Secret Gifts (Steamy Version) by Elena Aitken Page B

pay attention. Without noticing, his horse had fallen in line with Jeff’s and they were headed out of the yard to a trail. “What were you saying?”
    Jeff chuckled. “Oh, you do have it bad,” he said. “I was just asking what you’d been up to at the Lodge. Have you had a chance to explore at all?”
    Gage’s thoughts flew to Lisa, the hot springs and the swimming he probably shouldn’t have participated in. He tamped down the guilt that rose up. “I’ve seen a bit. Bo and Morgan took us rock climbing. That was pretty awesome, and I…”
    “You what?”
    He sighed. “I went on a hike today.”
    “Did you go with Bo? I thought he was leading an overnight?”
    “He is.” Gage patted the horse and looked down at the trail. “I went with Lisa.”
    Jeff let out a low whistle followed by a laugh. “If that doesn’t sound like trouble, I don’t know what does,” he said. “Did she take you up to King’s Springs?”
    Gage nodded.
    “Well, I wouldn’t let Megan hear about it, not if you’re serious about her anyway.”
    “I am,” Gage said quickly. “I mean, ah, dammit. I don’t know. But nothing happened with Lisa anyway.”
    “At the springs? Yeah right.” Jeff steered his horse onto a smaller trail where the trees were much denser.
    “It’s true. Nothing happened.” Not that she didn’t try, he thought, remembering how Lisa had thrown herself at him and he’d turned her down. But not until he’d kissed her. It was a crappy thing to do, and as soon as the kiss started, he’d realized his mistake. There was no heat with them, no spark. The charge he felt just being near Megan was missing with Lisa. He’d pulled away and told her no, but the damage had been done.
    “Still,” Jeff said. “I don’t know Megan, but I do know women well enough to tell you to keep your mouth shut. Whatever did or did not happen up there…some things are best left unsaid.” With a final push through the brush, the horses nosed out into a pasture, and Jeff immediately spurred his horse into a trot, leaving Gage behind to digest his words.
    Gage didn’t like the idea of lying to Megan, but Jeff was right: some things were best left unsaid. An uneasy decision made, he gave his horse a kick in the flanks and took off across the field.

CHAPTER EIGHT

    Megan was on her third cup of coffee with no signs of slowing down by the time Gage came out of his room and poured himself a cup. She tried to ignore his shirtless state, but it was practically impossible when he sat down across from her on the couch and crossed his legs.
    “Good morning,” he said.
    She looked up and immediately looked down again, aware her face was probably an intense shade of red. “Good morning. Do you own a shirt by chance?”
    “I do.”
    She looked up again at the humor in his voice.
    “Am I bothering you?”
    He was teasing her, and she loved it. “Not at all,” she said. “I was just wondering if maybe your stylist didn’t pack you enough to wear.” She met his gaze.
    “Oh, I assure you,” he said, and took a sip of his coffee. “I have plenty to wear.”
    “That’s good.” She held his eyes a moment longer before shaking her head. “I trust you slept well,” Megan said, changing tracks.
    The night before, after enjoying dinner with Jeff and Eva, and ironing out the rest of the plans for the party, they’d returned to the suite with tension in the air. Megan hadn’t been sure what to expect from Gage. There was definitely a connection between them, and during dinner when he’d reached out to hold her hand under the table, it was exhilarating, but a little confusing too. A large part of her had wanted a repeat performance of their afternoon activities, but it was probably for the best that they’d gone to their separate bedrooms. He’d said he wanted to take it slow and despite the fact that Megan had no idea what it was they were taking slow—considering they couldn’t possibly be in a relationship and they’d