Saving Shelby: West Coast Romance, #1

Chapter 1

Shelby Reid was already waiting at the rear door when the bus pulled to a stop at the curb. Come on. Come on. Come on, she urged under her breath.

The door snapped open, and she bolted through it, barely checking for traffic before cutting across the street. Her purse banged against her hip, and her canvas shoulder bag tried to wrap itself around her leg and trip her. She needed to invest in a backpack.

Having navigated the street unscathed, Shelby paused at the base of the concrete steps leading to the elementary school’s front doors and bent over, gasping for breath. She was out of shape and out of time.

She needed to collect herself before going inside. Today was the second day of a two-day survival course and the first step on the journey to her new life. Winded and sweaty wasn’t how she wanted to arrive.

But she didn’t want to be late either, so untangling her bag and her purse Shelby strode up the steps and pulled open the door, only to be confronted by the giant clock in the foyer—trust an elementary school to slap you in the face with the time—and she was late.

Are you here for the course?

A deep male voice snapped Shelby’s attention away from the clock. Standing in the foyer of an elementary school, trembling with anxiety and glistening with sweat, she found herself floundering in the depths of his decadent brown eyes, like she was drowning in a pool of chocolate.

He was only a few inches taller than her, but his flannel shirt stretched across broad shoulders, hinting at the lean muscles beneath. His rugged jaw had just a hint of stubble, like he hadn’t shaved this morning, and his skin had the deep, weathered tan of a man who spent a lot of time outdoors.

It wasn’t just his eyes that were delicious.

Hello? His voice resonated through her, soothing her anxiety while coaxing another reaction that was anything but relaxing.

Shelby watched, frozen, as he reached an arm towards her. His hand touched her bare wrist, just where her jacket ended, and she sucked in her breath. Everything paused as tingly warmth spread up her arm. Then he removed his fingers and reality crashed back in.

She was gawking at him like an idiot. Get a grip, Shelby. This isn’t the first man you’ve ever seen! Um… I… I… I’m sorry I’m late. Her face burned. Couldn’t she just say hi, like a normal functioning adult?

A slow smile spread across his face. You’re right on time, he drawled. His gaze held hers for a moment longer than felt necessary for an ordinary introduction.

Her mind spun out of control. Was this sizzling hot man checking her out?

I’m Ian McLean. Let’s get you checked in.

Shelby’s thoughts came to a screeching halt. She was crazy to think this man was hitting on her. He was just being friendly. This wasn’t a romance novel where the first sexy man you met after leaving your marriage was your one true love.

Yes, good idea. Thank you. Her attempt to appear cool and collected—and not like she’d just been thinking X-rated things about him—felt stiff. Her face burned, and she stared at him, unable to think straight.

He picked up a pen and raised his eyebrows questioningly. And you are?

Right. She was supposed to be checking in. The smoldering heat on her face erupted into a burning inferno. He was turning her into a bumbling idiot. "Shelby… uh, Shelby Reid. I’m Shelby Reid." Please let the floor swallow me up.

The corners of his mouth twitched, and his eyes gleamed like he found her amusing. Well, Shelby Reid, welcome. He checked her off on a list, then gestured towards the double doors to the gym. Find a seat. I’ll be getting started soon.

He’s the instructor! She gulped as her already panicked mind flipped into overdrive. He wasn’t just the greeter, and Annabeth, last week’s instructor, wasn’t inside. Cute, curly-haired, not sinfully hot, Annabeth.

How was she going to make it through the entire day, when she couldn’t even check-in without making an idiot of herself?

Shelby darted for the gymnasium doors, needing to get away before she could humiliate herself further. She glanced back just in time to catch a flash of amusement in Ian’s eyes.

Great first impression.

Ian watched Shelby until she disappeared into the gym. He didn’t miss her quick glance back at him, and a surge of something he didn’t want to name spread through his body. She was so damn cute.

Her straight hair, pulled back in a simple ponytail, was the blonde of wheat fields, and her blue eyes were just the shade of Love Lake when the early morning sun glinted off it. And the way a blush crept up her neck and across her cheeks every time she spoke was sexy as hell. It had his libido trying to convince him to ditch class and spend time getting to know her.

At thirty-five, he should be long past letting his hormones control his decisions. He wasn’t that reckless guy anymore. And yet, this woman had him distracted, like he was still in high school and at the mercy of his pubescent body.

