“That fiery thing’s his cousin?” Jack asks, leaning forward. “Explains a lot. Looks like she’s got a stubborn streak, that’s for sure.”
“She’s also a pain in my ass,” I mutter, taking a swig of my beer.
Liam smirks and Ridge smirks. “Yeah? You’ve been a pain in ours for years. Karma’s a bitch, huh?”
The table erupts in laughter, and I shake my head, but a small part of me can’t deny the truth in Ridge’s words.
“You gotta admit,” Hudson says, leaning back in his chair, “she’s got guts. Takes a lot to stand up to you, Flint. Hell, we don’t even do it half the time.”
“She’s trouble,” I mutter, but the words lack conviction. This woman is under my skin, there’s no doubt about it.
Zane leans in, his grin widening. “Bet you she’ll have you wrapped around her finger before the week’s out.”
“Not a chance,” I shoot back, though my mind betrays me by flashing to the way her eyes burned with defiance earlier.
“She’s got spirit,” Liam says, raising his glass. “You could use a little of that in your life, Flint. God knows you’ve been a grumpy old man since you left the service.”
I bristle at the comment, but the truth of it settles deep in my chest. I have been alone for too long, shutting people out, keeping my distance. But letting someone in? Especially someone like Juniper? That’s a whole different kind of danger.
“She’s not my type,” I grumble.
Hudson snorts. “Yeah, because she’s got a pulse.”
The table roars with laughter, and even I can’t hold back the small smile tugging at my lips.
“You know,” Ridge says, his tone softer now, “you don’t have to keep punishing yourself. A man can only spend so much time alone before it starts to eat away at him.”
His words hit harder than I care to admit, and I take another swig of my beer, letting the weight of them settle over me.
As I drive back to the cabin later that night, the image of Juniper’s fiery spirit and stubborn determination lingers in my mind. She’s a force of nature, unpredictable and relentless.
And for the first time in years, I’m not sure I want to fight it.
Chapter Three
Juniper
The trail narrows, the underbrush thickening with every step. I’m no wilderness expert, but even I know I should have stayed on the marked path. Not that it matters now. I’ve only been on this mountain for a day and already I’ve found myself in trouble. I pause, glancing at the sun filtering weakly through the canopy above, and curse under my breath.
I’m lost.
"Great job, Juniper," I mutter to myself, adjusting the camera strap digging into my shoulder. My boots crunch against the uneven ground as I turn in a slow circle. Everything looks the same—green and endless, like the forest is swallowing me whole.
This is fine. Totally fine.
I take a deep breath, willing my racing heart to calm. If I can just retrace my steps?—
“What the hell, Juniper?”
Flint’s voice cuts through the quiet like a whip, sharp and frustrated. I whip around to find him standing a few feet away, his broad frame shadowed by the trees. His jaw is tight, his eyes blazing with something that looks a lot like rage.
“How did you find me?” I ask, my voice defensive. I’m not about to let him think I was out here helpless and desperate.
“I saw your car parked at the trailhead,” he smirks, stepping closer. “And then I found your tracks leading straight into the middle of nowhere. The woods aren’t safe for a city girl.”
“I was working,” I say, lifting my chin. “Documenting areas that need protection.”
“Alone?” His voice is a low growl now, and his eyes narrow. “Inbear country?”
