Page 16 of The Stranger's Code

“You should know what that’s like, then.” I offered him a warm smile. “You made a big difference today, Cam. Thanks for helping me with everything.”

“Whenever you need me, I’ll be there.” Cameron beamed, before he gently knocked his water bottle against mine in a toast. “Cheers.”

We stood there in silence as we finished our waters. We watched the hospital doors, as if we were waiting on something or someone to come out, an unspoken, shared nervousness between us.

A bond only understood by two.

* * *

I couldn’t sleepthat night.

And I couldn’t figure out why. This wasn’t my first time rescuing someone who’d sustained injuries and had to go to the hospital. Hell, I’d even rescued someone before who’d been unconscious by the time I got there, requiring a quick pulse check and CPR. And yet, I’d been pacing up and down my cabin, getting up for something to drink, mindlessly rearranging things on the couch.

I was absolutely restless. I settled down at the edge of my bed, desperately willing sleep to come, when my thoughts turned back towards Cameron. He’d been the perfect partner for the rescue mission, taking instructions to heart, doing what was required of him without throwing a fit about it. It was like we were able to communicate without communicating, speaking as much in looks and body language as we did with words. His energy matched mine perfectly, and I could easily imagine doing hundreds of rescues with him, just like that, in flawless sync?—

But there wouldn’t be hundreds of rescues with Cameron.

I fell back against my mattress and stared up at my ceiling.

It didn’t matter how natural things felt with Cameron, how easy it was with him. He was just passing through, a temporary feature not a permanent installation. And despite the fact that the more time we spent together, the more it seemed like he’d always belonged on the ranch, I knew it didn’t matter.

Fuck.

Why was I thinking about Cameron, anyway?

Maybe because I hadn’t bothered letting anyone into my world like that in a very long time.

Maybe because I hadn’t bothered trusting anyone like that in a very long time, either.

I let out a deep sigh as I finally closed my eyes.

I needed to go to sleep. And I needed to stop thinking about Cameron Miller…

Even though he’d probably be running through my mind all night.

7

CAMERON

“…Hello?”I groggily answered my phone. I was still half asleep, sunlight creeping in through my cabin window. “Who is this?”

I’d barely gotten enough sleep last night, tossing and turning the whole time. I just kept thinking about Levi, how it felt working alongside him, how in sync we were. It seemed like Levi and I were in sync about a lot of things, in a lot of ways. There was an understanding between us that I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt before, with anyone, a kind of unspoken bond that reverberated in the air around us.

And yet, I had no idea if Levi even felt the same thing. Did he feel like we were connected like that? Or did he see me the same way he saw Teddy, as just another tourist on the ranch, someone passing through who he liked well enough?

Did I mean anything to him, at all?

“There he is! There’s my star.” My manager was on the other end of the line. “How have you been, kid? How’s life in the middle of nowhere treating you?”

“Is this a new number or something?” I pressed. “Why didn’t your name pop up on my caller ID?”

“Because I knew if I called you from my work phone, you wouldn’t have answered.” He laughed. “I know how you get when you’re researching for a role. Talking to your manager, oh, how inauthentic! Cowboys don’t have managers, right? Well, cowboys don’t have potential brand deals coming down the pipeline, either?—”

“Brand deals?”

“Get this. Boot Scoot wants to make you the official face of their newest line of boots for men! They’re the ones with all the cow prints and tassels. Usually, not your style, but for the right price, I think you’ll like what they have to offer. I’m also getting calls from a popstar’s creative directing team. She’s an A lister and she wants you to be the romantic lead in her next music video. It’s gonna be a western. Doesn’t that sound exciting? I can’t tell you who until we sign the paperwork?—”

“But we haven’t even shot the movie yet. What if I show up to set and Antonio Cruz hates what I’m doing with the character? What if I’m not his perfect cowboy?”

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