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“I have sensitive skin, okay? I burn easily,” she retorted.
“You wouldn’t last a day in my hometown,” he laughed.
“Where’s that? Hell?” she spat.
“Rural Utah,” he said.
“Close enough,” she muttered to herself.
Blaze whirled around, eyes flashing. “Moab is an incredible place. You would know that if you ever ventured out of your little LA bubble.”
“Excuse me, I’m from Tennessee,” she reminded him. “I’m not stuck in a bubble. You’re the ones trying to box me in. I’m a visionary.”
“Yeah, I’m sure your legions of fifteen-year-old fans totally agree with you,” he said.
“They have better taste than you do,” she teased. “Besides, I didn’t hear anyone complaining about my music at the Maroon Room the other night.”
“No, but they forgot about you pretty quickly when Jade Haverland showed up,” Blaze replied icily. He saw the color rise in Giselle’s cheeks. He had struck a nerve.
“Let’s talk about something else,” said Asher in a surprisingly authoritative tone. “Giselle, what emotions have you been feeling lately?”
“Let’s see, uh… anger. Rage. White-hot fury,” she listed off.
“That’s all the same thing,” Blaze muttered.
“Well, then, I’m very consistent!” she shot back.
“What about now?” Asher asked, gesturing for them to step up beside him.
“Whoa,” she muttered as they stood overlooking Escondido Falls.
Water rushed down the green rock wall, pattering into a magical little pool, surrounded by rolling hills as far as the eye could see. It was a stunning sight, the pinnacle of their effort.
“I feel a little less mad right now,” Giselle confessed. “This view is worth the hike.”
“I knew it would be,” said Blaze.
Asher took out his notebook and got to work, sitting on a large rock as he let the inspiration flow through him. Blaze felt the same way. The combination of the majestic waterfall with Giselle’s unearthly beauty was definitely inspiring. She perched down by the rippling pool, letting her dainty fingertips trace the surface. She looked like a water nymph.
They spent a good hour or so just hanging around the falls, each lost in their own thoughts. Blaze reminisced about the stark golden dunes of Moab, the desert that raised him. By the time they began heading back down the trail, everyone was in a different mind frame. Giselle was no longer frowning; she was wistful and quiet, every now and then stopping to silently admire the landscape. Blaze wondered what kind of song was forming in her head. He was genuinely intrigued to know what she was thinking. He itched to step into a recording studio with her, to finally see the inside of her head. The trio were happily quiet, just soaking up the sun and scenery as they made their way back to the parking lot.
But when they arrived, Giselle broke the peace with a wail of distress.
“What the hell?” she shouted as she broke into a run.
“Giselle!” Asher called after her, but she was already crouching down beside her car.
Blaze quickly realized why. All four tires were flat. Asher rushed over to inspect it, with Blaze close behind.
“How did this happen? I drove here just fine!” she complained.
“When’s the last time you got them pumped up?” asked Blaze.
“How would I remember that? I hardly ever drive these days,” she groaned.
“They weren’t slashed,” Asher noted as he stood up, dusting off his hands. “But each one has a small puncture. Just enough to let the air out.”
“So this was intentional?” Blaze asked.
