Chapter 25
twenty-five
God, she’s gorgeous. Even covered in mud. I can’t help but grin like an idiot as we trudge through the muck.
All I can think about is how her body felt beneath mine. The taste of her lips. The way she moaned into my mouth. My cock throbs, and I have to adjust myself for what feels like the hundredth time today.
I’ve been biding my time since I ‘helped her sleep’, keeping things professional despite every instinct screaming at me to claim her.
But that kiss—fuck, that kiss—changes everything. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. No amount of excuses about “adrenaline” can explain away how she melted against me, fingers digging into my back as she kissed me like she was drowning and I was the oxygen she needed to breathe.
I’m not giving up. Not now. Not ever.
But I need to be smart about this. Logan’s warning about the crew echoes in my head. If Taylor or Alan caught wind of what’s happened between us, they’d never let it go. The teasing would be relentless.
I need to figure out some subtle ways to keep her attention. Casual touches. Making sure I’m always around when she needs something. Small gestures that won’t raise eyebrows but will keep me in her thoughts. Things that’ll keep her thinking about me when she’s all alone in her tiny room at night.
We check out the other cabins—one a total loss, the other untouched—before we start the forty-five minute trek back to the truck.
Thankfully, despite the fact that we’re wet and covered in mud, the exercise helps to keep us from freezing. By the time we make it back to the truck, my whole body aches.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for this day to be over,” I say as I climb into the driver’s seat and turn the key.
Reyna nods, shivering as she straps herself in. “Definitely. I need a long, hot shower and a stiff drink.”
I reach over and crank up the heat. “Sounds like a great plan.”
The drive back to the station is quiet. The hum of the engine and the rhythmic swish of the wipers are the only sounds filling the cab as Reyna gazes out the passenger window.
Mud cakes her hair, streaking down her neck, spattered across her face. Every time I sneak a glance, my chest tightens. Not just because she’s beautiful, but because of how close we came to getting leveled by a tree.
In less than a second, it would’ve crushed us both. A shiver racks my body when I remember the sound of cracking wood, how the ground shook, and the feel of her small body beneath me as we hit the ground. Hell, if my reflexes hadn’t been on point...
I shudder, shaking the thought away as I focus on the road.
By the time we pull into the station, the other teams are back. Their rigs are parked in the bay, some of the guys milling around, others still wiping down equipment. As we roll in, a few heads turn our way.
Killing the engine, I glance at Reyna. She looks exhausted. Dark circles under her eyes, clothes covered in mostly dried mud. But she’s alive. Whole. And that’s all that matters.
“Home sweet home,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
All she gives me in response is a tired smile.
We climb out and my attention immediately tracks to Logan.
He’s standing near the back of the bay, arms crossed, jaw set so tight I can almost see the muscle ticking from here.
When his eyes lock onto Reyna, something dark and possessive flashes across his face. Then his gaze swings to me, and if looks could kill, I’d instantly be six feet under.
Reyna doesn’t seem to notice. She’s too busy grabbing her bag from the back seat, wincing as she hoists it over her shoulder. No doubt the bump on the back of her head is bothering her more than she led me to believe.
The crew gives Logan a wide berth as he strides toward us.
He stops, eyes raking over Reyna from head to toe, taking in the mud, the exhaustion, the way she’s favoring her left side. His nostrils flare, and I can practically see the steam coming out of his ears.
“What the hell happened out there?” he demands, his voice a low growl.
“Tree fell,” I say. “We were heading back after investigating one of the cabins when a huge pine gave way. We barely got clear in time.”
Logan’s gaze snaps to me, green eyes blazing. “Barely?”
“By a couple of feet,” I continue, keeping my tone even. “Reyna took a hard hit when I tackled her out of the way. She’s got a small bump on the back of her head, but her pupils are good. No nausea or dizziness.”
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Logan turns back to Reyna, voice dangerously soft.