Talk about unprofessional. If he wanted to avoid getting in trouble with his boss, Jade, he’d have to watch himself today. He was on rocky ground as it was, and he would be a fool to think that Jade wouldn’t drop him in an instant if she suspected he was lusting after one of his students.

Ian gathered up the paperwork. He just needed to get his head on straight and his focus back on teaching this course. This thing he was feeling for Shelby was nothing. It had just been a long time since he’d felt this kind of instant attraction. He certainly hadn’t been expecting to feel it when he agreed to take Annabeth’s class for her, and it was knocking him for a loop. He needed to ignore the building heat and get on with his job.

This was a road he’d blocked off years ago, and he didn’t have any desire to venture down it again anytime soon.

But wow—Shelby Reid could be the woman to change his mind.

Chapter 2

Shrugging out of her jacket, Shelby glanced around at the other students, anxiety gnawing at her stomach as she assessed the situation. The other participants were chatting or engrossed in their phones. They all looked like they belonged here. Unlike her.

She felt like a fraud. Her performance at check in only highlighted the fact that her family was right. She was in over her head. This course was part of her plan to reinvent herself after leaving her husband of thirteen years, but she was feeling like a fool for thinking taking a survival course was the way to do it.

What she should be doing was working on getting skills to improve her resume, so she could get a better job and move to a place where her two sons could have their own rooms, and she didn’t have to sleep on the futon in the living room.

To distract herself from the dread pooling low in her gut, Shelby pulled the course manual out of her bag and randomly flipped it open to a picture of a woman leaning against a tree, her leg obviously broken, and the words, Do you know what to do? written above her head.

Panic flashed through her, leaving her nauseated. She had no clue. It was like she couldn’t remember anything Annabeth said last week.

What am I doing here? They’re right. I can’t do this. Maybe she could sneak out before the class started. Chalk this all up to a mistake.

But before she could bolt, the rational side of her brain kicked in. This was where she wanted to be, and she needed to see this through.

She’d taken a lot of crap to get here—not only from her mother, but also from her ex-husband, Blake. She hadn’t planned to even tell him about it. They split up three months ago, and frankly, it was none of his business.

However, her mother hadn’t seen it that way. Caroline had probably phoned him the second after Shelby had hung up from asking her to babysit. By his reaction, Blake had clearly thought it was his business. Her business had been his business for more years than she cared to count, and he wasn’t letting go of that power easily.

When Blake heard her plan, he’d been livid, giving her the gears every time he saw her. Give your head a shake, Shelby, and get back to reality. You can’t take care of yourself and your kids properly. What the hell are you going to do in the forest? You’re wasting your time—time you should be spending with my children.

He had never believed in her. It shouldn’t hurt her anymore, but it did. It was the reason she’d needed to leave him.

Shelby squared her shoulders. She wasn’t going to let Blake and her family win. She had every right to be here. She wanted this, and she was going to finish it no matter what anybody said.

Good morning and welcome back to Adventure Safe.

Shelby startled at Ian’s deep voice reverberating through the gym.

I’m Ian McLean, he continued. Annabeth’s got the plague, so you’re stuck with me.

Chuckles swept the room, but Shelby barely heard them. She was transfixed, unable to concentrate on anything but Ian.

He stood before the class in a solid stance, his muscular arms spread wide in an open gesture that said he was there to help and was completely confident in his ability to do so. He looked like he could guide you through dense forests and over craggy mountains without breaking a sweat, with nothing more than a Swiss Army knife—if he even needed that much gear.

He was every fantasy she’d ever had.

This course is put on by Alfresco Adventures, and by the end of today, you’ll have the basic knowledge and skills you need to get out into nature safely. Ian paused, looked around the room, then winked. Alright, that’s enough of the corporate mumbo jumbo. Let’s talk survival. As you learned from Annabeth last week, there are six skills necessary in a survival situation. Can anyone name one?

His dark eyes quickly scanned the room before landing on her. Any ideas, Shelby?

Her mind went blank, wiped clean at the sound of her name on his tongue. Say something quick. But her brain wasn’t listening. His deep voice swathed her in a warmth and no words would come.

His eyes darkened, and this time it wasn’t just her face that felt flushed. Could he see her thoughts?

Think. I know this. But the parts of her mind that weren’t frozen were flailing about uselessly, and all she could think was that he had remembered her name.

Um… I’m sorry, what?

