Page 4 of Burly and Honorable

Ace stiffens and glares at Cody. “Hold on there. You know I don’t like children.”

Everyone laughs as Ace glares at everyone in turn. Ace is different from us because he’s the only one of us who wasn’t an Army man and he’s the easiest target when we’re all bullshitting. Why Jax invited a SEAL up here is something I don’t understand, but rumor is letting Ace join our community was a favor to a friend. The man can be a joker, but he’s there when you need him.

“And yet you chase Andrea around like you want to fill her belly with babies…” Cody teases and everyone nods their agreement. Ace quiets, but doesn’t say this isn’t true.

Jax’s face reddens in anger and he slams his hand on the table to interrupt all the laughter. “You touch my sister and you’re going to find yourself at the bottom of a ravine,” Jax threatens.

Ace and Andrea have been making eyes at each other for a couple years now, but nothing has happened. The consensus is that Jax has convinced Ace about his imminent demise if he goes after Andrea, but I suspect Andrea has been holding back, too. Ace has a reputation as a ladies man…though all I’ve everseen him do is flirt and tease women, not actually bring them back after a night out. It’s none of my business, though. Ace and Andrea can both do what they want.

“Next up,” Jax says, pushing forward. “Waylon is talking about having a lumberjack come up for the summer. This is still in the planning stages, so I’ll share more when and if this is finalized.”

Everyone is quiet as Jax flips through the small notebook, his finger running down the page like he’s checking off a list. “That about wraps everything up for today. Anyone have anything else?”

“Actually,” I say. “I do. I need to take a few days, maybe a week off. I asked Cody to cover for me, and he said he’d do it.”

“If you’re covered, I don’t have any objections,” Jax says, giving me a long look and crossing his arms over his chest. “How come this is the first I’m hearing of this?”

I can tell Jax isn’t mad, but his voice holds a tightness that betrays his frustration at not having been given more notice.

“I apologize. Hanna, Keenan’s widow, arrived yesterday. I knew she might be coming, but not when or if it was certain. She wants me to join her in spreading Keenan’s ashes. She gave me a letter from Keenan,” I say, my voice tight. I bunch my fists beneath the table, struggling to keep my emotions in check. “This is what he wanted.”

The table goes silent. They don’t know a lot about my friendship with Keenan, but they know we were close and served together and that he died last year. A couple of them know that Keenan tried to convince me to do another deployment with him, but I was ready for civilian life and mustered out. Would he still be alive if I’d said yes, or would we both be dead?

“Of course,” Jax says, his annoyance completely gone. “Be there for your friend. If you need anything, we’re here for you.” His voice is gruff, but I know he understands. All of us served this great country and we’ve all lost buddies.

“I appreciate it.”

CHAPTER 3

HANNA

This is harder than I thought it would be.” My words emerge between labored breaths as my boots slip on the loose stones. I struggle to maintain my footing, and my legs ache from the climb. When did I become so out of shape? I used to hike every weekend.

Jordan glances back at me, calm and unbothered by the trail’s steep incline. His brown eyes meet mine, and the intensity of his attention feels like it could support me through anything.

“You’re doing fine,” he says, his voice more reassuring than the words themselves.

It’s maddening how effortless he makes it all seem. He hikes the uneven trail easily while I’m behind him, huffing and puffing. He’s even carrying the pack with all our supplies. The only thing I’m carrying is the urn with Keenan’s ashes.

Jordan’s broad shoulders shift as he adjusts the pack on his back. The rolled-up sleeves of his shirt reveal forearms that flex with every movement, sun-browned and powerful. I’ve been watching his body, and as much as I try, I can’t stop. Heatblooms in my cheeks when an ache builds between my thighs.What the hell, Hanna?

“Is it always this steep?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light though my breath is ragged.

Jordan slows his pace, letting me catch up. “You’ve been here before. You tell me.”

“I don’t remember it being this bad,” I mutter, forcing a weak laugh.

He smirks, his expression softening enough to send a flutter through my chest. “Maybe you were more distracted by the company last time.”

The memory of Keenan’s laugh bubbles up, bittersweet and sharp. I glance at Jordan, expecting him to look away, but he doesn’t. His eyes hold mine for a long beat before he turns and continues up the trail.

I force myself to focus on the path ahead, but my eyes keep drifting back to him—the heavy rhythm of his steps, the way his shoulders move with an effortless strength. Why am I so unsettled? This is Jordan—not a date.

“It’s not just the trail,” I admit quietly.

Jordan looks over his shoulder, his brows furrowing slightly. “No,” he says, his voice softer now. “It’s not.”

The trail evens out as we reach the clearing, and I stop in my tracks. The sight before me steals the breath from my lungs.

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