Not Really the Outdoor Type Read online

  Not Really the Outdoor Type

  By

  Paige Tyler

  ©2013 by Blushing Books® and Paige Tyler

  Copyright © 2013 by Blushing Books® and Paige Tyler.

  All rights reserved. No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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  Tyler, Paige

  Not Really the Outdoor Type

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-60968-266-8

  Cover Design by Korey Mae Johnson

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

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  Paige Tyler

  Paige Tyler is a full-time, multi-published, award-winning writer of erotic romance. She and her research assistant (otherwise known as her husband!) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their easy going dog and their lazy, I-refuse-to-get-off-the-couch-for-anything-but-food cat. When not working on her latest book, Paige enjoys reading, jogging, doing Pilates, going to the beach, watching Pro football, and vacationing with her husband at Disney. She loves writing about strong, sexy, alpha males and the feisty, independent women who fall for them. From verbal foreplay to sexual heat, her wickedly hot stories of romance, adventure, passion and true love will bring a blush to your cheeks and leave you breathlessly panting for more!

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  http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com

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  Don’t miss these exciting titles by Paige Tyler and Blushing Books:

  Ride of Her Life

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  And the Ranch Hand Makes Three

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  Chapter One

  Kendall Merriweather had been in town less than a week and she was already going stir crazy. Maybe she should have dipped into her savings and gone to a therapist instead. It was what everyone else in LA did. After getting dumped by her boyfriend and losing her job—in the same day, no less—, heaven knew she could probably use a psychiatrist. But she’d thought going back home to lick her wounds in Copper Canyon, Idaho where she’d grown up would be more therapeutic than talking to a shrink who’d charge her two-hundred-and-fifty dollars an hour. Silly her.

  On the upside, her parents were thrilled to have her home, regardless of why she was there. She almost hadn’t told them the reason behind her visit, but they loved her so there was no embarrassment in admitting she’d been “let go” from her job because the advertising agency had downsized to “meet current market conditions.” Her mom and dad been more than supportive, even insisting she use one of the cabins they rented out to tourists so she could have privacy. The only problem was that it also gave her lots of time alone to sit around and pine over Keith, damn him. Even after two weeks, it still hurt to think about the break-up. Maybe because she’d been so blindsided by the whole thing. One day, Keith was asking her to move in with him, and the next he was telling her things were moving too fast and that he needed “space.”

  What the hell?

  She groaned inwardly. Maybe if Copper Canyon had more than a mini-mart, hardware store and laundromat, she’d have something else to occupy her time. Okay, so maybe that was exaggeration. The town did have a bowling alley. And a diner.

  She chewed on her lip, watching the waitress pour coffee for a man seated at the counter. Tucking her long hair behind her ear, Kendall looked across the table at her two friends.

  “Do you think this place might need some extra help? Like another waitress, I mean.”

  Gabby Ryan stared at her in surprise. Dark-haired and petite, Gabby had been her best friend since kindergarten, and even though Kendall had left Copper Canyon and moved to LA after high school, they talked or emailed each other almost every day. If anyone knew Kendall, it was Gabby. Which, now that she thought about it, was probably why her friend was looking at her like that.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Because I’m thinking of getting a job while I’m here.”

  Gabby lifted a brow. “As a waitress?”

  “Why not?” Kendall frowned. “I did it in college…”

  “And hated it from what you told me.”

  Kendall couldn’t argue with that. She was definitely not made for the food service industry. Waiters and waitresses deserved every tip they got, and then some. That work was hard. “I know, but I need something to do or I’m going to go insane. Besides, I could use the money.”

  “Outdoor Outfitters is looking for help, if you’re interested.”

  Kendall glanced at the other girl sitting in the booth beside Gabby. Maryann Conners had moved to Copper Canyon with her family during their freshman year of high school. She’d hated it at first, but after a few weeks, the redhead had completely fallen in love with the place. Or maybe she’d just fallen in love with the captain of the football team. Either way, she hadn’t left after graduation.

  Kendall sipped her iced tea. “Outdoor Outfitters?”

  She’d seen the town’s newest store, but hadn’t gone inside yet. No reason to, since the great outdoors really wasn’t her thing. And Copper Canyon was smack in the middle of the great outdoors. Yet another reason not to like the town.

  Maryann nodded. “I think it’s pretty much just stocking shelves and working the register, but at least it’s something to do.”

