Page 9 of The Blaze Between Us

"I've got you," he says, his voice low and close to my ear.

"Thanks," I manage, my pulse racing from both the near-slip and his touch.

His hand moves to my arm until we're past the narrow section, then he releases me with what feels like reluctance. The absence of his touch leaves a lingering warmth on my skin.

"Hear that?" he asks as we round a bend in the trail.

I focus, catching the distant sound of rushing water. "The falls?"

He nods, a smile spreading across his face. "Almost there. This next part is my favorite."

The trail opens up, and suddenly, the trees part to reveal a stunning view—a crystalline waterfall cascading down a rock face into a clear pool below, surrounded by wildflowers and mossy boulders. The morning sun creates a rainbow in the mist rising from where the water hits the rocks.

I stop dead in my tracks, momentarily speechless. "Oh my god," I finally breathe. "It's magical."

Brock watches my reaction, looking pleased. "Worth the hike?"

"Worth every step," I confirm, moving forward to get a better view. "How is this place not overrun with tourists?"

"Locals prefer to keep some spots relatively secret," he explains, coming to stand beside me. "Plus, the trail is challenging enough to discourage casual visitors."

I pull out my phone to take a picture, then hesitate. "No photo could do this justice."

"Take a mental snapshot," Brock suggests. "Some experiences are better left uncaptured."

I lower my phone, understanding what he means. Instead, I close my eyes for a moment, trying to imprint everything about this moment into my memory—the sound of rushing water, the scent of pine and earth, the cool mountain air on my skin, and the warm presence of the man beside me.

When I open my eyes, I find Brock watching me with an eyebrow raised.

"What?" I ask, suddenly self-conscious.

He shakes his head slightly.

"Nothing. Just..." He pauses, seeming to choose his words carefully. "It's nice to see someone appreciate this place the way it deserves."

But something tells me that's not what he was going to say.

Chapter 4 - Brock

I catch myself staring and quickly look away, focusing on the waterfall instead of the woman beside me.

But the damage is done—she noticed, and now I'm scrambling for a plausible explanation that doesn't reveal what I was actually thinking: that the way the morning light catches in her hair and illuminates her profile makes her look like she belongs here, in this pristine setting, more than anyone I've ever brought to this spot.

"There's a good place to sit just over there," I say, nodding toward a flat boulder near the edge of the pool. "Perfect spot for a break."

She follows my lead, carefully picking her way across the smaller rocks until we reach the larger boulder. I extend my hand to help her up, and when her fingers close around mine, I'm struck by how small they feel in my grasp, how smooth compared to my calloused palm. I shouldn't notice these things. I definitely shouldn't be cataloging them in my memory.

"This view is even better," she says once we're settled, her voice filled with genuine wonder.

I've seen these falls hundreds of times, but today they seem different—brighter, more vibrant somehow. Or maybe it's just that I'm seeing them reflected in Tasha's amber eyes, watching her experience them for the first time.

"I can't believe Ellie hasn't brought you here before," I say, pulling our thermos from my pack.

Tasha shrugs, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "This is actually the first time I've visited Cedar Falls. We always talked about it during college, but something always came up.Internships, summer jobs, family obligations." A shadow crosses her face at the mention of family, there and gone so quickly I almost miss it.

"Well, I'm glad you finally made it," I say, pouring coffee into the thermos cap and offering it to her. "Though I'm sorry my daughter has been such a neglectful host."

"Don't be. I understand." She accepts the coffee, her fingers brushing mine in the exchange. "First love is all-consuming. I remember what that feels like."

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