Teresa Southwick - That Touch of Pink

“If he doesn’t want to take us on the campout, it’s all right.”

“I know how much you want your survival badges, Kimmie.”

“I did, but—” The little girl shrugged.

“You know if you don’t get both of these badges in the next six weeks, you can’t go on to the next level in The Bluebonnets.”

“I know.”

“And Caitlyn will be going on ahead of you into a more advanced group with a different leader. Remember she’s getting her last badge at the next meeting?”

The little girl nodded. “But it’s okay. Grandma told me that disappointment is part of life. And growing up means learning to live with it.”

“I let you down. Sweetie, I’m so sorry—” Abby’s voice broke.

“It’s not you, Mommy. If my daddy had come back like he promised, he’d have taken me camping. But he stayed in California. I’m six now. I’m big enough to understand.”

“I wish I was,” Abby mumbled. “Why did you come up here? Did you need something?”

“You need to tuck me in. It’s time for bed.” Her voice broke on the last word and her chin started quivering just before she disappeared through the opening.

Riley felt like pond scum. Slimier than pond scum. Both of them were close to tears. Damn it to hell. If he agreed, he would have to hang with Abby overnight. That was a bad idea, outdoors or anywhere else. And if it was just her, he could have stuck to his guns and pulled out of the op. In the Rangers, he’d worked and trained and prided himself on being the toughest of the tough. But nothing had hardened him enough to say no to a six-year-old who’d already gotten a bum deal.

Charm was no match for a little girl’s tears.

“Okay.”

“What?” Abby turned her big brown eyes on him.

If he hadn’t already caved, he’d be in danger now. “I’ll take you and Kimmie camping.”

She blinked, then the corners of her mouth curved into a brilliant smile that turned her killer dimples loose on him. She threw herself against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

She felt way too good, soft in all the right places and he was relieved when she pulled away.

“What do we need to bring?”

He ran his hand through his hair. “I’ll bring the equipment. You and Kim be ready at six a.m. on Saturday morning.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

“That’s Navy. Yes, sir, will suffice.”

“Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir,” she said, brown eyes shining.

That look backed him up a step. It was the same one she’d had just before throwing her arms around him. He wanted her to do it again; at the same time, he knew it was a very bad idea. Because if she ever hugged him again, he knew he’d really get into it. He’d pull her as close as he could get her and press his mouth to hers.

Bad didn’t begin to describe this situation. He just hoped he didn’t regret this decision.

Abby glanced at Riley’s impassive face and wished she knew what he was thinking. Scratch that. It would probably be better if she didn’t know. She watched a sleepy Kimmie play with the soggy cocoa cereal in her bowl. They were already behind schedule because Riley had spent ten minutes disapproving of their attire. Capris were bad—legs need to be covered in heavy-duty material to prevent scratches and bug bites. They’d changed into jeans. Their shoes were an accident waiting to happen—sandals gave no support or protection. They’d changed again.

She watched him watch Kimmie. “If I’d known there was a dress code, I would have followed it.”

His gaze swung to hers. “Noted.”

“Okay, Kim, I think you’re finished,” she said, sliding the bowl off the table and carrying it to the sink. As quickly as possible, she dumped the remaining light brown milk and cereal, ran the disposal, then put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. “We’ve already disrupted Mr. Dixon’s schedule.”

“It makes good sense to set up camp in the daylight,” he said.

His delivery was so smooth, Abby almost missed the subtle sarcasm. “Then we’d better get a move on.”

Kim rested her cheek in her palm. “I’m sleepy, Mommy.”

“I know, sweetie. But you can sleep in Mr. Dixon’s car on the drive.” She looked at Riley. “That’s okay, isn’t it?”

“Sure.”

The little girl hopped off her chair and grabbed the box of cereal that was almost as big as she was. “I’ll take these for a snack later.”

Riley took a step away from the doorway where he’d been standing for the last ten minutes. “That’s a negative on the cereal.”

She blinked up at him. “Does that mean no?”

“It does.”

“But why?”

“Because it’s empty calories.”

“Huh?” she said, scratching her head.

“It won’t maintain your energy level. Besides,” he continued, “we’re hiking in to where we’re going to camp. That box is too bulky and we have more important things to carry.”

“Apparently my cosmetics weigh a ton,” Abby said, lamenting the little makeup bag she’d been ordered to leave behind.

One corner of his mouth curved up when his gaze met hers. “That’s not essential.”

“That’s a matter of opinion.” Thank goodness she’d remembered the lack of electricity and left out her blow-dryer and hot rollers. The humiliation would have been too much.

“You’re lucky I let you talk me into that cream stuff.”

“Thank goodness my moisturizer has an SPF fifteen.”

“To protect your skin.” His voice turned gruff. “But the rule is if you can’t eat it or use it for shelter, it’s not a necessity.”

“I eat chocolate cereal,” Kimmie said hopefully.

He looked at her. “The benefit doesn’t outweigh the negative.”

