how to treat a lady.” His momentarily haunted expression surprised her. Did he prefer people to believe him to be shallow and self-centered? “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” Kelsey peered inside the office and glanced at her watch, pretending not to notice the way Trip’s gaze automatically fell to her cleavage. “Where’s Grey?”
“First things first. Where’s my hat?”
“You mean that old thing that belongs in a thrift shop?” She might’ve laughed at him if his shoulders hadn’t stiffened and tight lines pulled around his mouth.
“I need it back, Kelsey.” Although he stared at her without blinking, she thought she saw a hint of panic in those green eyes. His body gobbled up most of the space in the doorway, making hers prickle from the nearness.
“Settle down, cowboy. You’ll get your hat back.” She tilted her head. “But now you’ve got me curious. What’s so special about that one? You have at least a dozen others.”
Trip leaned back against the doorjamb. “It belonged to my grandfather.”
She’d known him for eight months and yet, until last night, had never heard a single word about his background or family. Now several new questions sprang to mind, but she chose to tease him instead of pressing for answers he’d probably never give.
“Don’t tell me you have a sentimental streak, too. That’s too cute, Trip. Makes you almost . . . human.” Seeing another hint of vulnerability worried her because it could actually make her start to fall for him, which would surely be a disaster.
“You’ve only got that partly right.” He grinned, slipping back into his detached persona. “Haven’t you heard? I’m super human.”
Disaster averted.
“So where’s Grey?” She sighed.
“Grey’s put me in charge of this project.” Trip set his hands on his hips. “Looks like it’s just the two of us.”
She hoped he didn’t see her alarm at the prospect of being cooped up alone with him. “Well, then, let’s get started.”
Trip pulled an extra chair over to the desk and sat directly in front of the computer. Kelsey sat beside him, put her bag on the floor at her feet, and slapped the manual onto the desktop.
She pulled a hairclip out of her purse and twisted her hair atop her head so it wouldn’t fall in her face while they worked. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Trip frown. Of course, he ignored her questioning glance.
Shrugging, she pulled the keyboard over to her side of the desk while asking, “May I?”
Trip chuckled, leaning close. “By all means.”
The mere sound of his voice tightened her nipples. Kelsey thanked God she’d worn a loose dress so he couldn’t see her body’s response.
“Let’s look at your site.” She typed its URL. “Now tell me, what do you like about it?”
She watched his eyes scan the neatly aligned row of tabs and the column of links to forms and waivers. “It’s easy to navigate and to find relevant information.”
Kelsey laid her head on the desk, closed her eyes, faked a snore, then popped back up singing, “BOR-ING!”
“Functional.” Trip crossed his arms, frowning.
She drew a deep breath and stuck out her chin. Men. “Websites and social media should give some sense of the product or service you’re selling. What are you selling, Trip?”
“Guided backcountry ski and rock climbing trips.”
“No.” She rolled her eyes.
“No?” Trip tilted his head, frowning. “We’re not selling those trips?”
“Nope.” Kelsey shook her head. “You’re selling ‘adventure.’ You’re selling adrenaline and excitement. You should be appealing to guys who want to be like you, and women who want to be with you.” As soon as she heard those last words, she realized her mistake.
“In other words, all women?” he interjected, wearing a smirk and twinkling eyes. When she rolled her eyes, he chuckled. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Does anything on this site promote a sense of adventure?” She
“First things first. Where’s my hat?”
“You mean that old thing that belongs in a thrift shop?” She might’ve laughed at him if his shoulders hadn’t stiffened and tight lines pulled around his mouth.
“I need it back, Kelsey.” Although he stared at her without blinking, she thought she saw a hint of panic in those green eyes. His body gobbled up most of the space in the doorway, making hers prickle from the nearness.
“Settle down, cowboy. You’ll get your hat back.” She tilted her head. “But now you’ve got me curious. What’s so special about that one? You have at least a dozen others.”
Trip leaned back against the doorjamb. “It belonged to my grandfather.”
She’d known him for eight months and yet, until last night, had never heard a single word about his background or family. Now several new questions sprang to mind, but she chose to tease him instead of pressing for answers he’d probably never give.
“Don’t tell me you have a sentimental streak, too. That’s too cute, Trip. Makes you almost . . . human.” Seeing another hint of vulnerability worried her because it could actually make her start to fall for him, which would surely be a disaster.
“You’ve only got that partly right.” He grinned, slipping back into his detached persona. “Haven’t you heard? I’m super human.”
Disaster averted.
“So where’s Grey?” She sighed.
“Grey’s put me in charge of this project.” Trip set his hands on his hips. “Looks like it’s just the two of us.”
She hoped he didn’t see her alarm at the prospect of being cooped up alone with him. “Well, then, let’s get started.”
Trip pulled an extra chair over to the desk and sat directly in front of the computer. Kelsey sat beside him, put her bag on the floor at her feet, and slapped the manual onto the desktop.
She pulled a hairclip out of her purse and twisted her hair atop her head so it wouldn’t fall in her face while they worked. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Trip frown. Of course, he ignored her questioning glance.
Shrugging, she pulled the keyboard over to her side of the desk while asking, “May I?”
Trip chuckled, leaning close. “By all means.”
The mere sound of his voice tightened her nipples. Kelsey thanked God she’d worn a loose dress so he couldn’t see her body’s response.
“Let’s look at your site.” She typed its URL. “Now tell me, what do you like about it?”
She watched his eyes scan the neatly aligned row of tabs and the column of links to forms and waivers. “It’s easy to navigate and to find relevant information.”
Kelsey laid her head on the desk, closed her eyes, faked a snore, then popped back up singing, “BOR-ING!”
“Functional.” Trip crossed his arms, frowning.
She drew a deep breath and stuck out her chin. Men. “Websites and social media should give some sense of the product or service you’re selling. What are you selling, Trip?”
“Guided backcountry ski and rock climbing trips.”
“No.” She rolled her eyes.
“No?” Trip tilted his head, frowning. “We’re not selling those trips?”
“Nope.” Kelsey shook her head. “You’re selling ‘adventure.’ You’re selling adrenaline and excitement. You should be appealing to guys who want to be like you, and women who want to be with you.” As soon as she heard those last words, she realized her mistake.
“In other words, all women?” he interjected, wearing a smirk and twinkling eyes. When she rolled her eyes, he chuckled. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Does anything on this site promote a sense of adventure?” She
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