Stay strong, I remind myself, and grit my teeth.
“Yeah, we should talk,” I say, glancing up through the streaming streaks of muted light coming through the trees. The sky is darkening like my mood. I’m unsure how to start a discussion about what happened and what can and can’t happen from here. My heart and my head are at war, and in the middle are Hailey and Summer.
I grab my backpack out of the back of the jeep, her eyes popping wide when she sees my hunting rifle strapped to the bottom.
“Just in case,” I say, grabbing her smaller pack and easing it onto her shoulders, the creamy flesh of her neck calling for my teeth.
“Okay. Is that why you wanted me to come? So, we could…talk?” She adds a little eyebrow bob and an unsure swallow, that teasing look returning, making heat rake over my skin.
“That’s right.” I square my shoulders, reaching out to flick my green carabiner that’s clipped to her beltloop, my heart speeding knowing she’s wearing something of mine. We exchange a look as I turn and step toward the path, easing her next to me with my hand on the small of her back just under her bite-sized packI filled with a trail mix, bug spray and a couple canteens full of water.
Almost like I was planning a fucking picnic.
Mine is twice the size. I’m always prepared, so I’ve got more food, water, filtration tabs, blanket and first aid supplies. And my gun.
I shrug, feeling the weight of more than what I’m physically carrying right now. But as I’m well aware—as are the million subscribers to my channel—things can go wrong in a blink, and there’s more at stake now than just my hide.
As the brush closes behind us, a sheer wind cuts through the woods. Our feet crunch on the leaves and sticks as we move forward.
The trail is only wide enough for us to walk single file, and I shift to the front, feeling a loss at not having the privilege of keeping my eyes on her ass in those shorts. But I’ll always make sure where she goes is safe, so I go first.
I may be a thrill seeker and a danger addict, but I’m scared to death. I have to use my words to navigate a complicated situation where my heart is involved on both sides, and other parts of me are making their own demands.
But when it comes to Hailey. I made promises to myself about how her life would be. No distractions. No possible evil step-women in her life.
My boot makes a squishing sound as I look down and ahead to see where the recent rain has left a muddy wash. I reach behind me. “Watch your step there, the ground is soft. Give me your hand.”
She slips her tiny hand into my massive one without question or hesitation, and warmth shoots up my arm. Once I lead her through the muck, I step ahead again, the tension in my center more than just about her safety.
“So, what do you need to talk to me about?” She breaks through the uneasy silence. Her voice chipper and optimistic, making me feel more like a complete ass for what I need to say.
“What happened with us.”
“Oh?” Her voice rises, and thoughts of slipping my tongue through her folds and up to that tight little asshole assault me from all sides. “Is there an us?”
“No.” The word comes out as a kind of guttural sound, and I clear my throat, trying to remember what I need to say and why I need to say it. “I mean, I want that, but things are complicated.”
“Because you have a daughter.”
I swallow the rock lodged in my throat, the breeze rustling the leaves overhead like a warning for me to tread lightly, but I don’t know how. “No, not just that.”
Her smile makes me feel like I’m walking through broken glass, then she adds, “Hailey us a jewel. You’re doing a great job raising her. She’s amazing.”
Fuck, please don’t make this harder. “She likes you too. But—”
Before I finish, she’s stomping by me, tossing me an excited look and rushing ahead.
I follow her with my eyes, the view of her stalling my heartbeat for a moment as the trailhead opens, and the cabin comes into view in a small clearing.
“Oh, wow! Like Goldilocks and the three bears.” She skip-runs ahead of me, then squeals as the sky opens up, rain starting to pelt her as she runs. I curse under my breath as I sprint to catch up. “Come on, I’ll race you!”
“No. Summer, wait, you have no idea what’s…” I growl as I adjust my pack. She’s got short little legs, but they are churning, and she’s way more nimble than my oafish size allows. “Wait!”
With the place sitting empty, it could have new residents. Ones that would find her an easy target.
She laughs as I stumble, swearing and righting myself on a thick pine tree. Then she turns, running backwards, lowering her voice to a rough grumble. “Who’s been sleeping inmybed?”
Rain soaks me through, and Summer as well, her green t-shirt clinging to her every curve as the cold shower barely dampens the heat rising from my skin.
