Page 71 of Forever Theirs

I huffed into the cup. Who did he think he was telling me, a fully grown adult, where I could or couldn’t go becausehedeemed it unsafe?

However, another part wanted to listen to him because he had a point, and if I listened, I’d more than likely be rewarded in all the best ways.

A soft, lovesick sigh blew past my lips as I turned my gaze back out the coffee shop’s large window. Light gray clouds blocked the sun, making it feel later in the day than midmorning. I checked my watch and glanced at the map again. If I left before noon, then I would be back before the guys were done with work, which meant I wouldn’t lose any of the precious time we had left together.

Thinking that shifted my thoughts from the hike to what Aiden brought up on the porch yesterday. They wanted me to stay. As in not leaving when my reservations at The Nest were over. Which was great since I wanted to stay.

Iwantedto stay, right?

What if this was some vacation high where anything goes and reality didn’t matter? That could be the case, but what we had, what I felt for them, seemed deeper than that. Almost like this place was meant to be my forever. Just the thought of going back to Seattle or even just leaving Anchor Bay made my stomach sour, so why would I when I was utterly happy here?

The tiny bell above Sips’s door rang when the glass door swung open, allowing a man I hadn’t seen before to rush through. The older man behind the counter paused what he was doing to frown at the new person as he beelined to a door labeled Employees Only. Taking another sip, I turned back to study the brightly colored buildings on the other side of the street, but the newcomer reappeared, hastily tying a wrinkled apron around his waist.

“You’re late,” the older gentleman complained in a huff. “That’s twice in the last week, Jasper.”

My ears perked up at the name. Wasn’t that the name of the missing woman’s boyfriend, the one Hudson and the deputy sheriff mentioned they wanted to talk to?

“Damnit, I know. Sorry, Paul. It won’t happen again. Things have been…” His words trailed off when his swinging gaze landed on me. “Unusual.”

I sat frozen in my seat, unable to move, as Jasper stared me down with a harsh expression from across the café.

“Oliver came in asking about you.” Jasper’s assessing stare snapped when his head whipped toward Paul, eyes wide. “I told them you’d be working today.”

A muttered curse barely reached my ears. Shaking his head, Jasper grabbed a wet rag and shoved away from the counter.

“They won’t leave me the hell alone. I’m going to clean the tables.” But instead of stepping toward the ones with empty mugs and plates on top, he walked straight over to me. Pausing at my table, standing so close that I scooted toward the window or my shoulder would’ve brushed against his thigh, he said, “I don’t know you, but I’ve seen you around town.”

My throat closed up.

What the fuck kind of opening line was that?

A suspicious one, that was for damn sure.

“Taking the trail to Kenai Fjords or just visiting?” he asked, eyeing my half-empty mug. “Want another latte?”

“Visiting,” I rasped as I drew the mug close to my chest, afraid he’d take it no matter what I wanted. “And no, thank you. I’m good.”

“Which trail are you heading to?”

It suddenly felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. “How—” My voice broke. “How did you know I planned to go hiking later?”

Light, almost white brows pulled in tight, forming a line between them. “Well, you just confirmed it, but I asked based on the trail map you’ve got.” He tilted his shaved head toward the map unfolded on the table. “Want a local’s advice on which ones are the easiest?”

Heart hammering in my chest, every internal alarm bell rang in my head at the eerie way he studied me, waiting for my answer. Jasper was as much a stranger as Aiden that first day, but Aiden put me at ease instantly. This guy was the complete opposite. I wanted to run from him while checking over my shoulder to make sure he didn’t follow.

“No, thank you. I can manage on my own.” Hoping he’d get the hint that I was done with the conversation, I shifted in the seat to stare out the window. His looming presence remained there, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end for several long seconds before grumbling under his breath about rude tourists and walking away.

Once he was behind the counter, I slumped in the chair, breathing deeply to slow my racing pulse. The mug trembled as I raised it to my lips and took a sip of the now-cool coffee.

Movement outside the window drew my attention to a tall man wearing a cowboy hat and the smaller woman who walked hand in hand with him as they strolled down the street. I couldn’t see their faces, but their body language spoke to the strong romantic connection between them. I swallowed down a squeal of delight when something moved on the woman’s shoulder and I instantly recognized the little fur ball.

BamBam.

The awkwardness from earlier was now a distant memory as I slouched back in the seat with a wide smile on my face.

Yes. Yes, I wanted to stay.

Not only because of Anchor Bay and the adorable woodland creatures I could potentially befriend but them.

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