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“Och, don’t thank him too much,” Ally says. “It’s just an opportunity for him to skive off the hotel for a bit. C’mon, Jamie, help me with the equipment. Playing video games on your laptop won’t work your muscles.” He gives his brother a shove towards the raft.

“I can help too!” I say. “I’ll carry the paddles.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ally calls over his shoulder, already sauntering back to the river. “We’ve got this.”

I’m a spare part, hanging out by the car while the men carry back the raft, with paddles and helmets inside, then deposit the equipment in the boot and hoist the raft up onto the car. Once it’s tied in place, Ally grabs his bag from the boot. He lifts mine too and is about to pass it to me when his expression grows troubled.

“Oh . . . shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

He looks a little sheepish. “Er . . . normally I get changed here before driving back. It’s never an issue when it’s just me and Aidan, but with you here . . . well, maybe I should have worn something under my wetsuit.”

I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

Jamie chuckles, leaning against the car. “This should be good.”

Ally takes a deep breath and releases a frustrated puff of air. “Right, if Aidan and I do ever make a business out of this, sorting out changing facilities is going to be high up the priority list. For now, Jamie, get back in the car and back on your laptop. Keep yourself busy! No trying to peek at Emily in her bikini.”

“A bikini?” Jamie glances at me with interest.

“Forget I said that!” Ally points a firm finger at Jamie. “I don’t normally say this, but I don’t want your eyes leaving that screen for even a moment. Understand me?”

Jamie smirks. “I’ve no wish to see your hairy arse, Ally. And, Emily, you don’t have anything to worry about either.”

Ally shakes his head, muttering something I don’t catch, then he hands me my bag. “Choose a tree and get changed behind it. I promise I won’t look. And don’t worry about the road: it’s dead quiet. Well, except when a coach filled with camera-wielding tourists goes by, but I reckon they’d appreciate something to spice up their holiday snaps.”

That smile again. I can’t figure this guy out. One moment, he’s acting like he can’t bear touching me. The next, he’s grinning and cracking barely appropriate jokes. I mean, make up your mind!

I pick a tree with a wide trunk and position myself in a way that blocks my view of the car. If I can’t see Jamie, presumably he can’t see me. I then begin the arduous task of peeling off my wetsuit. I’d thought getting into it was hard, but this takes things to the next level.

After some serious wiggling, I get my top half out. I grab my towel from my bag and dry myself as best I can, including dabbing at my bikini top, then I pull on a shirt. Wearing dry clothes over a damp bikini isn’t the nicest sensation, but it’s only a short drive back to the hotel, and I’ll shower when I get there. Despite their assurances they won’t peek, I’ve no intention of getting naked with two McIntyre brothers nearby.

Ally, though, has no choice but to get naked. I shouldn’t look—I know I shouldn’t—but curiosity gets the better of me. I glance around the trunk and spot the tree he’s getting changed behind, thanks to a flash of bare arm and a glimpse of unclothed leg.

And then, to my great surprise, Ally suddenly hops into view, his back to me, completely naked except for a raised foot from which he’s struggling to tug his wetsuit.

I suck in a breath of air, ogling his exposed broad shoulders, his muscular back that tapers into a deliciously taut arse, his long strong legs. But I don’t get to admire him for long. He gets the wetsuit off and returns to his spot behind the tree, though not before shooting a glance my way.

I yank my head back, my heart hammering, no idea whether he caught me. I go back to changing, removing the wetsuit from my lower half then drying my legs, my face burning with shame. I looked, which is bad, but what’s even worse is I liked what I saw.

Taking a few deep breaths, I try to calm my heart rate. This is ridiculous. I shouldn’t be attracted to Ally, and I certainly shouldn’t be ogling him.

Once I’ve finished changing, I head to the car. Ally’s already there, in the front passenger seat. I climb into the back, dreading what he might be about to say. Will he acknowledge he saw me peeking?

He doesn’t. He simply says, “All right, let’s go!”

Jamie drives us north, along a road that follows the river. We go through Bannock then continue on back to the launch site, where we pull up beside the other car. Ally and I get out.

“I’ll see you at the hotel,” Jamie says. “In fact, hang on a minute! I forgot something.” He pops open the glove compartment and, from it, produces a flask.

“I made some tea before I left—thought it might warm you up. I wasn’t sure how you take it, Emily, but I put milk in. I hope that’s all right. And if you want sugar, I brought a few sachets. There’s a travel mug here too—one of you can drink from it, and the other from the flask.”

“That was so sweet of you!” I beam at Jamie, earning me a brief curling of his lips. “A cup of tea is just what I need right now. And I do take milk, but no sugar, so that’s perfect. Thanks!”

“Aye, you’re not a bad wee brother,” Ally concedes. “Thanks, mate.”

Jamie drives off, and Ally and I get into the other car. He splits the tea between the flask and mug then passes me the mug.