Quinn’s head snapped up. “I don’t need?—”
“It’s all learning,” I said as innocently as I could.
Mason nodded, clearly happy to have an opportunity to show off his skills. I hovered for a moment, listening while the boy patiently explained the steps to Quinn. My niece listened, and for a second, I let myself believe it was because she was genuinely interested in outdoor skills instead of just the boy teaching them to her.
Uncle Preston to the rescue.
I shook my head, chuckling, and walked over to another group where Jess was kneeling down in the dirt, without a care for her expensive clothes. Together, the group had already managed to get their kindling to take hold.
I stood back and observed. She looked ridiculous with her silk blouse completely out of place in the woods. But she didn’t seem to notice her clothes as she talked to the kids, totally and strangely in her element, helping them build their fire.
She was right—my mind had been blown. There were a lot of things I expected from Jess, but fire-building skills were not one of them.
I watched for a second longer than necessary.
She wasn’t pretending or putting on a show. She was genuinely engaged. Adjusting and asking questions. It was a whole hell of a lot more than most people when it came to a group of teenagers.
“Okay,” she said as their little fire sputtered out. “I see the problem.” She leaned back on her heels and addressed the boy, Sam. “Do you see it?”
Sam leaned forward and assessed their failed fire. “I think so. There’s too much moss under there. It’s probably wet.” He looked at Jess, who nodded once.
“That would be my guess.”
She sat back and let Sam and the other boy make the adjustments before they tried again. Moments later, they lit another match. This one took, and the fire sparked to life.
A small, steady flame leapt upward through the teepee of sticks they’d built. The kids let out a cheer, and Jess joined them in high fives before getting to her feet.
She dusted off her knees before joining me. “Told you.”
I smiled. “Consider my mind blown.”
The laugh that slipped from her was full and hearty, and the best freakin’ sound I’d heard all day. Especially considering the sadness I’d seen in her eyes when she’d arrived.
For a second, we stood too close again. Not close enough to touch, but my body was very aware of her nearness.
“Still think I’m all talk?”
“Undecided,” I said slowly. “But my opinion is definitely changing.”
Jess
The smile slipped off my lips when I looked into his eyes.
There was something there. Something that maybe hadn’t been there before. Then again, I hadn’t been paying much attention to Preston until lately.
I was probably just overthinking everything because of, well…everything.
I turned away first. “They’re cute.” I nodded toward Preston’s niece working with Mason, whom I recognized from our hike the other day. “They look like…” I didn’t bother ending the sentence because Preston laughed.
“Who knows with kids.” He shook his head. “But if it took a boy to get her out on the trails, I’m not complaining.”
“It’s sweet, don’t you think?”
“Young love?” He shrugged. “I guess.”
We watched them for a moment. It was easy and comfortable.
The question slipped out before I could stop it. “Do you believe in love?”
