Page 41 of Shielded Hearts

She let out a throaty laugh. “You look so surprised.”

“I am.”

Her soft smile sparkled in her eyes. “The trust test is whether or not you can travel with someone. My time with you has been pretty effortless.”

“I’m surprised to hear you say that, especially after the mishaps we’ve had.”

She waved a hand. “Those weren’t your doing—or mine either. The cabins weren’t great places to stay.”

“That’s an understatement.”

She laughed again. “It’s probably the military man in you. You pack for yourself. You don’t need any direction. Your training has probably made you into the perfect travel companion.”

“Perfect, huh?” He smirked.

She rolled her eyes. “Great—now I’ve fed your already monstrous ego.”

He chuckled and considered what she said. “It’s partially military training, but growing up with my father, I learned toprepare for every eventuality and fly under the radar. None of us kids wanted to make him angry, especially when he’d been drinking.”

“That sounds rough, Colt. I’m sorry.”

He wished he’d gotten one more look at her as he’d last seen her, standing at the porch rail, staring at the water with that sweet, faraway expression making her features even more angelic.

“I joined the military to get away and see the world. I thought I’d end up in a cushy job stationed at an embassy like my kid brother Theo.”

Her brows puckered. “Did I meet Theo at the wedding?”

“No. He was the only Malone who couldn’t make it.” He considered telling her more about all of his brothers, then recalled Aspen wasn’t going to be sticking around. In fact, those wedding photos she was in would outlast her by a lot. As soon as her plane was repaired, she’d be leaving Wyoming—and her time with him—in the dust.

“And you didn’t get to guard any embassies?”

Her question drew him from his thoughts. He gave a sad shake of his head. “My skillset landed me in combat.”

She didn’t speak, but she did reach out and rest her hand on his forearm where it rested on the console. Her warm fingers spread over his skin. A week ago, he’d jerk away at the feel of being touched. Now, it didn’t feel so odd.

In no time, they arrived at the airstrip. The Malone plane was at the ready.

As Colt followed her onto the bird, he gave the pilot a brief nod in greeting. Soon, they were in the air. When Aspen reclined her seat and closed her eyes, he spent too many minutes studying her features in repose. The fan of her lashes across herpale cheeks, the few freckles dotting the bridge of her upturned nose and the full pout of her lips were etched on his brain.

When he was alone again, he might want to remember this moment. He might want to remember her.

The short flight ended too soon. As soon as they touched down, several texts came through on his phone, which he ignored until they disembarked from the plane and he was behind the wheel of his old pickup once again.

One from his older brother Carson to let him know that a new security job had come through, and he was traveling south to meet the client. There was another from his sister, asking how things were going and a bunch of cutesy emojis.

“Smartass,” he mumbled.

“What was that?”

“Just a text from my sister.” He opened the last message to see a photo of Oaks and his bride standing on the beach at sunset, smiling and enveloped in each other’s arms.

He grunted and put away his phone.

All his life, Colt knew that he wasn’t meant for things that other people had. Romantic relationships and family fun were for everyone else—not for him.

* * * * *

“Colt Malone. You’ve been holding out on me!” Aspen slowly climbed out of the truck, her stare fixed to the cabin they’d just arrived at.

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