One skill necessary for survival. Ian raised one eyebrow.

Her face flamed, and she fought the urge to cover her cheeks with her hands. All she could concentrate on was an image of Ian leaning in towards her, his mouth poised to—

Survival in the wild, not in bed. Get a grip! What was wrong with her? One encounter with a spectacular specimen of a man, and she’d lost her ability to control herself, like a heroine in a bodice ripper novel.

Um, not getting lost? She squeezed her eyes shut in mortification. It was wrong, but he was making her too nervous to think.

Around her, some of the students tittered, and the heat in her face intensified.

Ian’s mouth quirked into his almost smile. Not getting lost is a good start, but I’m thinking of what you need to know if you do get lost. Things like making a fire, building a shelter, signalling, administering first aid, procuring water, and navigation. He ticked each skill off on his fingers.

Shelby scrambled to pull a pad of paper and a pen out of her bag. Maybe taking notes would be enough to keep her from saying something else idiotic.

Let’s take a ten-minute break, and when we come back, we’ll quickly review the survival pattern and start on a bit of first aid, Ian said.

Shelby pushed her notebook away and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes briefly. The information was coming fast, and it had been a long time since she’d been a student.

Ian’s presence certainly wasn’t helping her concentration. It was a constant struggle to stay focused on the course material, as she had to keep yanking her mind back from fantasies about wilderness adventures featuring a very sexy and attentive Ian.

Around her, the students started chattering to each other, but she needed to escape to somewhere quiet. Darting out of the gym and into the girls’ bathroom, she slipped into a stall, resting her head against the wall for a moment to get her bearings.

A few minutes later—when she felt more in control and was sure the bathroom was empty—Shelby emerged from the stall and checked her hair in the mirror. She tightened her ponytail, then wet her hands to smooth back the wispy bits of escaped hair. It was a futile gesture. They would be back as soon as the hair dried, but it felt like she was doing something.

Leaning in close to the mirror, Shelby examined the black smudges under her eyes and pulled at the skin to erase the lines there. Sighing, she shook her head. Nothing she could do in this bathroom was going to erase the years from her face. Her hormones might be acting like she was still in high school, but her face told the story of every one of her thirty-two years.

Pull it together, Shelby, she told her reflection. You need to pay attention and stop acting like some love-struck teenager. The last thing you need is another man in your life. You haven’t even managed to extract yourself from Blake yet. And let’s be real, there is zero possibility a man like Ian would be interested in you.

With a last stern look at herself, she exited the bathroom and headed back to the gym, feeling in control of herself and her raging hormones. She took her seat, feeling confident she could focus for the rest of the day, then her eyes met his, and her insides went to jelly.

Chapter 3

It needs to be tighter. Ian tugged on the bandage tied around Piper’s hand, demonstrating how easily it loosened. It’s the pressure that stops the bleeding, so it needs to be tight. Not cutting off the circulation, but tight.

Okay, Shelby squeaked, her face burning with embarrassment.

They’d been working on first aid since lunch, and Shelby couldn’t seem to get any of it right, no matter how much her partner, Piper, tried to coach her.

The current scenario, a knife cut to the palm of the hand, should be easy enough. All Shelby had to do was tie the bandage around Piper’s hand so her fist would put pressure on the wound, and yet she was blowing it.

Shelby bent over Piper’s hand to pick out the loosened knot. She kept her head down, trying to block out Ian’s presence.

She could pretend she didn’t know why she couldn’t concentrate, but the problem was standing right there beside her, looking gorgeous in his flannel shirt.

Not that she could do anything about it anyway. She couldn’t exactly tell her smoking-hot survival instructor she needed him to step back so she could concentrate. Besides, he would have to go all the way across town for it to make any difference.

Pulling her focus back from what was under Ian’s shirt, Shelby straightened up the bandage, then wrapped it back around Piper’s fist. Her fingers fumbled, making it difficult to get it lined up right. When she finally had it positioned correctly, she pulled the knot tight, and all the tension slipped from the knot again.

She blew her breath out hard to keep herself from tossing the bandage on the floor in a fit. It was just a simple knot. Curling her fingers into tight fists, Shelby turned her eyes towards the ceiling, trying to hold back her tears. She couldn’t cry—not here.

Ian stepped closer and knelt beside her on the mat. Here, let me show you a trick.

