Page 10 of Rowan: His Exception

"What's that?"

"Nothing." I turn away. "Fuck off, Merritt. Go check your equipment."

"Aren’t we touchy today?" But he goes.

I watch her from the corner of my eye. She's still laughing. Still not looking up.

Fucking tourists.

"Alright. Listen up." I raise my voice. Most of the group works their way closer. A few keep fiddling with their gear until I stare them down.

"I'm Rowan Cross. Welcome to hell. This isn't a nature walk. You want pretty views and Instagram photos, you're in the wrong place."

I let that sink in. A few faces go pale, and some look like they’re about to piss themselves.

Good.

"We hike five miles today. Expect steep grades, loose rock, and no trail markers above the tree line. You don't hydrate, you cramp. You cramp, you fall. You fall, you break something. Nobody's airlifting you out."

Claire's hand goes up.

I ignore it.

"Hydrate every thirty minutes. Don't wait till you're thirsty. If you're thirsty, you're already fucked. Pass out from heat stroke, I'll drag you to shade and keep walking. I’m not carrying anyone, and I sure as hell am not waiting."

"That's comforting," she says, loud enough for the group to hear.

I stop. Turn.

"Miss Calloway. Do you have something to share?"

"Well, yeah. For what we paid, I expected some protocol for safety."

"You want safe? There’s a Hampton Inn in town. There’s a hot tub. Continental breakfast. Zero chance of me leaving your corpse for the coyotes." I maintain eye contact. "It’s your call."

She doesn't flinch. "Noted. Next time I'll make sure and pack 'emotional support.' Major Payne."

A few people laugh.

I don't.

I close the distance between us in three strides. Close enough that I can smell her shampoo, her sweat. Close enough that she has to tilt her head back to meet my eyes.

"Keep talking," I say, in a low voice. Just for her to hear. "And see what happens when little girls test men like me."

Her throat moves. Swallowing.

I hold her gaze one second longer, taking a step back.

"Five minutes," I tell the group. "Then we head out."

She just stands there, watching me with those brown eyes, while something shifts in them that wasn't there before.

Fear. Good.

She should be afraid.

The group takes off toward the trailhead, some glancing back to see what’s going on. Claire still hasn’t moved. I try to walk past her toward the equipment shed, but she steps in front of me.