationship is more about parallel lines than intersecting ones.”

“You have amazing strength and independence. You don’t cling.” Her blue eyes narrowed. “If this guy can’t see that, he isn’t as smart as you think.”

Warmth filled Ainslee at her friend’s unquestioning support. “True, but I want someone I can lean on once in a while. Griff’s protective by nature, but he doesn’t exactly wear his heart on his sleeve, and it makes me question his level of commitment.”

“Jerk.”

She shook her head. “He’s not, honestly. He’s just the type who lives life on his own terms…and doesn’t care much about what people think or expect. He’s about as far from traditional as you can get, and my life is grounded in normal. I grew up on a farm in Iowa for crying out loud.”

“True, but you escaped. Look where you are now. California—where anything goes.”

A reluctant grin tilted her lips. “My mom nearly had a heart attack when I told her I wanted to live on the West Coast.”

“With all the radical hippie do-gooders.” Devin snickered.

“Exactly.” Ainslee swirled the ice in her glass then took a sip. Her chest ached. “Still, we’re worlds apart when it comes to what we want in a life partner. I know he likes having me around, but he seems just fine with spending time apart, too.”

“You know the old saying about how absence makes a heart grow fonder.”

“Apart on occasion may be okay, but too often will pull you in different directions. Griff is happy to cruise along in the same general vicinity, each of us doing our own thing and hooking up now and then. Those parallel lines I mentioned. I want a man who’ll always be by my side, not just there for the good times.”

“Don’t you mean for better or worse?”

A quick nod was all Ainslee could manage for a response.

“Then maybe you need to walk away.”

A burning lump of emotion lodged in her throat. She blinked back tears. “Lately he’s said a few things that made me wonder if he’s willing to change. But forcing a lifestyle on him he doesn’t want will only lead to heartache in the long run.”

“You’re right about that. Sounds to me like you should have a serious talk with the man—sooner rather than later.” Devin scowled. “Want me to hire someone to knock some sense into him? I know people who would.”

Ainslee gaped. “I almost think you’re serious!”

“Hey, I’d do anything for you.”

“Well, don’t do that!” She picked up her glass and drained it. “I’ll make him talk to me, even though he sucks at expressing his feelings.”

“Too bad for Griff. Still, maybe the man will surprise you. Could be you’re the woman who’ll make him
want
to turn his life around.”

“I hope so because walking away from him just might kill me.”

Griff checked his phone—again—on the off chance he’d missed a call from Ainslee in the five minutes since he’d last looked. After all, the reception wasn’t terrific in the canyon… Nothing. With a scowl, he shoved his cell back in the waterproof pouch. Why the hell hadn’t she responded to his messages?

“You’re going to drive me crazy if you keep doing that.”

“Huh.” He glanced over at his brother in the early morning light. “Doing what?”

“Checking for missed calls then swearing under your breath.” Sawyer dumped the last of the gear in the third raft before turning with his hands on his hips. “What’s the problem?”

His brother’s hair was a couple shades lighter than his own, and he wore it shorter, but the same green eyes regarded him from a face with the hard planes and angles he saw every morning in a mirror. Right now Sawyer’s expression reflected the irritation he was feeling…but not the nagging worry.

“I’ve been trying to reach Ainslee since yesterday, but she isn’t responding.”

“The sun’s barely up. She’s probably still asleep. It’s an hour earlier in California.”

“Or she doesn’t want to talk to me.” Griff let out a long breath. “I deserve the silent treatment for ditching her to come here, even though she was nice about it.”

Sawyer settled his hands on his hips. “Ever since the ordeal you went through with Johanna, you treat women with a casual attention that makes them basically interchangeable. Time to realize not everyone you get involved with is going to lose it on you.”

“I know.” He waded into the river to lash down the baggage. The cool water rippled and swirled around his feet and gently lapped against the rafts in a soothing rhythm, but did little to calm his anxiety. “I’m not a total jerk, am I?”

“Don’t get me wrong, you always give women the consideration and respect they deserve—right up until the time you cut them loose.”

Griff grimaced. “You make me sound like a complete asshole.”

“No, because you don’t pretend to want more than a temporary relationship. At least you never used to.”

He splashed through the water beside his brother to secure the load of camera equipment encased in waterproof containers packed into the second raft. “After Johanna nearly died—because of me—it’s a hard habit to break.”

“Not because of you. Because she was sick.”