She shifted to let him in, offering him the ends of the triangular bandage. As he took them, their hands brushed, and the room faded away until there were only the two of them. A warmth spread through her hand, growing into a tingling sensation anchored deep in her core.

Glancing at him, she saw his eyes darken and a ghost of a smile flit across his lips. For a split second, she was certain he had felt it too, then it was gone, leaving her confused.

When you tie the first part, loop it under a second time. The bandage locks on itself. Makes it easier to keep the tension. There was nothing in his voice to indicate that he’d felt any of the things she had.

Ian pulled the knot out and passed the bandage back to her. When their fingers touched again, a shiver of desire shot through her body. This time, she caught his reaction. His eyes widened, his nostrils flared, then he bolted.

Electricity shot up Ian’s arm from where his fingers touched Shelby, startling him. He scrambled backwards, hit straight in the chest by the look in her eyes. He wasn’t the only one who’d felt it.

Wheeling around, he fled across the practice area.

Fighting to appear unrattled, he crouched down beside Tony and Rick. The safety of helping the students should keep him focused on his job. Except it was hard to ignore the heat he’d felt between them.

He’d thought he’d felt Shelby react when their hands had accidentally touched the first time, but he had definitely felt her shiver when he’d purposely done it the second time. Not that it mattered. He couldn’t exactly act on it.

It would be a bad idea all around. It didn’t matter that her blue eyes pierced him right through his chest. It didn’t matter that all he could think about was tangling his hands in her long hair and loosening it from the elastic. What mattered, at this moment, was that he was her instructor, and Jade had a strict hands-off policy—except on those occasions when she didn’t, and this definitely wasn’t one of those.

Why on earth did he have the bad luck to meet Shelby here, while she was one of his students? Why couldn’t he have run into her in a bar, where he could’ve bought her a drink and coaxed more of those endearing blushes out of her?

Those were dangerous thoughts. He couldn’t risk going down that road. He couldn’t let there be a repeat of the past. Work and relationships didn’t mix. He didn’t need Jade’s rules to remind him of that. He’d learned that lesson the hard way, and it wasn’t one he cared to relearn.

It didn’t matter that in a few hours when the course ended, he would no longer be her instructor. And after today, he would probably never see her again. He couldn’t risk it, because it wouldn’t just be his job on the line.

The instant Ian stepped away, the electricity in Shelby’s blood fizzled, leaving her dizzy. Had they shared a flash of heat, or was it her wild imagination? Fighting the urge to slink out of the room, Shelby struggled to finish her knot and ignore the stares of the other students.

Are you okay? Piper asked.

Shelby looked at her partner, then glanced around the room. Nobody was paying the slightest attention to her. It had just been one of those moments that happened between adults. It hadn’t meant anything.

She squared her shoulders. Yes. I’ve got this. And she knew deep down that she did.

This course was one small step towards fully escaping Blake, and a stupid knot wasn’t going to defeat her. She attacked the knot again, deftly securing the bandage without losing any of the tension.

And check for circulation, Piper said.

Shelby checked for blood flow to Piper’s thumb, then rocked back on her heels, smiling in triumph. Circulation is good.

Nicely done, Ian said.

Shelby jumped, his voice coming out of nowhere. He was supposed to be on the other side of the room, busy with other students.

At his words, the warm glow returned. Feeling a little giddy with pride, she glanced up to share the moment with Ian. She couldn’t share her triumph with her family, but she could share it with him.

Disappointment pierced her gut when she realized he’d already moved on to the next student. The moment hadn’t meant anything. He was just doing his job.

Earth to Shelby, Piper sing-songed.

Shelby shook her head and looked back at her partner. I guess it’s my turn to get tied up.

It sure is. Too bad our smoking hot instructor isn’t going to be the one to do it. Piper winked at her.

Shelby smiled awkwardly, her face turning pink again—both at having been caught ogling the instructor, and because Piper was right.

Chapter 4

Shelby set down her pen, then opened and closed her hand to stretch out her stiff fingers. The first knuckle of her middle finger was dented and sore from the pressure of her pen, and she rubbed it absentmindedly as she rotated her aching neck and shoulders. The day had been long, and she was tired. She didn’t think she could take in one more piece of information.

Unconsciously, her gaze drifted to where Ian was talking to Piper. He was so ruggedly good looking. She wouldn’t mind getting lost in the woods, so he could rescue her. Just thinking about being alone and vulnerable in the woods while he arrived to save her had her womanly bits tingling again.

