Page 34 of Fragile Heart

“All right.” I manage to keep my voice from trembling.

Emily waves as we start up the stairs, her eyes sharpening on Caleb. Like an idiot, my eyes stray to the man standing behind her. His hands are shoved in his pockets, a muscle in his neck ticking from his clenched jaw. His eyes are trained on Caleb, too. But where Emily’s are curious, maybe a bit suspicious, Ethan’s are nothing but blazing fury. I duck my head and focus on my feet, trying to settle my breathing as we leave the arena and head toward the large parking areas.

The sun is nearly set, orange streaking across the darkening sky.

Caleb is silent where he walks beside me.

Fuck, do I just straight up say it? I totally understand Melissa needing to leave before the roping, but I can’t help but be a little irritated that she isn’t here to help me figure out what the hell a person does when walking in the dark with their scent match. Instead, I blurt out the first thing I remember from the ride to the Arch yesterday.

“You’re a firefighter?” I ask. Caleb raises an eyebrow but shakes his head.

Before I can apologize, he says, “I’m a pilot. There’s not a ton of options for pilots in small towns.” He adjusts Camden to his other arm and tucks his hand into the pocket of his jeans. Itmakes the tattoo on his forearm stand out. “So I work wildfires in the summer and help search and rescue in the winter.”

A pilot. That explains why he wasn’t in Creek Falls the entire summer I spent here. We get to my SUV before I manage to break the silence again.

“Thank you for walking with me,” I offer. It wasn’t necessary, but I can appreciate an Alpha’s need to be protective.

He murmurs, “Of course, Brielle.”

Lightning shoots through me at the way his warm voice wraps around my name.

“My schedule is erratic at best,” he says. I take a small step toward him that I hope he doesn’t notice, my body demanding more of his scent. “I could get called to a fire as early as Wednesday. But I was curious if you wanted to go for a hike Tuesday?”

My chest flushes. God, where the hell has my ability to talk even gone?

“That sounds fun,” I manage. My voice is breathless, though. His gaze darkens. My lotion fails, a small taste of the lavender cutting through it despite my scent blockers. “Where should I meet you?”

“You’re staying at Emily’s, right?” he asks. When I offer a quick nod, he says, “I’ll pick you up around ten.”

When I offer a breathless agreement, the silence stretches between us. My eyes drop to his lips for a second.

“Drive safe,” he murmurs. And then he turns away and starts heading toward wherever he’d parked.

I slip into the car and send a quick text to Melissa, trying to catch my breath.

We’re going hiking Tuesday.

Chapter Sixteen

CALEB

Iglance over at Brielle as I guide the truck onto the turn off for one of my favorite hikes. Her hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, revealing a small blue flower tattooed behind her left ear, right where a bonding mark is traditionally laid. Her gaze is firmly locked on the passing foliage, the prairie grass giving way to the pine forest as I take us farther up the mountain.

It’s been three days since I’ve seen her. An impressive feat, really, given how small Creek Falls is. But I’ve been intentionally keeping out of her path since the rodeo Saturday. It sounds chivalrous, but it’s really just self-preservation. I don’t trust myself to not behave like a crazed teenager near her. The small moment of smelling her perfume while walking her to her car Saturday night was nearly enough to break me. If I hadn’t had Cam sleeping against my chest, I would have at least kissed her. Pushed her up against the door of her fancy ass Land Rover until I could feel every single curve and line of her small body.

Even now, without a single hint of the lavender, all I want is to pull her against me and drown in her perfume. Clenching my jaw and tightening my hold on the steering wheel, I hold back the desire. I haven’t brought it up, the scent match. And I’m not about to just put it out in the open with the way Ethan’s been seething since the rodeo.

Not until Brielle and I have gotten to know each other better, at least. If I’m going to risk Ethan’s wrath, I’m going to make sure she’s interested in exploring something between us. Scent matches might mean soulmates, but it doesn’t guarantee both parties being interested in a relationship.

As I ease the truck into the small space beside the trailhead, Brielle glances at me. I force my body to relax. It doesn’t keep the cinnamon from very clearly filling the cab, though. For a brief moment, her lavender joins. Without a word, she eases the door open and slips out of the truck.

We’re the only people here. Tuesdays aren’t a huge hiking day even in the peak of summer—which is still a month or so away. Brielle’s already to the small sign at the beginning of the trail by the time I grab the bag tucked behind my seat and lock the truck.

“You need anything before we get going?” I ask.

“Could I put my water bottle in your bag? I didn’t think to bring my own.”

I take the bottle without comment and stash it in the side pocket. As we start down the trail, she stands a few inches away from me, closer than she really has to. Another small taste of her scent reaches me. That’s a good sign, right?

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