Something had shifted inside him too…not just heat, not just desire. Something deeper and quieter. Something that made my chest tighten if I thought about it too long.
When we were ready to go, he stepped beside me near the fire ring, lowering his voice so only I could hear.
“You okay?”
I kept adjusting a strap on my pack even though it was perfect.
“Yep. Totally fine. Just focusing on the route today.”
He looked unconvinced. His eyes softened in that way that made me feel seen and exposed at the same time.
“If something’s wrong—”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I cut in, too fast, too bright.
Before he could say more, Emma bounced over with the enthusiasm of someone fueled by sunshine and espresso. “I’m so ready for adventure time.”
Carson stepped back. I exhaled, both relieved and disappointed.
We set out along the trail, the morning warming faster than expected. Sunlight dripped through the pines, dappling the ground.
The lake peeked between the trees like a sliver of polished steel. Emma stopped every 10 feet to take pictures, narrating for her social media as Jake pretended to be a tree expert.
“That one’s an oak,” he announced proudly.
I smiled. “It’s a spruce.”
He nodded as though we agreed. “Exactly.”
Carson chuckled at my side. That little sound slid down my spine in a way that shouldn’t have been allowed. I tried to focus on the trail, on the responsibility of guiding. Still, it was impossible not to notice him—how he stayed close, always aware of where I stepped, always watching the ground ahead of me as though mapping out safety in advance.
We reached a narrow curve where the trail hugged the ridge above the lake. Sunlight danced over the water, bright and inviting. The path here was dry, but the angle was tight and uneven.
“I’ll walk behind you,” Carson murmured, stepping close enough that his breath brushed the back of my neck.
“I know the trail,” I whispered.
“I know.” His tone softened. “I just like you safe.”
Something warm unfurled inside my chest. I didn’t trust my voice enough to reply. It didn’t matter. He understood.
Emma caught us whispering and elbowed Jake. “They’re so in sync. Married couples just have that energy.”
“We’ll get there,” Jake muttered.
I nearly tripped on flat ground.
The trail opened up as we neared a bend in the trees, revealing the lakeshore. The water was blue-gold under the morning sun, framed by smooth stones that sloped toward the waterline. Normally, those rocks were harmless, but recentwarm weather had created a thin layer of meltwater across them. Invisible. Treacherous.
I stepped onto the first stone, feeling stable, and turned back with a bright, guide-like smile.
“This is one of my favorite views. Just be careful. The rocks can be sli—”
My heel shot out from under me.
The world moved backward, and the lake rushed upward.
I screamed as my arms flailed for balance. Gravel skittered beneath me. The shock of cold water loomed as Carson’s shout cracked through the air like a whip.
