Born to Be Wild by Donna Kauffman Page A

give in to the impulse to stick it out at him, but she did as he asked. She was rewarded by his look of surprise. He’d expected her to be difficult. Amazing how easily they slipped back into their childhood roles of challenge me-challenge you.
    Zach leapt gracefully over the side of the truck. She sat up and rolled to her knees.
    “What are you doing?”
    He looked over his shoulder. “I promised you a picnic, to keep you outside, and a business meeting that would be fun and not boring. But you’re making it really hard.” When she scowled, he just winked. “Now would you lie back down, please?”
    “Yes, sir.” It had been so long since she’d really relaxed and enjoyed herself. Usually she was in charge of making sure everyone else was relaxing and having fun first.
    Lost in her thoughts, she gasped when a cloud of bold, vibrant color billowed up over her head. She watched, entranced, as the Chinese dragon kite caught the breeze and sailed upward. A quick peek showed Zach was yards away, working the line. When the brilliant streak of nylon appeard much smaller than she knew it to be, he came back to the truck.
    “Here, hold this.” He pushed the string roll at her.
    “Me? I’ve never flown a kite.”
    He shoved the large plastic spindle into her hands, placing her thumb over the string to keep it from spinning out. “Now you have.”
    He grabbed a pair of aviator sunglasses from the dashboard and slipped them on, then hopped back into the bed of the truck. After quickly stowing away the remains of their lunch, he stretched out next to her, leaving just enough space between them so their elbows brushed together.
    “It’s beautiful.”
    Zach rolled toward her and braced his head on his hand. “Yeah, I know.”
    She frowned. “I was talking about the kite.”
    He lifted his shades, his expression one of mock confusion. “Who said I wasn’t?”
    Trying hard not to blush—something she’d done far too often since meeting him again—she turned her attention back to the sky and the dragon.
    Zach rolled onto his back again, tucked his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles. “So, you want to hear about the trip?”
    She laughed.
    “What?” He lifted his head and looked over at her. “This is the business part of the promise.” He grinned. “Or have you changed your mind about that part? Myself, I’d much prefer a personal conversation.”
    “Stick to business, Brogan. Personal is too dangerous around you.”
    She never saw the kiss coming. It was hard and fast and sent her heart soaring straight up with the kite. He broke it off before she could even begin to respond.
    She blushed again when he reached over and placed her thumb back on the string which was peeling off the spool at a rapid rate.
    She shoved the string roll at him. When he lifted his hands away, she said, “You told me you could concentrate on two things at once.”
    “I thought I already was.” He grinned, but took over manning the kite.
    After making sure he was settled back in a prone position, with his eyes on the kite, she relaxed herself. “You really are impossible.”
    “Actually, I’m very easy.”
    Dara snorted. “Talk, Brogan. Tell me about the trip.”
    He dropped a light kiss on her cheek. “Look, ma,” he whispered, “no hands.”
    When she didn’t say a word, Zach started laughing, and Dara joined him.
    “Okay, point made. Give me the damn kite. But no more funny stuff. Friends, remember? You promised me a picnic and business. The former was lovely, thank you. Now, sell me on this trip.”
    “Hey, I thought they were pretty friendly kisses, didn’t you?” Zach pulled his legs away just in time to avoid her well-aimed kick. “Okay, okay. Well, I’d like to leave next Friday,” he said casually, tucking his hands behind his head. “I hope that won’t be a problem.”
    Two days later Dara propped the phone between her chin and shoulder, counting the fourth ring. “Please Dane, be