“This is where I remind you that The Bluebonnets only require us to spend one night living off the land. It’s okay to relax your standards for us civilians.”

“Relaxing standards can compromise a mission. After we hike to the campsite you’ll thank me.”

Kimmie looked up at him. “But the box isn’t heavy.”

Abby took pity on him. “I appreciate that you’re trying to explain things to her. But sometimes a unilateral no is the best course of action.”

His gaze narrowed. “Whatever you say. I don’t know much about kids.”

“That almost makes us even. I know zero about camping. Which is why I need you—” That didn’t sound right. She didn’t need him. Any beefy, brainless, no-neck outdoorsman would do. But he was none of those things. In fact, he had a nice, strong-looking neck and she would like to press her lips to a spot… Not going there, she thought. “I mean the great outdoors is why I bought you— Hired your services— So to speak.”

“I get it.”

While they talked, Kimmie started out of the kitchen with the cereal box under her arm and Abby grabbed it. “Not so fast, young lady. This stays here. Riley said no.”

Kimmie looked up as she scuffed the toe of her new pink sneaker on the tile floor. “What if I get hungry?”

“I’m sure Mr. Dixon has that situation under control.”

Abby shuddered to think what that meant. Dehydrated meals, beef jerky, energy bars hard as hockey pucks that also served as lethal weapons. As her anxiety level spiked, she reminded herself that it was one night. And she could afford to lose a couple of pounds. Every cloud had a silver lining, and she tried desperately to find it in this situation.

She glanced at Riley’s face as he watched Kimmie pick up her princess backpack. She found another silver lining in his expression, which bordered on horror. When he’d agreed to take them on the trip, she knew it was because of what Kimmie had said about disappointment. She’d watched him melt like a chocolate bar left out in the sun. That Riley would be a challenge to resist. But this Riley…his tight lips and narrowed eyes told her the bullheaded bozo was back. Resisting him would be a piece of cake.

Bring on the great outdoors, she thought happily.

Why had she ever thought that hiring an expert would make this easy? She’d left the location of the campsite up to him, but apparently she’d neglected to mention that he needed to take into account Kimmie’s age and physical limitations. The Bluebonnets weren’t unreasonable in their badge expectations, but she’d bought Rambo.

They’d walked for what seemed like days. Even after numerous stops to rest, they were exhausted. When Riley glanced over his shoulder to study them, he obviously decided they looked like something the cat choked up because he stopped for a rest. Again.

Abby and Kimmie practically collapsed on a prone log. He’d carried most of the equipment on an aluminum frame strapped to his back and looked ready to pose for the cover of Great Outdoors magazine. She and Kimmie only had their backpacks with one day’s clothing and looked like they’d been lost in the woods for a week. Thank goodness he’d confiscated the cereal box. But she was still bitter about her makeup.

After resting for a few minutes, she noticed the wind had kicked up and clouds were rolling in.

Riley frowned as he studied the sky. “There’s still a way to go yet, and we need daylight to set up camp. Shelter could be a priority. We need to get a move on.”

Abby wished for his impassive look to replace his current expression. Something told her he didn’t scare easily and that his frown was panic for anyone else. This was a heck of a time to get the meaning of “be careful what you wish for.” She’d gotten her wish, which meant they were stuck out in the middle of nowhere and taking orders from Rambo—good-looking though he might be here in his element. To make matters worse, that made her want to look her best. Which put taking a bath at the top of her priority list.

And washing her hair—it was limp and stringy because she was sweaty and dirty. After she bathed, she wanted to put on makeup and blow-dry her hair. But she couldn’t do any of that because her necessities were at home. And how shallow was she to be thinking about any of that, what with the wind kicking up.

“Abby,” he barked out. “Let’s get going.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, standing on shaky legs and saluting.

“Very funny.” But in his eyes there was a spark of what appeared to be genuine amusement.

She looked at the dark clouds. “It looks like a storm’s moving in. But I checked the weather.”

“Me, too. It was supposed to be clear and mild,” he said. “I guess this is a rogue. We need to hurry.”

Kimmie stood beside her and slid her hand around Abby’s waist. “I can’t go fast. My new shoes hurt.”

Abby pulled off her daughter’s socks and shoes and saw she had blisters on both feet. “Why didn’t you say something, sweetie?”

“It wasn’t so bad.” She looked at the sky as she brushed away the hair that had blown into her mouth. “Is there gonna be thunder?”

“Maybe,” he said, resting his hands on lean hips.

“I don’t like thunder,” she said. “Sometimes there’s tornadoes when there’s thunder.”

“Not always.” Abby tucked a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear. In seconds, the wind had blown it free. She wasn’t into predicting weather, but it seemed as if it was getting darker.

“But sometimes,” Kimmie said, “we go to our safe room when the wind gets really bad.”

“That’s right.”

Kimmie looked up at her with a trusting expression on her face. “Do tents have safe rooms?”

Abby glanced at the compactly compressed wad of nylon on Riley’s backpack. “Good question, kiddo. Riley?”