“Can I buy you a coffee? I’m Mac, by the way.”
“She’s interviewing for the job you don’t want, Mac. So why don’t you get your coffee and get on with yourself.”
Mac’s lips turned up in a huge smile as he moved to the counter. “Steph, you know you don’t want me working here.” Mac looked over his shoulder, his gaze landing on April. She swore his smile grew broader as he stared at her. “I’m a guide. You know, hiking.”
“Oh.” Why was he talking to her? Maybe working here would open her up too much. She didn’t see anyone else entering the store and pushed away the paranoia clouding her judgment. She needed to work, or she would need to until the money was released, which wouldn’t be for another eight years when she turned thirty.
She didn’t begrudge the setup. She received a decent enough allowance that she only needed a part-time job instead of working sixty hours a week like most of her friends. She had twenty hours left on her degree, and she was thinking about going back in the fall, but the stalker had thrown her off. Safety had been her main reason for cutting out summer school and running.
“Do you like to hike?” Mac asked after he placed his coffee order, which happened to be a very large, sweet drink with caramel, chocolate syrup, and loads of whipped cream.
“Um, you drink that?”
Mac glanced over his shoulder at the drink Steph had placed on the counter. “Sure as heck do. I spent eight hours leading a hike this morning, and I’m starving. I need the sugar rush because tonight, I’m headed back out there with a local search and rescue group. They’re training me to search for lost hikers at night. They’re really a great group of guys. I’m lucky I know them. This is the first year they think I’m old enough to train or something like that.”
“Oh.” The words he said didn’t really make sense to her. She nodded like she knew what he was talking about.
“Enough lollygagging around, Mackenzie. I need to have a chat with my new employee,” Steph said.
April’s gaze swung to Steph. “I didn’t know I got the job.”
“Well, since no one else has applied, and you’ve worked at a coffee shop before, I figured I’d give you a try.”
“Thank you,” April said.
“Go enjoy your evening hiking.” Steph’s voice had changed. The commanding tone was gone and had been replaced with caring. Mac leaned over the counter and kissed Steph’s cheek before rushing out.
April watched him go, then turned back to Steph. What kind of relationship did they have? Steph looked much older, and Mac appeared close to her twenty-two years.
“He’s my godchild. I’ve known him since he was born. They haven’t always lived here, but he spends summers here.”
“That’s nice.” April turned to the door and watched as Mac pulled out sunglasses and hopped into a huge truck. The man was young, around her age, with a great smile and kind eyes. She would like to get to know him better if her life wasn’t a total wreck. She couldn’t afford a relationship while some jerk stalked her. She didn’t have time but wanted to make time for this man. Maybe it would all fall apart, but she was willing to try.
CHAPTER TWO
“And that’s how you don’t end up bear meat,” Ethan said.
Mac didn’t know if he should laugh, but the rest of the guys threw back their heads, and laughter spilled around them. It was late, maybe around midnight, and they’d been out here since eight. The fire they’d built was small, just enough for them to heat water and provide a little light. They had sandwiches they’d consumed earlier, and their packs were hung between trees so they didn’t attract bears.
A part of him thought these guys were training him just to get some time camping. He’d learned a lot, but they’d also spent plenty of time bullshitting each other. They were older than him. His dad had insisted he join the Army at seventeen. He’d hated it at first, then he realized he could get ahead by taking classes and getting a jump on college.
“Mac, are you finished with your degree?” Zeke asked.
Mac nodded. “Almost, sir. I have two classes I have to take that start in August. I’ll be done by October.”
“October, that’s an odd time to finish up,” Ethan said.
“Yeah, it’s two small classes I can take in mini-mesters. They are electives. I’m done with all the hard stuff, and I just have to finish these.”
“What are you going to do for work after you graduate?” Talon threw out.
Mac turned to meet Talon’s gaze. “I’m applying at the forestry service, but I know it’s tough competition. I’ve been working as a volunteer firefighter for the county where I attend school and have my firefighter certifications. I’ll keep applying if I don’t get in at the service this time.”
“Forestry? What do you think your job would be in the forestry service?” Drew asked.
Mac shrugged. “My degree is in botany with a secondary degree in ecology. I got the firefighting certifications if I can’t get a job as a botanist. I like working in science and outside.”
“Maybe you could rejoin the Army,” Zeke said.
Mac shook his head. “I spent four years in, and that was enough for me. I appreciate everything I learned, but I don’t want to go back. Besides, I don’t know that they need many botanists in the military.”
The guys threw back their heads, and laughter spilled out. He didn’t think what he’d said had been that funny.
Zeke stopped laughing and met his gaze. “Trust me, son, if there is a degree for it, the US military needs it. Of course, they have botanists on staff. The military has to abide by regulations and laws. They also have labs that evaluate so much stuff. They can hire civilian botanists, but if you wanted to return, they’d find a way to use your knowledge.”
“I’m sure I don’t want to go back,” Mac said.
“Fair enough,” Cohen said. “Serving in the military can be rewarding, but I know guys who got in and didn’t realize how hard it would be.”
“Dude, you took the hard option,” Zeke said.
Cohen tsked his tongue. “A lot of us took the hard option. Joining a search and rescue team is also the hard option after leaving the military or wherever you were before this. I think the forestry service is great. The service makes this possible.”
“What are you talking about?” Zeke asked.
“The forest we’re sitting in. No one has come in and ripped out these trees and strip-mined these hills because someone pointed out the value of this forest. Everything about this place would be different if we didn’t have someone passionate about forests.”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way,” Talon said. “I love this area. It’s amazing.”
“Damn straight,” Zeke said. “This place is special.”
Mac yawned as exhaustion tugged at him. Usually, he was in bed by now because the mornings had been early for so long he’d gotten used to waking at the crack of dawn. Cohen stood and walked over to his tent. The rest of the guys began saying goodnight.
Mac moved to his tent, grateful for this opportunity but glad they were going to sleep. That was the one thing he’d really hated about the Army, the lack of sleep. He figured out he wasn’t like the other guys who could exist on little sleep. He’d never gotten used to it in the four years he’d been in.