Before I can say anything else and embarrass myself, she clears her throat and gestures toward the tree, saying something I was not expecting to hear come out of her mouth. “I believe you.”
A beat passes, and Blue snuffles around in the snow, sneezing loudly when she must get some of it into her nose. It breaks the moment, and I cough a bit at the dry, cold air attacking my throat. She and I should get back to the cabin, but it’s like thefrigid air is holding us in place, staring at one another, standing in the snow, which crunches under our feet like Styrofoam.
“You do.” It’s more statement than question, and when Amy turns to look at me, the sky is alight with dusk behind her, all shades of violet and pink and deep, deep blue behind the trees.
“I do,” she says, chewing on her lip. “If I’m being honest… I might have thought you were just paranoid before seeing that file. And—I mean, you had your front steps and drive salted when I got here. You came and cleaned up the tree first thing this morning, and nobody is even out driving. I feel like—I mean, it’s obvious you’re not neglectful. Or lazy.”
Even hearing that word close in reference to me makes me chafe. Of course I’m not lazy. Stubborn, sure. An asshole at times, yes. Socially awkward—definitely.
But I am not lazy. In fact, I’ll work very hard to avoid the things I don’t want to do.
“Let’s get back inside,” I finally say, and she nods, already turning back toward the cabin, clearly not used to being out this long in this kind of weather. We walk back, something shifted in our dynamic, Blue running up ahead, snow kicking back from her hind legs, playing in the snow and then circling around to look at us, her muzzle dusted in white.
As we walk, I have to remind myself that I barely know this woman. That I shouldn’t trust her.
When she walks up ahead of me, my eyes follow her of their own volition, trailing down her body in the large coat, and I swallow, forcing myself to look away when she glances back, holding the door open for me, her face shining in the light of the moon, an addition to the cabin I’d never considered.
But now, there’s a strange ache inside me. Like I might just miss her when she goes.
CHAPTER 12
AMY
We’re both folded back into the warmth of the fire, and Evan takes off his scarf, coat, and hat in jerky movements, hanging them in their spots on the wall, kicking off his boots and setting them neatly on the rubber mat.
“I’ll have to get some of those trail cameras,” he mutters, sparing a glance at me and looking away quickly. “If there’s some asshole up here, cutting down my trees, I need to see who it is.”
“That’s a good idea,” I say, my throat dry at the idea of someone lurking around near us, watching.
I’m not usually a fan of conspiracy theories, but I can’t deny the clean cut of the tree. The way it looked like someone had cut it down. Why would a tree like that—thick and healthy—fall down on its own?
“Is that your professional advice?” Evan asks, doing the thing where he raises one of his dark eyebrows at me.
It makes my stomach flip, that intense look in his eyes.
I cross my arms, feeling strangely vulnerable without my coat. I’ve been wearing Evan’s clothes for two days now, and I’m starting to get very used to the scent of him, the smell of this place.
All this should be weirder than it is. But something about being here just clicks for me.
“I am technically a lawyer,” I say, “so, yes, that is legal advice. If you have a video of whatever happened to that tree, it would be helpful.”
“Whatever happened,” he repeats dryly, shaking his head and taking a step back from me. “I thought you believed me.”
“I do.” I swallow, forcing myself to look at him, to hold that gaze, those blue eyes. Like the color the sky was when we stepped out tonight. When I take a step forward, then another, he doesn’t back up, so we’re nearly chest to chest. “I believe you, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you keep this place.”
Something like disbelief—surprise—flickers over his face, and his eyes dart quickly between mine. Left-right, left-right.
Then, so quickly I could almost miss it, they dip down to my lips, then return to my eyes, holding my gaze, causing goose bumps to spread out over my back and down my spine.
An internal fire licks the entire length of me, starting at my throat and pooling in my core. I can practically feel my pupils dilating.
Instantly, the warm embrace of the fire on the other side of the living room turns hot. Bright. Searing.
And I can’t stand it for a moment longer.
Stepping forward, I tip my head up to Evan, heart thundering in my chest. I’m tall, but he’s tall enough that if he doesn’t lean down right now, a kiss isn’t happening.
But then, he does.