She shook her head to clear the naughty thoughts. Get a grip. This is real life, not a romance novel. A girl needed to rescue herself.

Ian glanced up from the map spread out in front of Piper and caught Shelby looking at him. She snapped her gaze away, pinning her eyes back onto the map she was supposed to be plotting a course on, not daydreaming about her instructor.

She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to ease the unsettled feeling there. It had felt like he could read her thoughts. And she’d done enough embarrassing things already without him learning he’d played a starring role in her fantasies all day.

She needed to get a grip on herself. This course was important. It was the first step towards creating the new Shelby: a Blake-free Shelby.

She could’ve messed everything up today, and she couldn’t afford to do that. She needed to keep her focus and maintain her momentum. She had goals, and unlike when she’d been a naïve teenager and let Blake steal her dreams, this time she wasn’t letting a man derail her.

Not even one as dreamy as Ian McLean.

We’re all done for today, folks.

Shelby glanced up at Ian, then quickly fastened her eyes back to her map.

I hope you enjoyed the course and will feel more confident when you venture out. I have a brochure about the other courses and getaways that Alfresco Adventures offers, if you’re interested. Ian glanced at his watch. We went overtime. I apologize for that. I didn’t want you to miss any of the training.

Shelby was so focused on ignoring the seductive pull of his voice that it took a moment for his words to register. Late? A wave of panic shot through her. Oh no… no, no, no, no. I can’t be late!

Shelby scrambled to get her phone and check the time. She fumbled the phone, and it flipped out of her fingers, skittering across the floor and underneath the table.

Shit. She dropped to her knees and crawled after it. This can’t be happening! This really can’t be happening. She couldn’t miss the 4:30 bus. She had to be home before Blake arrived to pick up the boys.

The phone stopped just inches from a pair of feet. With a sickening feeling, she realized who they belonged to. She didn’t need to look up the long, well-muscled legs to know she was crouched under a table at Ian’s feet. Carefully keeping her eyes averted, Shelby reached for her phone. As she grasped it, a strong hand wrapped around hers.

At the shock of his touch, Shelby glanced up. Her face blazed scarlet as their eyes met. His dark chocolate gaze pulled her into their depths. He only held her hand for a moment, but he squeezed it ever so slightly before he released it.

Suddenly, there wasn’t enough air, and Shelby tore her eyes away, not knowing where to look. The faint scent of evergreen trees clinging to his body made her want to pull him down under the table. Cheeks flaming at the intensity of her own thoughts, Shelby tried to free herself from where she was wedged between the table legs and a chair.

Here, let me help you up. Ian held a hand out to her.

She froze, then recoiled from his hand, knowing if she took it, the feel of his warm skin would send her over the edge, and her raging hormones would cause her to do something humiliating, like throwing herself at him.

Scooting backwards, she cracked her head against the table. Swallowing a string of curses, she rocked back and forth, clutching her head.

Ouch. That looked like it hurt. Ian guided Shelby out from under the table, protecting her head with his hand. She’d clanked her head so hard against the table, he’d winced in sympathy pain.

Instinctively, he pulled her protectively against his chest. But Shelby pulled away like she’d been electrocuted, and Ian reflexively stepped backwards, even as the desire to pull her close and keep her safe rose in him.

He shook his head to clear the thought. He needed to stop being an idiot. The last thing she wanted was him trampling in like some kind of Tarzan.

I’ve gotta go, Shelby said, pulling him out of his serious thoughts.

She avoided making eye contact with him as she scrambled to gather her things, slipping her phone into her back pocket. He flinched a little as she stuffed the map haphazardly into her bag, rather than folding it carefully along the creases. She didn’t glance his way even once.

The door clanged shut, and she was gone, leaving him staring after her, oblivious to the remaining students. He didn’t know what it was about Shelby that had caught his interest. She certainly wasn’t his normal type, not lately anyway—not since Natalie.

Thanks, Ian, Piper said, interrupting his trip into the past.

He forced a smile in return, his mind still fixed on Shelby. You take care. Maybe I’ll see you at another course.

Yes, I think you will. Maybe the Survival Spa. I saw something about it in the pamphlet.

It’s new. You should check it out.

I will. Piper nodded her head resolutely.

Then she was gone too. Ian surveyed the room. All he wanted was to get out of there and see if his buddy, Spencer, wanted to go for a beer.