Chapter Twenty-Five
COLE
Who’s more stubborn?
“This is incredible,” one of the women in our group breathed as we stood on one of the overlook areas at Brooks River in Katmai.
We started the trip here because it was an excellent starting point and we could get all of the current updates available from the local staff who managed this famed area, a feeding ground for brown bears.
She glanced up at me with a flirtatious smile.
I smiled in return, careful and polite. I was so in over my head with Adele that I could barely even notice another woman.
Beyond that, I didn’t get entangled with guests.
It wasn’t like there were rules about that, but none of us wanted there to be a problem.
“It’s always amazing,” I offered casually.
I moved along the walkway, stopping beside Adele. She glanced up, her eyes bright. “I’ve seen grizzlies and browns plenty, but this is pretty freaking incredible.”
I chuckled. “Hard to beat.”
We watched as one of the large brown bears deftly snatched a salmon out of the falls.
“They do the fat bear contest, right? I vote for Holly,” Adele said staunchly.
I grinned. “She’s one of my favorites.”
“So we stay here for what, one night?” she asked.
I couldn’t resist curling my arm around her waist. I simply enjoyed touching her. Oh, she was sexy as hell, and I wanted her pretty much all the time, but it was more than that. I liked the connection, the way I felt close to her.
“Yup, then we start the hike,” I replied.
“How many miles do we cover?”
“We have forty miles planned. We start on the maintained trails and veer off of those for part of it and then loop back.”
“I’m excited.” Her eyes were sparkling, and I couldn’t resist leaning down to give her a quick kiss. She looked startled when I drew away.
I shrugged. “I couldn’t help it.”
Her cheeks went a little pink, but she smiled, and I loved it.
I forced myself to focus. “So, on a more serious topic, we’re all set with the stuff we need. If you need anything…”
Her gaze sobered. “We’re all set.”
“You know I’m fine, right?” she added a moment later.
“Adele,” I said softly, turning to face her. “I know you’re fine. You’re one of the strongest people I know, but I don’t want to pretend like there’s nothing to be mindful of. Let’s face it—on a hike like this, things happen anyway.”
She frowned slightly, her nose wrinkling.
“You’re strong and maybe a little stubborn and don’t like depending on anybody,” I pointed out.
Her eyes went a little wide before she shrugged sheepishly. “Yes, all of that.”
I gave her another quick kiss. “We’ve got you. We all depend on each other when we’re out like this. It’s really important.”
“I know it is.”
My heart felt squeezed tight in my chest for a beat as I looked down at her.
I’d meant it when I told her I wanted her to give me a chance, to give us a chance, because I really liked her.
And yet, I had also been unprepared for just how deep my feelings ran.
I didn’t dare shy away, although the urge was there.
I knew it was something I would grapple with, in part because I sensed my own defenses around my heart were a rubble, while she still had hers up. I didn’t know what to think about that.
I mentally scoffed. You finally met your match. Someone more guarded than you.
The next morning as we prepared to leave, we were getting all geared up, checking our packs and so on, and I sensed Adele’s tension. When I glanced her way, her eyes were trained on a new group that had just arrived. For a beat, I sensed a flicker of fear from her.
I followed her gaze to see a man standing there.
He was talking to someone, laughing, giving off a forced casualness.
He was what we called a weekend warrior.
The kind of guy who looked the part—expensive gear, name-brand boots that looked shiny new, a manicured beard.
He was built like a guy who never missed leg day at the gym.
When his eyes landed on Adele, his gaze sharpened and his smile disappeared. His expression shifted to something like surprise, maybe even anger. Then, just as quickly, he schooled his expression to blank.
I looked back to Adele. Her jaw was tight. She was studiously focused on the buckle of her pack. What the hell was going on?