Chapter Ten
ELIZA
As I'm stackingthe rest of the tools, Rhys sidles up next to me. “So,” he says, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, “you and Matt, huh?”
I almost drop the hammer I'm holding. “It's not like that,” I say, steadying my voice. “We're ... friends.”
Rhys raises an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. Well, word of advice? Be careful. Kane's in full big brother mode. Don't rush into anything.”
Immediately, he's called away to help Reid with something, and I'm left standing there, my cheeks burning with indignation. Why does everyone think they need to protect me? Haven't I proven I can handle myself?
I finish cleaning up and head back to my cabin, my mind swirling with thoughts of Matt and my family's overprotectiveness. As I approach, I see Matt standing on the porch, his hands shoved in his pockets. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him, but I can see the tension in his shoulders, the worry in his eyes.
“Hey,” I say, climbing the steps. “Everything okay with Kane?”
I lean against the railing, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body. His eyes lock with mine, and the air between us feels charged. I'm aware of how close we're standing, and the way his gaze drops to my lips for a moment before he looks away.
“What did Kane say when he pulled you aside?” I ask.
Matt hesitates, then sighs. “He reminded me I'm temporary here. That when I leave, they'll be the ones picking up the pieces.”
A surge of anger rises within me. “That's ridiculous! I'm not some fragile thing that needs to be protected. I'm a grown woman who can make her own decisions.”
“I know,” Matt says. “I told him as much. But Eliza, he's not entirely wrong. I will have to leave eventually.”
His words land like a blow, knocking the wind out of me. In the chaos of everything that's happened, I'd almost let myself forget that Matt's time here is limited. The thought of him leaving—of me returning to the life I had before he came—tightens something inside me. I glance at him, realizing how quickly he's become a part of my world. It hasn't been long, but it feels like we've known each other much longer. He's stood by me in the worst moments, never making me feel weak, always seeing me for who I am.
Losing that, losing him ... I'm not ready.
I take a breath, trying to untangle my emotions. Isn't it too soon for this? We hardly know each other. But then again, crisis has a way of accelerating things, of stripping away pretenses and revealing what's important.
“Matt, I...” I begin, unsure of the words but knowing I have to say something.
“I should go,” Matt says, his voice rough. “Early start tomorrow. We’ve got to finish repairing the main lodge roof.”
I try hiding my disappointment. “Right. The lodge. There's still a lot to do.”
As Matt turns to leave, clarity washes over me. After everything—the avalanche, the destruction, the fear—how can I let this moment slip away? Life is too short, too unpredictable.
I grab Matt's arm. “Wait.”
He turns back, confusion clear in his eyes. “Eliza?”
Without another word, I close the distance between us and press my lips to his. The kiss is soft at first, tentative, like we're both testing the waters. But then Matt's arms tighten around me, pulling me closer, and the kiss deepens, becoming something more urgent. I pour everything into it—my frustration with my family, my growing feelings for Matt, and the sudden clarity that life is too precious to waste on fear and indecision.
After what feels like both a moment and an eternity, Matt pulls back, his breathing ragged. He presses his forehead against mine, his eyes closed, as if grounding himself.
“Wow,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion.
I laugh softly, my breath unsteady. “Yeah. Wow.”
Matt's brow furrows as he searches my eyes, still holding me close. “Eliza, are you sure about this? Your brothers?—”
I cut him off, my voice firm despite the swirl of emotions rising inside me. “My brothers don't get to decide this for me,” I say. This moment is huge, monumental even, and as the words leave my mouth, I feel both fear and certainty. “I make my own choices, Matt. And I choose this. I choose you.”
The enormity of what I've said hits me, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, a wave of relief washes over me—like for the first time in a long while, I'm truly steering my future.
Matt presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I want that too,” he says, and the reassurance in his voice makes my chest swell.Relief, joy, and a flutter of excitement all collide inside me. “But we should take it slow, okay? There's a lot at stake here.”
