I was dead certain we were caught. But Eric didn't even flinch. Moving with lightning speed, he instantly yanked me down flat against his chest, wrapping a heavy, protective arm around my shoulders. Thank God the thick sleeping bag covered us from the waist down, completely concealing our intertwined bodies just a split second before my mom sat up and saw us clearly.

 

"I think she heard a bear moving around behind the tent. She panicked and jumped on top of me. I'm just trying to calm her down," he answered smoothly, coming up with an alibi faster than I ever could have. His voice was perfectly steady, sounding exactly...