“Sienna.”
Before I could process anything, arms wrapped around my waist. Strong. Certain. Unshakeable. He caught me just before I pitched fully into the lake, but momentum was already carrying us both.
His boots slid, and my knees buckled.
Carson’s arms tightened around me.
And together—
SPLASH.
I went into the lake up to my hips, icy-cold water slicing through my clothes and knocking the air out of my lungs. Carson landed half in, half out, but he never let go of me. He shielded me from the impact, twisting so I didn’t slam against the rocks.
“Oh my gosh!” Emma shrieked somewhere above us. “Sienna!”
“I’m okay,” I gasped, voice high and shaky. “Just sampling the lake temperature!”
Carson hauled me upright with a strength that still startled me, even after everything. Water streamed off both of us, dripping from my braid, soaking his jacket.
He didn’t care.
His hands went to my shoulders. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” I breathed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
His jaw slackened as relief washed through him. “Good.”
Jake hurried over. “He dove after you.”
Carson glared half-heartedly. “I did not dive. I reached.”
Emma clapped her mittened hands. “It was so heroic. Truly. Like a romantic comedy, but without the humor. Well, maybe in a few days you’ll think it’s funny. Right now, probably too fresh.”
I felt my face burn.
“I’m so sorry, guys. I need to get back to base camp and change,” I explained.
“We both do.” Carson glanced at Jake and Emma. “But the good news is that it’s nearly lunch time, so we’ll kill two birds with one stone.”
“I’m starved anyway,” Jake said, nodding.
The two love birds stayed behind us as Carson guided me back toward camp, never letting go. His hand stayed on my arm, warm despite being soaked. His eyes kept flicking downward, checking every step, every wobble. The quiet intensity in his posture was unmistakable.
“You’re freezing,” he murmured as he helped me onto a log.
“I’m invigorated,” I insisted through chattering teeth.
His eyes narrowed. “Sienna.”
“Fine. A bit chilly.”
“Scoot forward.”
He rummaged through his pack, pulling out a thick sweater and handing it to me. I tugged it on quickly, and it instantly warmed me with the leftover shape of him, cedar, cold air, and something warm underneath.
