Page 11 of Wolves & Watercolors
The edge of his mouth quirks, like a smile is breaking through. Warmth stirs in my stomach. I’d love to see those dimples again. “Do you do a lot of gardening at home?”
“No, I wish.”
“I’ve got everything handled, but you’re welcome to come see it.”
“I’d like that.” I tear my eyes away from his and feel my blush redouble when I see how high Marigold’s eyebrows are arching. A small smirk twists her lips. What did I do? I wasn't flirting. Maybe things are just so boring around here, anyone new is entertaining for them.
Scowling to myself, I stab another bite of pasta and look away into the trees as I chew. I must be reading the table wrong. This isn’t a group of starving artists and actors in Los Angeles.
Hazel and Marigold discuss baby things while I disassociate. When Hazel stands, I blink in surprise. