Page 146 of Power Shift

There are still goosebumps on my skin from the last time he sped up when he cranks the gas and sends us throttling forward down the endless stretch of highway.

I lift my head from where I had it resting against his shoulder and watch the deep green trees turn into specs. The ocean air rushes past, whipping through my hair and filling my lungs.

Waves crash just beyond the guardrails as Ronan slows, and I get a chance to take in the full view around us. We’re all alone on this long road, but the ocean is everywhere. I take a deep inhale and taste the salty spray. Being out here feels like a reminder of why I love Rayton so much.

It can be hard to remember that I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world when I’m trapped in the city, but out here? It’s so clear.

It’s green everywhere, trees and wildflowers filling acres and acres of land. The ocean isrightthere, a promise of days on the water, the scent of salt lingering in your hair, and salt between your toes. It’s been too long since I’ve been to the beach or swimming in the water, so being here right now . . . it’s more perfect than Ronan could have known.

He reaches back to hold my thigh while we pull off the highway and come to a stop in an empty parking lot. We’re the only ones here, and I like this bit of privacy.

“You okay?” he asks while turning off the bike and kicking down the stand to balance us.

I eagerly jump off the bike and take my helmet off so I can get a better view of where we are. The air is so clean and crisp here. I can hear the wildlife out in the forest around us.

“I’m amazing. We’re so close to the ocean, Ro.”

“It’s about a five-minute walk through those trees if you’re up for it,” he says, pointing right ahead of us.

“Yes!”

His chuckle is a low kiss on the wind. “Alright. Hand the helmet over, baby girl.”

“What made you start calling me that? Was one pet name not enough?” I tease while he pulls it into his hold.

The first touch of my fingers to my hair has me hurrying to flatten out the mess left by the helmet. I blow out a nervous laugh and stare as he discards his helmet and sets it on the bike seat beside mine. Lucky guy doesn’t have any hair to worry about.

“It suits you, Briar. Both of them do.”

“Then continue,” I sing, offering him a wink before skipping off toward the trees.

“Thanks for the permission.”

“It’s the least I could do after you drove us all the way over here. Have you been somehow speaking to my mother behind my back and asking her all about my favourite things?”

He catches up to me quickly and snags my hand, threading our fingers. “I considered it.”

“But . . .?”

“But Jasper told me not to overstep.”

“That sounds like him. My sweet man.”

“Trying to make me jealous?”

I bite back a grin. “You have nothing to be jealous of. Each of you are doing a great job of earning my heart.”

“Who’s doing the best job?”

He’s not expecting me to pinch the back of his hand. I roll my eyes up at him and let him lead the way through the forest, knowing I’m more likely to get us lost than actually find the water.

“I don’t pick favourites.”

“How do I change your mind about that?”

My boots crunch the twigs and bark lying on the ground as we maneuver through the trees and beneath low-hangingbranches. Luckily, the sun is still hanging on to its place above the horizon, and the pretty pinks and purples paint a path for us to follow. On the way back, we might not be so lucky.

“You can’t. I’m falling in love with all of you the same,” I announce.