Page 20 of Fire Bear

He turned at her approach, spatula in hand. “Morning,” he said with a grin, eyes bright. “I made breakfast.”

“It smells delicious,” she replied, overwhelmed by affection as she reached for two mugs. She poured coffee into each.

He winked, and she felt her cheeks warm. Memories of the night before threaded through her mind as she placed the mugs on the small kitchen table. Through the window, the morning sunlight glowed on the apple trees. Ash brought over two plates of bacon and eggs, and they began eating. The eggs were fluffy and delicious.

“Since I know we both have the day off from our normal responsibilities,” Ash said as they finished their meal. “I thought we could go out to Lake Fate for a hike.”

“That sounds wonderful,” she said, smiling. “I’ll get changed.”

He grinned, lighting up his face. “Great. I’ll clean up here.”

She stood and placed a quick kiss on his temple before hurrying back to the bedroom. She washed and dressed, and an hour later, they were on the road. When they arrived at Lake Fate, the water glistened in the late morning sun.

They parked at the trailhead and slipped into light daypacks, each carrying water and a few essentials. The sun shimmered on the lake’s surface, and a gentle breeze brought the tang of pines. Eliana took a deep breath of the crisp air and felt tension roll off her shoulders.

“This is exactly what I needed,” she murmured, surveying the rugged shoreline and the casual footpath winding through patches of wildflowers. “A nice hike to clear my head.”

Ash nodded. “I thought so,” he said softly. “We both needed a break from everything.”

They set off along the marked trail. Gravel crunched underfoot, and the rhythmic sound soothed Eliana’s mind. Next to them, the lake lapped at smooth stones, providing a comforting background. Tall evergreens lined portions of the path, branches forming shifting patterns of shade.

Sometimes the trail meandered near the water’s edge. Other times, it dipped inland, revealing sun-dappled ferns and moss-covered logs. Occasionally, it opened up to a panoramic view of the lake. They paused more than once to marvel at the scenery. Eliana snapped a few phone photos, capturing the lake’s silver-blue brilliance.

“Look,” Ash said suddenly, pointing to the sky.

She followed his gesture and spotted a great blue heron circling lazily. She tilted her head back. “It’s beautiful,” she murmured.

She took a sip from her water bottle, appreciating the cool trickle down her throat. They continued along the trail, climbing to a vantage point. The view was breathtaking, a sparkling expanse of water framed by tree-lined hills. Eliana felt a surge of emotion at the sight.

They took a seat on a rough-hewn bench. Eliana settled onto the weathered wood, setting her daypack beside her, while Ash sat close. Nature’s sounds surrounded them. A slight breeze played with her hair, and she smiled when her eyes met his. A gentle wave of affection washed through her.

He shifted, taking her hand. Her heart thumped when he leaned in to place a tender kiss on her lips. She tasted a hint of salt from the morning air, and her pulse fluttered. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers for a moment before they stood to continue.

The trail descended to a group of boulders. Water gently lapped at the rocks, and the rhythmic sound gave her a sense of peace. They spotted a pair of loons out in the distance. The trail narrowed and they passed a patch of bright yellow wildflowers. When they walked back into the forest, a canopy of evergreens provided shade, and sunbeams danced across the forest floor.

Her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket, rattling against the thin fabric. Both of them jumped slightly. She frowned at the screen, seeing Talia’s name.

She answered, “Talia? What’s up?”

Talia’s usually composed voice sounded taut. “Eliana, thank goodness. Mateo never showed up today, and he is not responding to calls or texts.”

Eliana straightened, stepping away from Ash to focus on the call. “He never misses a shift,” she said, glancing at Ash. “Are you sure he’s not running errands?”

“No one has seen him,” Talia said, voice tight with concern. “I talked to his mom, and she hasn’t heard from him in days. I don’t know what’s going on.”

Eliana’s heart clenched. Mateo was more than an employee; he was almost family. He’d started working for her after she’d met him and his mother at the farmer’s market. Mateo had only been sixteen at the time.

He’d been so fascinated with her orchard practices that he’d begged her to teach him everything about heirloom apples. She’d given him a part-time job in the afternoon and on weekends, showing him the ropes of orchard management and production.

He was a quick learner and had surpassed many other employees in just a few short years. By the time he was an adult, it was evident that Mateo was a valuable apprentice and an asset to her business. In the process, he’d become like a little brother to her.

Her mind whirled with worst-case scenarios, picturing him injured or in danger. She forced herself to speak calmly. “This is strange. I’ll head back right now.”

Chapter

Fourteen

Ash notedthe strain on Eliana’s face as he followed her to the barn. She set her jaw, trying to conceal her worry. Inside, a few weekend staff members were packing shipments. Eliana cleared her throat and raised her voice enough for everyone to hear. “Has anyone seen Mateo lately?”

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