Page 8 of Forever Theirs

“This is exactly how I pictured it,” Aspen said, snapping pictures of the cabins as we passed. “It’s perfect. Just what I needed.”

Pulling up in front of the doors that would lead to the check-in desk, I put the SUV in Park and leaned against the driver’s door.

“Head in there”—I pointed just over her shoulder—“and get checked in. They’ll give you a key to your cottage, and I can drive you and your gear over so you don’t have to haul it. There are bikes you can borrow from the front desk—they have a shit ton—if you want to go into town. We try to manage our environmental impact, so most people take their bikes around instead of cars if the weather is nice. Meaning anytime it’s above freezing.”

With a hesitant nod, she reached for the door handle and paused. “Do you think I’m insane?”

I huffed a laugh. “Why would I think that?”

“I somewhat ended a toxic relationship yesterday, packed up my stuff, and flew to Alaska. It’s kind of like I’m running away.”

“Or running toward the life you were meant to live. Don’t overthink it, Aspen. Sometimes we need a reset in life. You’re one of the lucky ones who figured out you needed to make a change before too many years were wasted being unhappy.”

“Are you talking from experience?” she whispered.

I swallowed hard and broke off her intense stare. “My life reset came at the expense of someone I love nearly dying. After that, a lot of things shifted into perspective for me. Which is why I’m here. It’s not a flashy life full of material things, but I’m happy. The community I live in, they’re my family. Dysfunctional as shit, but what family isn’t?”

Chewing on her lower lip, she just nodded and shoved open the door.

“Everything will work out, Aspen,” I assured her.

“But what if it doesn’t?” she responded over her shoulder.

“Then you’ll have a lifetime of memories to look back on from your time here.” I shot her a cocky smirk. “I’ll make sure of it.”

With a choked laugh and flushed cheeks, she shook her head and climbed out of the SUV, slamming the door shut behind her.

That wasn’t a no…

So maybe we had a chance to have some fun while she was here.

Weas in me, Aspen, and Miles.

All I had to do was get them both on board, and maybe this would be a week none of us would ever forget.

3

MILES

Stepping into the conference room, I scanned the few faces of the people already here for the company meeting. Uplift Adventure and Rescue had over twenty people working there, either as guides, rescue teams, or various support staff. I counted only a handful in the makeshift conference room, which was about normal.

Keeping to the wall, I made my way around the long table toward the back of the room, dodging the few chairs not tucked under. Catching someone’s eye, I hitched my chin, acknowledging our temporary hire, Hudson. Temporary, as in he moved here for one reason, which would hopefully be wrapped up quickly. He was a detective back in LA, served as a SEAL with Uplift’s owner, Brandon Taylor, and was recently brought here by Brandon to help investigate the uptick in unsolved deaths along the trails and several missing female hikers.

Beside him stood Oliver Johnson, our small town’s deputy sheriff, whose father, the sheriff, wasn’t too happy about his son’s eager acceptance of outside help in the unsolved cases.

Which was suspect as fuck if you asked me.

As I lowered into the metal folding chair, Baylee and Liam both smiled my way from across the table, which I returned. The two had recently started dating, which was fine with everyone, even Brandon, the owner. Baylee was a kind, gentle soul who was left devastated after the loss of her high school sweetheart and fiancé. She deserved everything that could make her smile again, and if our broody cowboy, Liam Wilson, could do that, then they had my support.

I arched a brow at Langston as he fell into the metal seat beside me, grumbling under his breath. I swore the ground shook beneath his heavy weight, and that was saying a lot, considering I wasn’t a small guy with my solid six-foot-three frame. Lang was Uplift’s captain of all things that float, so any adventures involving the water were his specialty.

The grumpy fuck shot me the finger and slouched down in his seat like an upset toddler. I fought the twitch of my lips, knowing full well what got my coworker all riled up. He was never outgoing, but his persistent grouchiness started when the company hired the new scheduling coordinator and social media guru, Juno Jones, who arrived last month.

The sexual tension between the two was almost laughable. Toss West, our genius mechanic and Langston’s friend with benefits, into the mix, and the rest of us had stockpiled popcorn to watch them avoid their attraction to each other. At some point, it would bubble over, and I, for one, couldn’t wait. Maybe then Langston would pull the oar out of his ass and go back to being his regular irritable self instead of an all-around asshole.

“Your buddy is an instigating bastard,” Langston griped as he watched Juno step into the room.

“Guess he’s taking tips from you in that department,” I said, unable to hide my smirk. “What did he do this time?”

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