Wonderful. “Can’t wait,” she said weakly. “Everyone should be open to new life experiences, right?”

“Don’t worry about the skunks,” Suzanne reassured her. “Just concentrate on the fact that if anything is going to be open, it will be your legs.”

More likely she’d be too afraid to take her clothes off, but she did appreciate Suzanne’s optimism.

“I can practically hear your brain creating a list of all the things you aren’t going to like about this trip,” Tamara said. “Just relax and enjoy yourself.”

“Do I know how to do that?” Imogen asked honestly.

Her friends laughed, and Suzanne actually descended into a snort.

“You enjoyed last night, didn’t you?” Tamara asked.

She nodded. “Oh, yeah.”

“So it’s the same thing, just in a tent.”

Right. Sex in a tent. No different than a bed, really. Just harder. And earthier. And buggier.

The only conclusion she could reach if she was willing to go to such lengths to spend time with Ty was that she was seriously infatuated with him.

And that was almost scarier than the thought of running into a bear while covered in honey.

RYDER Jefferson was heading to a preliminary meeting with his crew chief in Martinsville when his cell phone rang. Striding across the motor coach lot, he pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at it.

“Shit,” was his opinion. It was his ex-wife, Suzanne. If she was calling him, it usually meant she wanted something from him.

They’d been getting along just fine lately, which was probably because they hadn’t been seeing much of each other since a dinner party incident back in May when she’d tossed a pie in his face. He still hadn’t figured out what that was all about.

Deciding to ignore her call, he sighed when he realized she had hung up and was calling again. Knowing Suzanne and how tenacious she was, she’d keep calling until he answered.

“Hello, Suz, how are ya?” he said, slowing down his gait as he headed for the track.

“Are you busy?” she asked. “Do you have a minute to chat?”

Well, now, that was a good start. She was being all polite and agreeable. “Yes, this is a fine time. Just heading to a meeting. What’s up, darlin’?”

“Why didn’t you answer, then?” she asked caustically.

Ryder rolled his eyes. So much for a good start. “I did answer.”

“But you didn’t the first time . . . Oh, never mind. I didn’t call to fight.”

“That’s reassuring.” Because when he fought with Suzanne, he always felt like he was driving the short track blindfolded and she was the wall.

“Listen, did you know Ty is banging Imogen?”

Ryder stopped walking and stared blankly at the fence surrounding the track. “Huh? Who’s Imogen?” And why did Suzanne feel the need to tell him she was sleeping with Ty?