Page 15 of Camping with the Boss

He straightens and adjusts his tie. “What? Am I— Just say it.”

“Noth—” I cough. Clearing my throat, I try again. “Nothing.” But his eyes narrow. Does he trust anyone? And I can’t stand it, so I go ahead and embarrass myself. “I just…I like it when you boss me around.” I clasp my hands tight in my lap. Still trying to hide my inappropriate reaction.

My movement, and possibly my words, draw his gaze to the place I least want it at this moment. He sucks in a breath. “Jesus.Are you trying to get me fired?” he asks in a strangled voice. Then his eyes widen, and he steps back. “Is that what this is?”

“What? No. You think I’m enjoying this?”

He walks around his desk and sits, rubbing his face. “We need to get through the next twenty minutes without any issues. No fidgeting. No—” He waves his hand, gesturing to all of me. “Answer questions as minimally as possible. You’re here because River ran his ideas by you, and you’re more than capable of assisting with this retreat in his absence. He had a family emergency?—”

“I’m his family.”

He slaps his hands on his desk. “You can’t interrupt?—”

“Even when your idea is stupid?”

His eyes shut, and I imagine he’s counting to ten. Or possibly a thousand? His eyes pop open and he almost smiles. “Especially when my ideas are stupid, Canyon. But I get your point.” He sighs. “What do you suggest?”

And damn, Mr. Darian, asking my opinion? It’s like that first hit of morphine after surgery. “River’s best friend Cruz is his former teammate. He used to play baseball.” I wave my hand. Why did I say that? It’s not relevant. “If Cruz needed him for any reason, River would drop everything.”

He rubs his knuckles over his jaw as he thinks. And I can’t believe I’m jealous of knuckles.

Stop messing this up, Canyon.

“Okay. This can work. River got my permission, and you agreed to take his place.”

Does he even realize what he’s proposing? If he tells them he okayed River’s time off, he can’t fire him later for leaving.

But would he have fired him? I’m not sure anymore.

“Sounds good.”

“Great.” He stands and strides over to the door. “Let’s get this over with.”

I stand but don’t follow. “I still have questions.”

When he turns, I expect him to snap, but he just looks tired. “Can it wait?”

“It’s relevant.”

“Fine, whatever.” He checks his watch and taps. I realize it’s not just a watch. His eyes return to me, and he folds his arms across his chest. “Go ahead, Mr. Drake. Ask your question.”

I hate that we’re back to Mr. Drake instead of Canyon, but I get it. I push away my nerves and ask my question. “What’s the real reason I’m standing in for River?”

“This again?” he asks with a scowl.

I ignore his attitude. “Not counting River, am I the only gay person you know?”

Chapter Four

Wade

Monday, June 9th, 3:30 p.m.

“I told you why. I need an outsider.”

“But?”

“But,” I admit reluctantly because Meredith is waiting, “the fact that you’re gay will be a selling point.”

---