Page 11 of Shadows of You

The man grinned. That curve of his lips and the flash of straight, white teeth had me sucking in a surprised breath. When he wasn’t scowling, his beauty was devastating.

“I wouldn’t mind napping through my shots either,” he agreed.

“Can I help?” Cady asked.

The man opened his mouth as if to say no but then glanced at the deer. “Sure.”

I watched as he led Cady into the stall. He explained each step as he did it. The deer didn’t flinch as he inserted the needle and pushed the medicine into her muscle. Then he slid on gloves and cleaned her wounds, placing ointment on the gashes.

There was a tenderness to how he treated the animal that was in direct opposition to his demeanor. The gentleness told me his cold, grouchy exterior was nothing but a defense mechanism. It was to protect the tenderness that lived within him.

“We did it, Mama! Did you see? I helped. I spread the medicine on her and everything.”

I crouched in front of Cady. “You were amazing.”

“I think I wanna be a vet or maybe a—a—what did you say you were again?” she asked the man.

There was that faint lip twitch again. “A Fish and Wildlife game warden.”

“A game warder,” Cady whispered. “That’s socool.”

My gaze lifted to the man’s. “Thank you. For helping her.”

The hint of amused affection slipped off his face, and the mask came back. “It’s my job.”

I only smiled wider, having gotten a glimpse of what he was hiding beneath the façade. “Well, thank you for doing it.”

He shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable. I wanted to laugh but resisted the urge.

“Call Dr. Miller if she gets worse. I gotta get going.”

“I will.” As he headed into the snowstorm, regret flashed through me at knowing I’d likely never see him again. Something about the man pulled at me. Something I couldn’t quite pin down.

“I like him,” Cady said in a matter-of-fact tone.

I pushed to my feet. “Oh, yeah?”

“I think Mr. Grizz and I are gonna be bestest friends.”

My brows flew up. “Mr. Grizz?”

“Yep,” she said, popping the P. “He’s like a grizzly bear. Cranky after coming out of hi-hi—”

“Hibernation?” I supplied, fighting back laughter.

Cady grinned. “Hibersnation!” Her tiny features scrunched. “Maybe he’s cranky because he’s hungry.”

This time, I couldn’t hold in my laughter and pulled Cady into my arms. “You might be right. We should’ve offered him a snack.”

4

ROAN

I strodethrough the deepening snow to my snowmobile, but I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder at the barn. My back teeth ground together. The woman was in over her head.

Aspen.

The name fit her. As if she were some woodland fairy out of the storybooks my mom used to read to my siblings and me every night.

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