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Rhett snags the bag of Ghost’s items and a backpack from the back seat before climbing out. I follow suit, stopping to retrieve my dog, and meet him at the back. He relieves me of the leash, and I let him without protest. The two seem to be forming a bond that warms my insides. With a jerk of his head, he guides us in a different direction than the marked trails.
I keep the obvious question locked tight and follow his lead.
The nearly summer sun kisses my skin as we enter an unmarked trail. Worn, brown earth indicates we aren’t the first to discover the path. Tall, green brush grows along the edges. Questions swirl as we hike, needing answers like how often does he come here and how did he discover it? They remain silenced as I don’t want to disturb the serenity.
Somewhere in the canopy of lush boughs above us, a bird tweets cheerily, serenading us with a delightful tune. Days spent cramped in an automobile have hindered my opportunities to enjoy Mother Nature fully. A brittle branch snaps beneath my boot as we hike. We’re silent except for the huffs of our breath and the scrape of our shoes.
Following Rhett’s lead provides ample opportunity to admire his well-fitted jeans. The denim clings to his glutes and wraps around powerful thighs. I don’t know if he’s an avid gym user or if the extermination business helps maintain his physical form, but it’s clear from more than just his demeanor that he’s a commanding force in all aspects of his life.
The thought reminds me of how he barreled into mine just a short week ago. Unyielding. And unavoidable. Like the evolution of a thunderstorm in my path. The cusp of friendship continues to bloom day by day, and I’m beginning to feel like I want him to stick around even when my situation sorts itself out. Friendship doesn’t usually come easy to me, but if I truly want to stay in Arrow Creek, I’ll need to build a support system for myself. Or risk Eric threatening to whisk me away again.
I nearly run into Rhett’s back as he stops abruptly in my path. The palm not clutching Ghost’s leash appears suddenly in my line of vision, and I trace the appendage up to the face of the man it belongs to. He appears to look at me from behind his shades with a hint of delight in his smile. I get the impression he knows I’m guilty of staring at his ass.
“Take my hand. It gets a bit rocky up ahead.”
The invitation to touch him sends a thrill through my belly. One I’d be smart to ignore. This time of discovery is about me, and who that person is by herself without a partner. Ahem, a man. That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the company of said male species, but entertaining the idea of zings and zaps and flutters is a sure sign of derailment.
With a dry swallow, I place my hand in his. He encases my fingers in sturdy warmth and tugs me along.
The trail of dirt bleeds away to rocky ground the farther we climb. Excitement trills a different tune inside. Eager to reach our destination, I pick up the pace until I’m climbing at Rhett’s side. He grins at me and twitches his ball cap lower over his forehead. I adjust my own sunglasses out of nerves and peer at my happy dog, who has her short tail up and nose to the ground. A pang echoes in my chest when I think about the daily walks we used to take around our town, but I quickly usher it away.
“You aren’t chatty today.” Rhett finally breaks through the barrier with a question I can’t quite answer.
“Am I usually chatty?”
He playfully shakes my hand in his. “I wouldn’t say you’re the quiet type.”
“You have me there.”
“You looked to be enjoying your conversation on the phone earlier.”
I nudge him with my shoulder. “Jealous?”
Illusions dance inside my head. A twitch of his hand. A slowing gait. I brush it away as nothing as we near our destination.
“Nah. I don’t do jealousy.”
A heavy awkwardness descends that I’m eager to break. “It was my brother checking in on me. Well, I called him, so technically, he doesn’t get to hold it over my head that he had to check in.”
This time, his hand twitch is intentional. “I’m glad you’re staying in touch with your family.”
I release a noisy exhale that has nothing to do with exertion. “I would be too, except he said my ex has been asking about me. I don’t want to know that information.”
The path narrows, and the number of stones in our way increases, necessitating a single line to navigate. Rhett doesn’t let go of my hand.
“Was it a bad break?”
I think back on the remnants of my shattered heart. My time away has been good for my healing. For seeing the truth for what it really is. Reflecting where I went wrong and what I could have done differently.
I can’t villainize myself for the choices I made during a difficult time. I also can’t do the same to Tate, who only did his best to react to the crumbs I offered.
“The breakup itself wasn’t bad. The circumstances are what made it unbearable. The timing…” I trail off.
Rhett pauses and glances back at me. He’s taller than ever on the slight incline, imposing a shadow over the melancholy on my face.
“You don’t have to tell me what you don’t want to share. But I’m happy to offer an ear.”
I shake my head.
