Secrets & Seductions by Pamela Toth Page B

the Cascade Range.” Emma was totally sincere. “It takes my breath away.”
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    Her reaction to the wild beauty was everything Morgan had hoped it might be. The sight moved him every time he came here.
    â€œYou aren’t disappointed?” he probed.
    She looked up at him with an expression of amazement. “Are you kidding? I was bowled over by the scenery on the drive up to camp, but this is truly incredible.” She surprised him by grabbing his hand. “Thank you so much for bringing me with you.”
    As he studied her upturned face, glowing with enthusiasm, sparkling with life, he couldn’t remember when he had ever seen anything so lovely. He swayed closer, but the instant he realized what he was about to do, he jerked back, his cheeks flaming.
    â€œLet’s eat.” He wondered if she had noticed his impulsive movement. “I’m starving.”
    When he had the nerve to glance her way again, he could see that her face had turned pink as she gazed at their surroundings. He had probably embarrassed her.
    â€œWhere’s the best place to sit?” she asked brightly without meeting his gaze.
    He didn’t want her experience to be tainted by concern over what he might have in mind by bringing her here. He had to clear the air.
    â€œEmma,” he said softly as she turned in a wide circle with her arms flung out like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. “I’m sorry.”
    Emma whipped her head around as the sunlight shimmered in the waves of her hair. “Don’t be.” She came right up to him, so their bodies were nearly touching.
    â€œAren’t you attracted to me?” she asked.
    Morgan didn’t consider himself a green kid who got easily tongue-tied when a woman hit on him. Despite a fair amount of experience in the singles scene, he was still surprised by Emma’s bold question.
    â€œMy feelings don’t matter,” he finally croaked. “Acting on them would be inappropriate.”
    His answer must have pleased her, because her full lips curved into a smile. In response, his own awareness ratcheted up a couple hundred notches. Just what he needed while they were alone in the wilderness.
    â€œI’ll take that as a yes,” she drawled, giving him a wink.
    While he was still trying to come up with a neutral comment to diffuse the shimmering attraction between them, she slipped off her pack.
    â€œRelax, Morgan,” she said teasingly as she strutted away, her hips swinging. “I’m not going to jump you.”
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    His reaction had been everything she’d hoped for, Emma reminded herself silently as they sat on thegrass near the lake a little while later. Since the original plan had been to start out this morning, Cookie had packed them a sack lunch: sandwiches, chips, carrot sticks and peanut butter cookies for dessert, all spread out on the nylon jacket that had been rolled up in Morgan’s backpack. While they demolished the food with enthusiasm, they discussed the progress that some of their charges were making.
    â€œBeing chosen to come here must help a little, after getting passed over or rejected by prospective parents,” Emma commented between bites of her ham and cheese sandwich.
    â€œIt often seems to,” Morgan replied. “God knows that so many of these kids need something in their lives to make them feel special.”
    â€œIs that where you got the idea originally?” she asked curiously.
    Mouth full, he nodded. “Some of them really tugged at my heart,” he said after he’d swallowed. “Since we first began the project, it keeps growing. Although we’ve got some truly generous patrons, we have to turn kids away every year.”
    Emma finished the last of her sandwich as she watched a family of ducks swimming on the lake. “How did your meeting go this morning?”
    The dimple flashed in Morgan’s cheek. “He promised that he’d