Free Pushing Her Boundaries by Julia Rachel Barrett Page B

and she set the cup down. Forget it, girl. It’s done, finished. Take another shower … Her knees just about buckled when she pictured what they’d done in the shower. She swore she could feel Mace inside, making her come, all over again. Um, over and over again, is more like it . Maggie drew in a ragged breath and blew it out. Get a grip. Take another shower, sort your stuff, and pack for the canoe trip. Do it.

Chapter Six

    “Are you sure you know how to get to this marina? It sounds like it’s in the middle of nowhere.” Maggie glanced at Lynn in time to see her sister roll her eyes.
    “Yes. Jeff gave me excellent directions. Quit stressing about every single thing.”
    It was Maggie’s turn to roll her eyes. “I don’t understand why we have to drive up alone. Jeff should be with us, to help with your stuff. And I’m still not certain about all this.”
    “I told you, Jeff and I get five days alone in a cabin with no phone, no internet, no television. I can’t wait. Nobody from his office will be able to reach him.” Lynn patted Maggie’s thigh. “Seriously, sis, you worry too much. I’ll be fine.”
    Maggie snorted. “It’s not so much you I’m worried about. I’m the one who’ll be stuck out in the wilderness with complete strangers and, by the way, who the hell is going to be canoeing with me? I can’t handle a canoe by myself and the last thing I want to do is sit in the middle of a canoe like a little kid. Talk about a fifth wheel.”
    When Lynn mumbled an answer, Maggie ventured a quick glance at her sister’s face. Lynn stared down at her hands. “What was that? What did you say?” Maggie asked.
    “I said, Jeff’s friend says he has somebody coming along to canoe with you.”
    Maggie raised her eyebrows. “Oh my god, please tell me this is not a secret plan to fix me up with some dickhead.”
    Lynn looked at her and grinned. “Maggie, I swear on my life this is not a plan to fix you up with some dickhead.”
    “Good, because I’m going to have to use the woods as a toilet and that’s bad enough without having to do it in the company of complete strangers, let alone a man my sister wants me to impress.”
    “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that. Besides, everyone knows you get grungy when you’re camping.” Lynn’s cell phone rang. She looked at Maggie. “It’s Jeff.”
    “Well, answer it. Maybe he’s calling to tell you he’s on his way.” Or even better, maybe he’s calling to tell us to turn around, that the whole trip’s been canceled. I really don’t feel like depending upon strangers for five days, even if they are Jeff’s friends and gourmet cooks and wine experts. I’m not so sure I even like people who fancy themselves wine experts. Well, at least they’ll bring some good food and maybe some of their favorite wines and I can do a little fishing… Lynn had finished her phone conversation and she was talking to her. “Huh?”
    “Jeff says he’ll be there before sunset. His friend, Robert, will have to make a couple trips in the motorboat to pick us all up at the marina.”
    Maggie nodded. “I forgot to ask, do cell phones work up there?”
    “I don’t think so. I think the last time you can reliably get cell service is at Cloquet.”
    “Cloquet?”
    “Yeah, it’s this little town maybe an hour south of the marina.”
    “And how far is the cabin from the marina?”
    “I’m not entirely sure, thirty, forty minutes by speedboat.”
    “Do you know if they have indoor plumbing at the cabin?”
    Lynn laughed. “Oh yeah, Jeff says the cabin is gorgeous. They have indoor plumbing, great views, a guest house…really, sis, you need to chill. We’re just going to a private island, not Siberia. You’ll have fun despite yourself. You know, Maggie, you don’t have to play mom every minute we’re together.” Maggie opened her mouth to protest, but Lynn stuck up a hand. “No, I mean it. Yeah, I broke my ankle and I’m bruised up, but I’ll