Chapter 4 #4
Virgil cleared his throat. “Both teams will be in constant radio contact. If one needs assistance, the other will be a few hours’ hike away. Chopper is going through some routine maintenance, so you may need to be each other’s backup.”
Kyle nodded slowly. Eyes never leaving Eden’s face. “Of course. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
The meeting dissolved into logistics. Radio frequencies. Supply caches. Backup protocols.
She caught Teague’s eye across the room. He gave a slight head jerk—come talk to me—and she started toward him.
But Kyle appeared in her path.
“Walk you to the lodge for some lunch?”
She stopped just before colliding with his chest. “I need to coordinate gear with Teague. I’ll probably grab a late lunch in my cabin.”
“Of course.” His eyes flicked over her shoulder—to where Teague was watching with an intensity that could cut glass—then back to her face. “Maybe dinner tonight? Catch up properly?”
“Kyle, I really need to prep—”
“One hour.” His hand touched her elbow—quick, seemingly unconscious. “We haven’t talked in two years, E.” His voice dropped. “I’ve missed you.”
Sierra appeared at Eden’s shoulder. “He’s right, we have missed you. Please have dinner with us.”
One quick glance confirmed what Eden suspected. Kyle hadn’t meant for the invitation to include everyone. But the company would provide the perfect opportunity to catch up without the awkward one-on-one.
“Okay, dinner at the lodge with all four of us…tomorrow night. I have work to do, and you’ll all want to get settled and rest up before tomorrow’s climb.
Sierra, you’re staying with my friend Meg in the cabin next to mine—hope that’s okay.
” When Sierra nodded, her gaze bounced between Trey and Kyle.
“Virgil has a key to an empty cabin for you two.”
Kyle gave a tight nod, then left with Trey. But his attention kept drifting back, his eyes lingering.
The conference room emptied until only Teague and Eden remained.
He stood at the table, making notes, not looking at her. The scratch of his pen was loud in the sudden quiet.
“Thank you.” Eden moved closer. “For taking the heat on team assignments.”
“It was my decision. That’s what I told Virgil.”
“But it was really mine.”
Teague finally looked up. Something flickered in those green eyes. “He doesn’t need to know that. Neither does Kyle.” He set down the notepad. “And honestly? I’m glad you chose Xander. Kyle Morrison—” He stopped, jaw working beneath the scruff. “Something about him doesn’t sit right.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“I know enough.” His eyes held hers. “The way he looks at you. The way he talks about making sure you’re ‘taken care of.’” His voice dropped. “It’s intense.”
Eden tilted her head. “Funny. I seem to remember someone on a ledge this morning who said he couldn’t focus if he was worried about me getting hurt.”
Teague’s expression flickered. “That’s different.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.” He stepped closer. “Because I’m not trying to decide things for you. I’m not positioning myself as your protector. I just—” He ran a hand through his curls, frustrated. “I’m concerned. That’s all.”
“Concerned.” She let the word hang between them. “Not jealous.”
His eyes snapped to hers. Held.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
“Would it matter if I was?” The question was quiet. Almost tentative.
Eden’s heart stuttered. Yes. It would matter. It would matter a lot.
But she wasn’t ready to say that. Not yet.
“Kyle and Landon were best friends.” She kept her voice steady. “Of course he’s protective.”
“Maybe.” Teague’s eyes searched hers. “Just be careful around him, okay?”
She wanted his warning to be jealousy—that would keep things simple. But nothing was simple now. Not team assignments. Not old friendships. Not the way hope kept nudging her forward. “I’ll be careful.”
He nodded, shouldering his pack. “Training climb at six a.m. Get some rest.”
He paused at the door. Turned back. “And Eden?”
“Yeah?”
“For the record”—a half smile tugged at his mouth—“I’m definitely jealous.”
He left before she could respond.
Eden stood alone in the conference room, lingering scent of old coffee in the air, midday light slanting through dusty windows.
I’m definitely jealous.
Her pulse was still racing. But beneath the flutter, unease settled in her chest.
Teague was probably overreacting about Kyle. Kyle was protective, sure. Maybe intense after two years. But that was just his personality. How he’d always been—looking out for her, checking on her.
Except…
She’d chosen to keep him on the other team. Made that decision quickly, instinctively, before she’d really thought it through.
Why?
Eden gathered her notes, trying to shake the feeling that she was missing something. Something about the way Kyle’s eyes tracked her movements. The way his hand kept finding reasons to touch her.
Tomorrow, training. Then head into the backcountry with the rise of the sun on Saturday. Two teams. Eight climbers. One cache hidden somewhere in miles of vertical wilderness.
And she couldn’t shake her concern about Marcus.
Or Teague’s warning about Kyle.
She just hoped they were both wrong.