“What do you want to make me?”he asks.
“That’s the problem.I want to make you something, but I don’t know what.I make a lot of things, but I can’t figure out what the right thing for isyou.You’re this sexy biker dude, so it’s not like you’re looking for me to crochet you something.”
“You could crochet me something.”Even though he’s still scanning the dark woods surrounding us, I hear a smile in his voice.
“Really?You’d wear … a scarf?”
“Sure, I would.”
I grin, happiness glowing in my chest.He’d wear a scarf I made him.
“All right then.Do you have a preferred color, or do you trust me to pick for you?”
Warner doesn’t answer.Instead, he stops, loosening his grip on my legs so I slide down his back to stand again.I’m proud that I only wobble a little bit, even as my feet pound with pain.
“Are you okay?Did you pull something in your back?”Despite his claims, I can’t help thinking his rapid change in demeanor came on because of me.
“Do you have your bear spray?”Warner asks.
“Y-yes.”I slide off my backpack, digging around until I find the bottle.“Is there a bear?”
Warner shakes his head.“Not a bear.Mountain lion.Female.Three cubs nearby.”
Any other time, I might ask Warner how he picked up all those details.But my mind gets distracted when he tosses his baseball hat to the side and strips off his shirt.
“Do mountain lions not attack naked people?That can’t be right.”But I have to admit, I only read up on bear safety.
Warner doesn’t address his choice to disrobe, even when he toes off his boots and shucks off his shorts.The guy stands in only his boxer briefs, and I’m not even able to admire the view because we’re being stalked by a deadly animal.
“I thought she might leave us alone, but with her cubs nearby …” Finally, he looks at me, his expression more serious than I’ve ever seen it.“When I say go, you need to run as fast as you can back to the truck.”
Something about his phrasing throws me off.“You mean,we’llbe running to the truck.”
Another brief headshake.“Mountain lions are hardwired to give chase.”
“You want to use me as bait?”I squeak.
“No.I’m going to distract it while you get away.”
He steps away from me, as if giving me room to sprint.Even with my aching feet, I know I can still run, especially if my life depends on it.
But not if it means leaving Warner behind to deal with a wild animal on his own.
“I’m not doing that.”
“Zoey”—his voice is so tense that I can almost imagine cracks running through it—“I know you’re scared, but I promise I won’t let it get to you.”
“Iamscared.But I’m not leaving you.Two against one is better odds.”I flick off the safety on the bear spray, trying my best to make out any moving shapes in the darkness.
“I can take care of myself,” he growls.
Now, I’m the one shaking my head.“I don’t believe you.”
“Zoey, I need you to go.Now.”There’s an edge of desperation to his command.
Since I can’t find the animal in the shadows, I turn my attention and my glare to Warner.“I won’t leave you.”
Agitation radiates off him.As he steps toward me, I watch his amber eyes flit between my face and the surrounding woods.In the fading twilight, his irises look black.
