They'd been flirting back and forth all morning at the campground. She'd look up and catch him staring at her. She'd smile and playfully tuck her honey blonde hair behind her ear. She's not sure but she swears she sees him wink at her. She blushes and quickly looks away.
It's the last load from her truck to their spot. Halfway there the last tent and the portable stove slip from her grip and crash to the ground at her feet. She takes a deep breath and kneels to pick them up. When she glances up she can see him heading towards her. Her breath begins to quicken a bit and she rushes to get it picked up before he can come to help. She's suddenly very shy about her first real contact with this handsome stranger. Granted, she could hardly keep her eyes off him while she was organizing her campsite but the thought of him talking to her has her mind racing almost as fast as her heart. She manages to get her belongings gathered up and on her way before he can get there to offer help.
She ducks her head as she brushes past him and rushes to her campsite. Glad she's on her way but partially disappointed that she was too scared to talk to him. He stands there dazed for a second, trying to figure out what happened. He thought they had made a connection. He had caught her staring at him a few times. Not that he minds. He was just as guilty as she. Something about her drew him to her from the moment he saw her this morning, picking out her camping spot with her kids. She looks up from setting down her stuff just in time to see him turn and walk back to his campsite. For the third time that morning she second guesses the spot she picked. It's only a stone's throw from his. It bothers her that she can't explain what the sight of him does to her. She feels unsettled, but not in the make your hair stand on end kind of way. In the I can't explain why she's so attracted to him kind of way.
She shakes her head, sighs inwardly and begins to roll out the first tent. It goes up with ease. She grins and does a little victory dance at her skills. Just then she notices him watching her again. The blush returns to her cheeks as she tries to hide and make herself as small as possible. Chastising herself that he caught her, yet strangely warmed inside at the sight of his broad grin and obvious chuckling at her.
He couldn't help but chuckle. She has obviously been camping before, yet she celebrated getting her tent up. He could tell from the stuff he had seen her drag to her spot. She wasn't afraid of getting dirty or hard work. That much he knew from watching her put worms on her kids hooks without flinching. She even wiped her hands on her shorts, not bothering to look for a rag. He likes that in a woman. She is definitely a strong, independent woman. Regardless of how much she looks like a delicate flower in her cut off shorts and tank top with her hair pulled into a ponytail at the nape of her creamy white neck. Tiny strands of her honey blonde hair falling from the scrunchy to frame her freckled face. He finds himself wondering what color her eyes are. They are hidden behind her sunglasses.
She glances towards the edge of the lake to check on the kids and her smile broadens. They are still splashing on the bank with their fishing poles in the water. The second tent doesn't go up as easily. Different brand, different set up, she's not sure but for some reason it's just not going together like she thinks it should. Frustrated she paces in front of and around it. Trying to figure out what she is doing wrong. Finally, she sighs, reaches for the damned instructions and sits down to look at them and figure out what she's doing wrong. Maybe she just needs a break. She wanders down towards the kids and before she knows it she's splashing in the water and laughing with them.
She hears the sound of a hammer behind her and looks to see what's going on. Her heart skips a beat. Its him. He's at her campsite, setting up the tent she had been struggling with. She storms up to him, the initial shock worn off, stops just behind him and loudly clears her throat. His arm stops mid swing as he straightens up, turns and looks at her.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asks almost glaring at him.
"I'm sorry, I saw you having trouble and thought I'd help. Forgive me for not asking but you looked like you were having fun and I didn't want to interrupt you." he replied.
Her head starts to spin, her heart beats faster and her stomach clenches at the sound of his voice. Its deep, not scary deep but the kind of deep that makes your heart skip a beat and sends your libido into overdrive. Her expression instantly softens and she has to give herself a mental slap to keep her insides from melting.
"Thank you for helping but next time please ask first." she says.
She pauses waiting for him to respond. He just stares at her. He can't speak. Her soft voice has rendered him speechless. Her tone was stern, he should feel like a child being punished but the soft undertone struck a chord that went straight from his ears to his groin. It's not a timid soft he heard. It was a genuine softness that only comes from a loving, passionate person.
She clears her throat and continues, "Well, as long as your hear you might as well help me finish getting this set up, right?"
He opens his mouth to speak but no sound will come out. All he can do is nod. She turns away from him to assemble the poles. Its the momentary break he needs for is brain to kick back into gear. Together they finish the tent and pack away the carry bag it came in. They stand in front of the tent for a moment, just staring at each other. She breaks eye contact and tucks a loose strand of curly hair behind her ear.
"Thank you again for your help. I appreciate it. But, um, if you will excuse me I need to...um, yeah" she says motioning towards her kids.
