Page 69 of Silent Shadows

I’m inside recalibrating thermal software when I catch myself listening for her laugh.

The second I realize I’m doing it, I freeze.

That is not a healthy development.

Then, because the universe hates me, Daisy climbs back inside two seconds later, flushed from the sun and grinning triumphantly.

“I identified coyote tracks,” she announces with pride.

Taylor follows behind her. “After guessing ‘rabbit’ six times.”

“Learning curve.”

I look over with exaggerated shock. “You got one right?”

She points at me. “Offensive.”

“You called hoof prints ‘horse hands’ yesterday.”

“Tell me I’m wrong, though.”

Jax nearly falls off the bench laughing.

Daisy shakes her head and moves toward the coffee station. The Machine hums softly around us, and the others keep arguing about receipts in the background. Daisy pauses when she sees the afternoon coffee I made for her and looks at me. Because, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I do know she always has two a day.

“You don’t have to keep doing this,” she says.

“What?”

“Making me coffee. Being nice to me.”

I shrug. Meanwhile, my heart rate is thumping like I’m being chased.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” I try to make light of it all with a joke, but it comes out lower than intended.

She’s staring at me, those plush lips slightly parted.

There it is again. That pull. That almost-exciting little feeling as the space between us keeps shrinking, whether we mean it to or not. I lean down, Daisy’s breath ghosting my chin and lips. Her eyes meet mine through her lashes. For a moment, we’re about to kiss again.

Then Taylor yells, “Can you guys ever not bicker?”

The moment shatters.

Daisy laughs first.

I drag a hand down my face.

Because every time she smiles at me, some possessive part of my brain starts making very convincing arguments to grab her by her waist, set her on the counter, and claim her. Make her mine.

Let everyone else figure it out.

The only thing that keeps me planted where I am is the fact that Daisy Bennett still has every opportunity to break this crew's heart.

Including mine.

chapter

nine