“Go get yourself cleaned up and into a hot shower. Now.” He doesn’t wait for her response before pivoting back to me. “Both of you, in my office in twenty minutes. I want Dave to give her a full medical assessment.”
When Reyna opens her mouth to argue, Logan narrows his eyes with a glare that immediately shuts her down. With a resigned nod, she walks away, mud squelching in her boots.
“Lo—” I start, but he cuts me off with a sharp wave of his hand.
“My office. Twenty minutes.” Shoulders rigid, he turns on his heel and stalks away.
As Reyna disappears around the corner, I head to the locker room, mind racing as I strip off my muddy clothes.
Logan’s reaction isn’t surprising. His intensity towards her just proves what I already know. My best friend is wound tighter than a drum over her, and she’s the key that could either unravel him or snap him in two.
After a quick shower, I throw on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt and make my way to Logan’s office. As I approach, I see the door is open a crack, and I can hear him talking adamantly on the phone.
“—just don’t know what the hell to do,” he states. “Izzy. A fucking tree almost crushed her and Brex! If he hadn’t grabbed her and tossed her out of the way…”
There’s a few seconds of silence as he listens to his twin.
“I know it’s her job, damn it. But I—”
More silence.
“I told you, I can’t.” He lets out a long-suffering sigh. “I’m her boss.”
I lean against the wall and listen with a knowing grin on my face. Dude’s got it bad.
Movement catches my attention out of the corner of my eye, and I push off the wall as Reyna turns the corner and heads my way.
Hair still damp and hanging loose around her shoulders, she’s changed into leggings and an oversized T-shirt. She looks exhausted; her skin pale except for an angry red mark I hadn’t noticed before slashed across her cheek.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, giving her a quick once-over. She seems steady enough, but I can’t help the protective surge that makes me want to reach for her and wrap her in the safety of my arms.
“Sore, but I’m okay.” Her voice comes out soft and tired.
Just as she reaches me, Logan ends the call with his sister.
Placing a hand at the small of her back, I guide her into his office. The warmth of her skin seeps through her shirt, making my palm tingle.
Logan looks up, gaze immediately tracking my hand. Lifting an eyebrow at me, he shifts his attention to Reyna.
“Sit,” he orders, tone clipped as he gets up and stalks around his desk.
As Reyna sinks into the chair, I lean against the desk, claiming a spot where I can see all of her.
Logan squats down next to her and raises a hand, but seems to think better of it as he clears his throat. “I’m only going to ask you this once. And don’t you dare play it down, understand?”
Hands fisted in her lap, Reyna narrows her eyes and raises her chin, giving him a quick nod. A valiant attempt at standing up to Logan’s abrasive tone.
Good girl. Don’t ever let ‘em see you sweat.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes.”
Logan lifts his hand again, and this time he doesn’t back down.
Cupping her face, he lightly grazes a thumb over the scratch on her cheek, and I mentally raise an eyebrow when a low, protective growl comes from deep inside his chest.
My lips twitch when a flush comes over her face, pink enough to almost make the mark disappear.
A sharp knock at the door breaks the tension as Dave pokes his head in, his friendly face morphing into professional mode when he spots Reyna.
“Captain.” Eyes wide, his gaze dances between the three of us. “You wanted me to do a med-eval?”
“Yes,” Logan confirms as he quickly stands. “She took a hard hit to the head. I want a full concussion assessment.”
“Hey, Reyna,” Dave murmurs, setting his medical bag on the floor next to the chair. “Let’s take a look at you.”
Crossing my arms, I settle in, ready to watch the Logan Is About To Go Feral Show.
Pulling out his penlight, Dave leans in, but before he can even shine it in her eyes, Logan squats back down. “She’s got a bump on the back of her head and she’s favoring her left side.”
“I’ve got this, Captain,” Dave says firmly, glancing over with a patient smile.
Logan huffs and stands, keeping a close distance as Dave gently tilts Reyna’s chin up.
“I’m going to check your pupils,” he says. “You know the drill.”