Harleigh, meanwhile, sits beside me, quietly staring out the passenger window.
After a few minutes, I glance at her.
She hasn’t moved.
My hand leaves the steering wheel and settles gently on her thigh.
Her breath catches almost imperceptibly, but she doesn’t react. Not at first.
Then her hand slides over mine.
She doesn’t look at me.
Just covers my hand with hers.
A few seconds later, her fingers slip between mine.
I tighten my grip slightly.
Neither of us says anything.
But the silence between us feels loaded.
Our first stop is at Ironhorse Ranch.
Waylon jumps out, and Shelby practically falls into his arms.
“I love you,” she declares loudly.
Waylon chuckles and hoists her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Night, folks,” he calls before slamming the door shut and walking toward his cabin.
Ten minutes later, we reach the entrance of Wildhaven Storm.
I pull up in front of the ranch house.
Bryce is already opening the back door before I come to a complete stop.
“Thanks for the ride,” he says, climbing out.
“No problem.”
He walks around to help Charli down.
They start toward a path that leads around the side of the house but pause halfway there, and Charli glances back at us.
“Oh, hey.”
I lower my window. “Yeah?”
“The academy’s new staff cabins are furnished,” she says. “And vacant.”
Her eyes dart to Harleigh—she’s still sitting in the passenger seat, staring at the house—before returning to me.
“If you want to crash instead of driving all the way back to Moose tonight.”
“Thanks,” I say.
