Tyler smiled. “Definitely, I’ll make reservations...” Then, after a quick glance at Reed, he shook his head. “Sorry... I, uh, forgot I’m pulling double shifts at the station for the next...week?”

Reed cleared his throat.

“Two weeks. Sorry, Erika... You really should check it out, though—it’s an amazing adrenaline rush,” he said, before walking away.

Erika glared at Reed. “What’s your problem?”

“No problem. You’re my sister’s best friend and I told her I’d keep an eye on you while she was away.”

What was she? Six? She raised an eyebrow.

“Not keep an eye on you like you’re a child...just if you need anything.”

There were definitely far too many implications in that solitary word. Anything. She could think of a few things she needed, but she’d been hoping to get them from no-strings-attached Tyler, not complicated-as-all-fuck Reed.

“Tyler’s just not...the right person to take you heli-skiing,” he continued.

Silence followed, and if he expected her to ask him to take her, he’d be waiting a long time. Tyler might not be the right person to keep her company while she was on vacation, but she already knew spending time alone with Reed was just dangerous. Like, stupid dangerous.

“Reed, we’re ready to get started,” an older man said from the front of the room as another volunteer, dressed head to toe in a tree costume, came into view.

Kids cheered and Reed hesitated for a brief second, causing her heart to rise in her throat. “Anyway, you should stick around for this,” he said and walked away.

With Diva napping, lying on her back with all four paws in the air next to Kaia, it didn’t look as though Erika had much choice. She took a seat at the back of the room on a wooden bench along the wall.

“Hey, everyone, have you all met Woodsy?” Reed asked the group as he wrapped an arm around the tree.

“Yes!” the chorus of kids called out.

“Great, well, with Woodsy’s help, we are going to go over the most important rules for backwoods safety...”

He was really great with the kids.

How many other roles and responsibilities did he have as a lead member of the search crew? When did he ever have time off? Between the bar and his volunteer position, she figured he must clock in as many hours in a day as she did. Maybe that was why he was single. Too busy to date? It didn’t seem likely that the women around here would let him use that excuse, though.

From the corner of her eye, she saw several moms paying real close attention to the demonstration, as well.

No doubt, Reed had his pick of women, so why was he flirting with her? Was he flirting? Or was it simply his promise to Cassie that had inspired his invite for her to hang out at the bar?

This was exactly why Erika didn’t do relationships. Who had time for all these games and second-guessing? Not her.