Tipping my head back, I close my eyes and focus on the sound of her voice, letting it serve as my anchor point. With every soft and soothing syllable, the vise squeezing my chest gives a fraction.
“I thought you’d be well on your way home.”
I hear her shaky breath—the nervous laughter just below the surface. She’s trying so damn hard to take the focus off my current state.
“But I’m glad you’re here.”
Her slow, deliberate words calm the storm inside me enough that I’m able to push a few stranded words out. “Recovering in a camper didn’t seem like the fastest way to heal.”
Shock widens her eyes before she can hide it.
“You live in a camper?”
“Gertrude is a very nice rig,” I croak.
“With a name like Gertrude, I would expect nothing short of elegance.” She pauses, dragging this out to let me catch my breath and come down from the panic.
“No one has ever called my old ass Volkswagen elegant.” Each word I manage drags me out of the past.
“Where is she parked?”
“Outside of Bramble.”
Her nose crinkles at the mention of the town. That’s the reaction I was expecting. People always think I’m crazy for living on four wheels in a place most people avoid.
“That face you’re making is exactly why I live there.”
Bramble is notorious for being as lawless as the vigilante cowboys that rule it.
“Why would you leave Gertrude in Bramble when you’re working here?”
I shrug through a few deep breaths, feeling more even. “When we’re deployed, we stay in spike camps—essentials only. I only use the van when I’m off, which is pretty rare this time of year.”
“You’re not worried someone will steal it or mess with it?”
“People stay out of each other’s way on the other side of the range.” For the most part, that’s true. Being parked on the edge of Perdition Ranch helps, too. The brothers provide me with a piece of remote land, and in exchange, I help maintain their more remote fences in the winter.
Aspen nods, her lips already parting with another question. I should shut her down, but the more we talk the more the darkness retreats.
“You don’t get lonely living like that?” Her cheeks flush. “Oh god. I shouldn’t assume you’re alone. You could have someone.”
“I don’t,” I say, a little too short. Then I clear my throat, flattening my tone to something more even. “It makes sense for me. The lifestyle keeps me occupied when work slows down. There’s always something that needs to be done.”
“You’ll have to get back there eventually?”
“Sure.” I haven’t considered the logistics of it, but I’ll figure it out. “Once I’m healed.”
Every thought flickers across Aspen’s pretty features as she takes that in.
This time, I don’t temper my frustration, growling her name, and I swear she shivers in response to the sound. Or maybe I’m still seeing things that aren’t there. “Stop doing mental gymnastics over there. My life isn’t a problem for you to solve.”
“Emmett,” She mimics, bratty and bold as hell.
Fuck, that attitude is trouble with a capital T. It also disarms me, which is rare and dangerous in equal parts.
Ignoring Aspen when she’s being sweet and helpful is hard enough. This stubborn, bossy side she’s showing me doessomething completely different to me, and it’s impossible to look away from.
From angel to hellion, her range is captivating.
