“Ladies love a man in uniform.”
“Really?” I ask, my voice softer. I don’t like that fact.
“No,” he replies dryly before he guides me into the restroom and checks that all the stalls are empty. “Lock the door,” he commands, then pulls the main door closed behind him.
After freshening up, we eat another surprisingly good meal for a restaurant that receives all its ingredients via mule train. Or maybe it’s just that I’m still exhausted from yesterday, and anything would taste amazing right now. Jack also grabs sack lunches for each of us, which I add to my stash of snacks from the previous day, and then he orders me to hand over my collapsible coffee cup. He disappears into the canteen and returns with steaming coffee in each of our mugs before leading me to a picnic table.
We deposit our bags on the floor, even though unstrapping Marigold from my back is still a small feat each time, before we sit side by side on the bench, elbows leaning on the table as we cradle our drinks. I inhale the delicious aroma of caffeine, closing my eyes with the first sip, and I open them to find Jack tearing open three sugar packets. I watch as he empties the sugar into his black coffee before turning it milky with two servings of creamer.
“Having some coffee with your sugar there?” I ask with a teasing smile.
His lips purse as he continues stirring his concoction. “I’ve tried quitting, but I’m a sucker for a sugary Starbucks coffee. Even attempted making my own, but it’s not the same. I eat pretty healthy ninety-nine percent of the time. This is my one indulgence,” he shrugs, a small grin lifting his cheeks.
“So you like it sweet,” I drawl, my smile growing, loving knowing this little fact about him.
But then he lazily meets my gaze before his eyes flick to my lips. “I do.”
Wow. Okay. I desperately want to fan my cheeks right now, but I’m still frozen in his trance. He breaks the spell by clearing his throat and facing forward, taking a long sip of his sweet fix while I sit here trying not to spontaneously combust with the electricity zipping around us. This man is lethal.
“Only coffee, though,” he shocks me by continuing.
“Huh?”
“I don’t like sugary cocktails or sweet tea or any other sweet drink,” he adds, shifting uncomfortably as he avoids eye contact.
I face him, feigning a zoned-out expression while I twitch one eye.
He turns to me, a scowl replacing the adorable awkwardness from a moment ago. “What’s happening right now?”
“I’m malfunctioning after this overload of volunteered information.”
He lifts an eyebrow, appearing only slightly amused before tenderly adjusting my hat. Then he leans in closer, grazing my ear as he curls a stray strand of hair out the way, and I gulp, frozen like a rabbit caught in a wolf’s sights.
Jack swallows heavily and turns his head, breaking the tension, and we finish our drinks without another word. Once he rinses our cups and returns them to our packs, he helps me tuck back into Marigold’s tight embrace.
“Thank you for repairing Marigold. I could have done it,” I say, and I pause, wondering whether I’m letting Jack have too much control over this hike.
His roughened fingers gently lift my chin before he whispers, “I know you could have.”
An involuntary shiver runs through me, and he drops his hand but holds my gaze. “You were tired, so I helped. Doesn’t mean you were incapable.”
“I don’t want to finish the next few days and realize I was nothing more than a damsel in distress,” I say quietly. “I can’t just let you do everything for me.”
He purses his lips, eyes narrowing as if he wants to argue, but he nods once instead. “I’ll remember that. How’s your cheek? You need more pain meds?”
“I took some after breakfast.” I resume putting things back into Marigold.
“I’ll redress the wound when we get to Cottonwood Campground.”
“Which is…seven miles away?”
“Yeah. But we might take some detours. I need to drop our tents at the canteen, then we’ll get water refills and head out…” He pauses, surveying our surroundings absentmindedly before meeting my gaze. “Look, whoever is behind all this is getting desperate. I know you want to feel like you’re being helpful and accomplishing something, but when it comes to your safety, I need you to follow my instructions explicitly. No going rogue while I’m trying to keep you alive, okay?”
“Yes, sir,” I salute.
“I’m serious, Lo.” His breathing quickens, as if he desperately needs to have my agreement, giving him a semblance of control over this situation.
“Well, Jeez, coming in hot with the nickname. At this rate, I’ll do anything you tell me to,” I say with a grin, patting him on the chest and hoping to lighten the mood. He does that growly thing again, and I soak it up like a vitamin infusion. “I swear, I won’t do anything dumb and will defer to your professional expertise,” I add.
