they’ll actually get to do all of those things?”
Seemingly confused, he stared down at her. “I sure hope so. I’d hate for the kids to leave disappointed.”
His response caught her off guard. Not to mention the sincerity in his tone. Did he really care about the kids having fun or was this simply a ruse?
Daniel may have been blindsided when he first saw Blythe McDonald, but by the next morning, he was ready for her.
When he tugged open the door to the chow hall, he had his plan all worked out. After breakfast, he’d take her over to Adventure Haven and show her all the outdoor events. He’d get the staff to demonstrate each one, and then she could try them out for herself. Well, if she chose to, anyway. He kind of doubted she would, but he’d at least give her the opportunity.
After that, he’d sit down with her and answer any questions she might have. Of course, how he’d handle the rest of her two-week stay, he had no idea. He hoped she wouldn’t be a thorn in his side, annoying him and every other staff member as she observed every detail of the camp.
The aroma of bacon awakened his appetite as he stepped inside the large space where staff and volunteers had gathered for their morning meal. Dressed in his green Camp Sneffels polo shirt along with a pair of khaki shorts, he ran a hand through his short hair as he searched the group. Throw in his clean-shaven face and he was looking and feeling more like a professional. A professional camp director, anyway.
After giving Blythe a tour of the camp yesterday, he’d shown her to the small, private cabin that would have been his had he not needed a place for her to stay. Then he promptly excused himself and hightailed it into Ridgway to the barber. Yet, while he’d given Blythe instructions that dinner was at six, her car was gone when he returned. And by the time she again rolled up the drive, he was too involved in a meeting with his adventure staff to check on her.
However, the fact that he didn’t see her here this morning had him wishing he had checked in. Or, at least, introduced her to some of the staff in case she encountered any problems.
She’s a big girl. And it’s not like you won’t be seeing her today.
True. But if she didn’t show up for breakfast, he’d be forced to knock on her door. And that was something he really didn’t want to do. Blythe McDonald struck him as a woman who appreciated her privacy.
Scanning the chow hall with its old stone fireplace, buckskin-colored walls and wood accents that stretched from the rafters to the wainscoting, he saw his old adventuring-buddy-turned-adventure-director, Levi Chapman, looking all kinds of weird as he drew closer.
“Dude, what happened to you?” His horrified gaze moved from the top of Daniel’s head to his hiking shoes and back again. “You look so...official.”
“Yeah, maybe you should try it sometime. Might help you find that special woman you keep looking for.”
“You got a woman?”
“No.” Daniel shot an annoyed look at his friend. “And I’m not looking, either.”
Levi peered past him. “Speaking of women, who’s that?”
Daniel turned as the door closed behind Blythe. Her light brown hair was again in a tighter-than-tight bun that practically screamed control freak. Was that how she always wore it? Kind of intense, if you asked him. And her bright pink cardigan over a white T-shirt with trendy jeans had her looking like she was ready to hit the mall, not the adventure course.
Leaning toward his friend, he responded, “Someone neither of us would ever be interested in.”
He watched her for a moment, noticing that she looked kind of lost, tugging her sweater around her midsection as though she was uncomfortable. Her gaze moved past him, then quickly returned as recognition dawned. Why had he not noticed how strikingly beautiful her eyes were? Not brown, not green, not blue. But an interesting blend of each.
Giving himself a shake, he moved toward her. “Good morning.”
She lifted her chin. “Good morning.”
“I was just about to grab some breakfast,” he said. “Care to join me?”
“Thank you.”
They continued toward the kitchen at the far end of the room.
“For now, we’re keeping things simple,” he said. “But once the campers arrive, meals would be served family style, with platters and bowls of food being delivered to the tables.”
“That’s good.” She considered the space. “Avoids making anyone stand out if they have trouble walking or managing a tray.”
“Exactly.”
Inside the commercial-style kitchen, Juanita, the camp’s cook, waited beside a warming table to serve them. “Good morning, Mr. Daniel.”
“Juanita, I’d like you to meet Blythe McDonald. She’s going to be visiting with us for a couple of weeks.” He groaned inside. Two very long weeks.
“Oh...” Juanita hurriedly wiped her hands before extending one toward Blythe. “I’m so happy to meet you, miss.”
Blythe smiled as she shook the woman’s hand. “The pleasure is mine, Juanita. And please, call me Blythe.”
“Juanita is one of the best cooks on the Western Slope.”
The middle-aged Hispanic woman with short black hair and compassionate dark eyes waved a hand through the air. “You flatter, Mr. Daniel.”
“No, I tell the truth.”
With a wink, she added two extra pieces of bacon to his plate of scrambled eggs and white toast, and handed it to him before addressing Blythe. “What you like, Miss Blythe?”
“Scrambled eggs are fine. Do you have any whole wheat toast?”
“Yes. I’ll have it ready in just a minute.”
“Perfect.” Accepting her plate, Blythe followed him to an empty table. “What a sweet woman.”
“Yes, she is.” He set his plate on the wooden tabletop. “And her food is amazing. We’re blessed to have her.”
“How did you find her?” Blythe eased into her chair.
“She was a friend of my mother.” He sat, too.
“Was?”
He set his paper napkin over his lap. “My mother passed away four years ago.” He met that stunning hazel gaze. “Breast cancer.”
“Oh.” She looked down at her food. “I’m so sorry.”
“Your toast, Miss Blythe.” Juanita set the small plate with two slices on the table, saving