  “You left out the best part, Maryann. That Jason Maxwell is the owner.” Gabby gave Maryann a sidelong glance. “Kendall had a huge crus
h on him in high school.”

  Maryann blinked at Kendall in astonishment. “You did? I never knew that.”

  “Kendall was very good at hiding it.” Gabby grinned. “From everyone but me, of course. Every time Jason walked by, I’d look over at Kendall, and there she’d be, gazing at him longingly over the pile of books in her arms.”

  Kendall blushed. “I did not!”

  Gabby snorted. “Come on. You practically drooled over the guy.”

  Kendall opened her mouth, but then closed it. Gabby was right. Despite the fact that high school had been a lifetime ago, thoughts of Jason Maxwell still had the ability to bring a rush of color to her cheeks. Tall, with dark hair and the most beautiful blue eyes she’d ever seen, Jason had been the cutest guy in school, not to mention one of the most popular. She always hoped he’d ask her out, but he didn’t, and by the time senior year rolled around, she’d been too preoccupied with college and the prospect of getting out of Copper Canyon to think about him much. She’d always wondered what he’d done after graduation. Now, she knew.

  “Soooooo,” Gabby drawled, her eyes twinkling. “Are you going to stop by to talk to him?”

  Kendall ignored her friends’ all-too-knowing smiles and took another sip of iced tea. “Maybe.”

  After the other women left a little while later—Gabby to pick her two sons up from school, and Maryann to take her youngest daughter to piano lessons—Kendall’s thoughts turned to Jason Maxwell again. From where she sat in the diner, she had a clear view of Outdoor Outfitters across the street, and she watched a steady stream of tourists go in and out of the store. It was certainly busy. Maybe getting a job there might be just the thing to help her forget about her ex-boyfriend.

  Before she could change her mind, Kendall grabbed her shoulder bag and hurried across the street.

  The store was bigger than she thought it’d be, its wide array of clothing, camping gear and skiing equipment encompassing not one, but two floors. She shouldn’t have been surprised. With its crystal clear lakes and snow-capped mountains, Copper Canyon was a favorite with outdoor enthusiasts. Obviously, Jason Maxwell was benefiting from that.

  Rather than wait in the long line for the register, Kendall looked around, hoping to spot Jason. Would she even recognize him after all this time? She hadn’t seen him in ten years. For all she knew, her high school crush could have a sizeable paunch and a receding hairline by now. The image made her frown.

  “Can I help you find something?”

  Kendall turned to see a teenage girl standing there. Athletic, with curly, red hair and freckles, she wore jeans along with a navy blue T-shirt that bore the name Outdoor Outfitters in the upper left-hand corner.

  “I’m looking for Jason Maxwell,” Kendall said.

  “Oh.” The redhead jerked her head toward the back of the store. “He’s in his office. Follow me.”

  The girl led Kendall through the store to a door marked Employees Only. “Wait here. I’ll go get him for you.”

  As Kendall stood there beside the racks of fishing poles waiting for the girl to come back, she realized she was nervous about seeing Jason again. Would he recognize her? Heck, would he even remember her?

  Before she could speculate on an answer to either of those questions, the door opened and the girl came out, followed by a tall, well-built and even-better-looking-than-she had-remembered Jason Maxwell. One look into those gorgeous blue eyes and she felt like she was back in high school again. Jeans and a plaid shirt had never looked so damn sexy on a guy.

  As he took in her long, blonde hair, gray eyes, and slender figure, Kendall thought she saw a flicker of recognition in his blue eyes, but she couldn’t be sure.

  “Can I help you?” he asked.

  Kendall wet her suddenly dry lips. “I don’t know if you remember me, but we went to high school together—Kendall Merriweather.”

  He hesitated, as if trying to remember her, then nodded. “Oh, yeah. Your parents own the campground near the lake, right?”

  A little hurt that the only thing her high school crush could seem to remember about her was that her parents owned a campground, Kendall nodded. “I heard you were looking to hire some extra help, and was wondering if the job was still available.”

  Jason folded his arms across his broad chest and regarded her speculatively. “It is. But I usually hire high school kids for this kind of thing. I mean, it pays okay for what it is—stocking shelves and working the register—but it’s not like you’re going to make a career of it or anything. And there aren’t any benefits to speak of, unless you count all the live bait you can use.”

