Page 182 of Rangers Unexpected Return

“No.”

Mace removed his jacket.

Before I could stop him, he draped it around my shoulders.

“I don’t need this.”

“You’re freezing.”

“It’s smoke.”

“No.” His eyes stayed on mine. “It’s everything.”

The answer stole the protest from my mouth.

His jacket was warm from his body. It smelled like smoke, clean soap, and Mace.

For one dangerous second, I let myself lean toward him.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

Enough for me to feel the heat of his arm beside mine.

He didn’t move closer.

He didn’t turn the moment into something I wasn’t ready to face.

He simply stood beside me.

That somehow made it worse.

“I already lost you once.”

The words I had whispered minutes ago came back with painful clarity.

Mace hadn’t forgotten them.

I could tell by the way he watched me.

Neither of us mentioned them.

Not yet.

Wolf crossed the clearing toward us.

“The fire department has the east side contained. The office is gone.”

“Not all of it,” I said.

He glanced toward the cabinet.

Trigger and Havoc had carried it far enough from the flames to preserve anything that remained inside.

“We recovered Emily’s letter and the photograph,” I continued. “That matters.”

“What about the man on the ATV?”

“Ace found the trail where it joined the county road. After that, too many vehicles had passed through.”