Page 25 of Unleashed

I leveled him with a look. “Take them off. Now.”

Confused, Slade slowly removed his boots and handed them over. I dug into my first aid kit, pulling out two large bandages. I placed them inside his boots, right where the blister had formed.

“This’ll help, but you’ll still feel some pain.”

Slade gave me a small smile. “I can deal with it. Thanks.”

As he had the night before, his hand brushed my arm. The innocent touch sent a rush of warmth through me, reigniting the desire I’d tried to suppress. My breath hitched, and I pulled away quickly, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

His expression faltered, but he didn’t push. Instead, he bent down and grabbed the wrapper from his protein bar.

“Don’t leave litter on the trail,” I instructed, trying to shift focus.

“What do we do with it?” he asked, looking genuinely perplexed.

I sighed, exasperated but amused. “Stow it in your pack until we find a garbage bin. You want to keep the woods clean for the next hikers.”

He nodded, stuffing the wrapper into his bag. “You’re lucky you’re experienced at this.”

“It’s common sense, Slade. You’re too city.”

He grinned. “Born and bred.”

I smirked. “That wasn’t a compliment.” I grabbed a clean white t-shirt from my pack, the words Webster University emblazoned in red across the front. Pulling my dark hair into a ponytail, I wiped my face with a cleansing wipe, glancing over at Slade.

“Want one?”

He hesitated, then shrugged. “I guess.”

Rolling my eyes, I tossed him a wipe. He used it on his face, neck, and hands, mimicking my movements. While he cleaned up, I brushed my teeth with a small dab of toothpaste, using as little water as possible. Slade followed suit, trying to conserve as I’d shown him.

We packed up camp, ensuring the fire was fully extinguished before starting our hike. Today, unlike the silent trek of the day before, we talked. I had a feeling Slade was testing the waters, trying to figure out if I was going to send him packing at the next checkpoint.

What I didn’t tell him was that I liked having him here. I wasn’t lying when I said I could handle hiking alone, but the truth was—I didn’t want to.

“Are you nervous about your new job?” Slade asked, his voice casual but laced with curiosity.

I glanced over at him, taking in the early morning light that cast a golden hue over the landscape. “A little,” I admitted. “But I’ve been to the Elliot offices already. It’s a whole different world from Abbott. The desks are arranged in this open floorplan, even the executives. It’s more of a collaborative environment—less cutthroat.”

Slade raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying Abbott is too competitive?”

I shrugged, the thought weighing heavily on my mind. “It’s not so much about competition as it is about egos. There are too many of them at Abbott.”

“Comes with the territory, doesn’t it?” Slade’s lips curved into a grin, teasing me.

I shot him a look. “What territory? The testosterone territory? It’s like if you have testicles, you get a free pass to be an asshole.”

“Doesn’t that come with the territory?” Slade’s grin widened, clearly enjoying our back-and-forth.

“You know what I mean,” I said, shaking my head.

He nodded, his expression turning serious. “I do. And yes, sometimes Abbott’s atmosphere can be a bit tense.”

“It was more than tense—it was downright hostile,” I corrected. “Especially with someone like Thomas Marsden in charge. It only makes things worse. They really need more women in there.”

“That’s easier said than done,” Slade said, his voice lowering.

“Elliot has several women, and the men don’t behave like they do at Abbott. I don’t expect to be harassed there.”

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