  Make a career of it? She hoped not. “Actually, I’m just back in town for a while and could use the extra money. You can keep the live bait.”

  He chuckled. “Have you ever worked in a store before?”

  She gave him a smile. “Does the college bookstore count?”

  “That’s good enough for me.”

  Her smile broadened. “Does that mean I got the job?”

  “If you want it.” He flashed her a grin. “I could use another adult around here anyway.”

  After filling out the usual employment paperwork, Kendall left the store with a stack of navy blue Outdoor Outfitter T-shirts in hand. One thing was for sure. If working at the store didn’t help get her mind off Keith, having a boss as gorgeous a Jason would.

  * * * * *

  Jason couldn’t believe it when he’d walked out of the back to find Kendall Merriweather standing there. He’d heard she was back in town—hell, he’d spent the past two days trying to figure out a way to run into her without looking like he’d meant to—but there she was, wearing a tank top and snug-fitting jeans that reminded him why he’d lusted after her in high school. As if he needed reminding. She’d always been pretty, but now that her slender figure had all those lush curves, she was a complete and total knockout.

  He’d been so busy trying to ignore his hard-on he almost didn’t hear her ask for a job. To say he was surprised was an understatement. The last he’d heard, she was working in the marketing department at some big-time advertising agency in LA. He wondered what had brought her back to Copper Canyon. Back in high school she couldn’t wait to get away from here.

  Since then, he’d alternated between kicking himself for letting her get away and thanking God he’d been too chicken to ask her out. Because while being with her would have been beyond amazing, she would have broken his heart for sure the day she’d left Copper Canyon for the big city. And something told him you didn’t simply “get over” a woman like Kendall.

  Which was why he was damn well going to keep his distance this time around, too, no matter how hard it was. And considering they were going to be working together every day, it was going to be hard as hell.

  Chapter Two

  Kendall arrived promptly for work the next day. She had to admit that throwing on jeans and the standard-issue Outdoor Outfitters T-shirt was a nice change from the business suits she wore at her old job. The ad agency didn’t do casual, on Friday or any other day.

  Nicole, the red-haired girl she’d met yesterday, was behind the counter, and she looked up as Kendall walked in.

  “Hey,” she said. “Jason said you’d be starting today.”

  Kendall returned her smile. “Is he here?”

  As if in answer to her question, he came walking out from the back of the store. He was dressed the same as he’d been yesterday, in jeans and a button-up shirt, only today the shirt wasn’t plaid, but a chambray blue that brought out the color of his eyes. He grinned when he saw her.

  “Ready to get started?”

  She had been when she’d walked in a few minutes ago, but now she wasn’t so sure. Something told her that working alongside a hot guy like him was going to make it difficult to concentrate on anything but those broad shoulders of his. Damn, he was seriously built. Clearly, working in the great outdoors did a body good.

  She stifled a moan and nodded in answer to his questio
n.

  “Come on,” he said. “I’ll show you around.”

  Though she tried not to, Kendall’s gaze automatically went to his jean-clad butt as he led the way. She’d always thought her ex Keith had a great ass, but not compared to Jason. And she hadn’t even seen him naked. Yet.

  Yet? She made it sound as if she was going to sleep with him.

  Okay, she needed to get hold of herself. She worked for Jason, which meant she shouldn’t be entertaining thoughts of sleeping with him. Outdoor Outfitters probably had some policy against that, right? Even if they didn’t, getting involved with him when she was going back to LA soon would be stupid. Besides, she had a rule never to get involved with anyone when she was on the rebound.

  Trying to focus on the real reason she was there, she followed Jason into the back of the store and through the door marked Employees Only. As they made their way down the hallway, her new boss pointed out the different rooms on either side of them, including the restroom, employee breakroom and his office. Beyond that, was the stockroom, which was filled with boxes and boxes of various items the store carried.

  After he’d shown her around in the back, he gave her a tour of the store, taking her through the different areas to familiarize her with each section. Though Kendall really did make an effort to pay attention to everything he said—especially since she didn’t know the first thing about most of the stuff—she spent more time listening to his sexy voice than focusing on what he was saying. His rough, husky timbre seemed to have established a direct connection with her erogenous zones. Sort of like a verbal vibrator. The more he talked, the more insistent the purring in her pussy became until she was sure she was going to have run to the restroom to play with herself. She was about to do just that when he said something about showing her how to work the cash register.