“Didn’t make me feel any less guilty.” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Anyway, that’s why I’m freaking out a little. I’m afraid I gave Ainslee the wrong impression.”

A smile lit up his brother’s face. “Oh, my God, you really like this woman. The ever-elusive Griff Wilde has been hooked.”

Griff snorted. “I’m not a fish, but yeah, I like her…a lot. Actually, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with her.”

“Congratulations.” The amusement faded from Sawyer’s eyes. “I’m happy for you.”

“Don’t congratulate me yet. I might have blown it completely by not telling her how I really feel. If you don’t count yelling a confession at the airport.” He jerked on the cords before knotting them.

Sawyer smiled. “Maybe a little time apart will actually help your cause. You can be charming on occasion. She might miss you.” His brother slapped a hand down on the rubber raft. “Quit pestering the woman with texts and give her a chance to realize she misses having you around.”

“That might be a smart idea—not that I have a choice since she isn’t answering my calls.” He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Instead, I’ll try to focus on enjoying the trip.”

Sawyer waved toward the trail as Blake Benedict and a couple of the crew members picked their way down the steep slope. “Breakfast must be over. Good. I’d like to get this show on the road.”

Griff chuckled. “Don’t you mean on the river?”

“Whatever. Today’s stretch has some tricky rapids. Best to reach them before the group gets tired.”

“In that case, let’s hope these Hollywood types are up for a wild ride.”

* * * *

Ainslee checked her cell. Another message from Griff. She’d call him back, but not until she figured out exactly what she wanted to say. Even after hashing out her options with Devin the day before, she still hadn’t made up her mind what the best course of action would be.
Nothing wrong with putting it off a little longer.
She pushed a lone curl off her face. One thing was certain, they needed to clarify the direction their relationship was headed. And that wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have over the phone.

Stretching, she crawled out of her sleeping bag and unzipped the tent door. Rocky scampered out ahead of her to stroll around the campsite. Early morning light filtered through the pine trees and dappled the needle strewn ground with shadows. When her dog growled and snapped at a stump, Ainslee shook her head. He definitely had a few issues, but then so did she.

After a quick trip to the restroom for a shower, she returned dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt to ward off the chill in the air and untied Rocky from the leg of the table where she’d left him. Fixing herself a bowl of cereal, she ate it while her miniature pal crunched his kibble. When they’d both finished, she packed away the food.

Now what?

Camping alone wasn’t nearly as fun as camping with Griff. If he were here, he’d step up behind her, wrap her in his arms and rest his chin on her head while he reeled off a few crazy suggestions about how to spend their day. Glancing over at the empty tent, she let out a long sigh.

She could go back to the little mobile library where she’d spent the previous evening talking to a really nice woman about the local education system. Apparently there was a need for a qualified tutor for kids in the area who were home schooled. It was something to consider, but she’d rather think about Griff.

When her cell vibrated in her back pocket, her heart did a little flip before settling into a quick rhythm. Maybe they didn’t have to get into a complicated discussion about the future right this minute. She wanted—needed—to hear his voice.

Except when she pulled out her phone, the number on the display didn’t belong to Griff. Her brows knit as she answered. “Hello.”

“Is this Ainslee Fontaine?”

She hesitated a moment before responding to the unfamiliar voice. “Yes.”

“I’m glad I tracked you down. Ms. Fontaine, this is Detective Carter with the SFPD. I’m investigating the Wednesday night attack on Parnell Jones. When I was finally able to question him, he told me a convoluted story about the events leading up to his presence in San Francisco.”

Ainslee sucked in a breath. “I saw the report on TV. Is Parnell going to be all right?”

“Currently, the prognosis is cautiously optimistic. Would you be available to answer a few questions?”

“I don’t know anything about the attack.” Her voice rose. “Did he accuse me of something, because—”

“No, just the opposite. Mr. Jones said of all the people involved in this treasure hunt he was a part of, you were the one he was most inclined to trust. However, I’ll be reaching out to each individual involved for questioning.”

“Oh.” She dropped onto the picnic table bench. “How can I help? I really don’t know anything about who assaulted Parnell.”

“I’m looking for your take on the other contestants plus information on anyone you might have seen near the location of the attack. Mr. Jones has reason to believe you were in the vicinity that evening. Maybe you and Mr. Wilde could—”

“Griff isn’t with me. He left for a rafting trip in Utah yesterday morning.”

“I’ll get in touch with him later, then.” The detective’s voice held a touch of annoyance. “However, I’d still like to speak to you at your earliest convenience.”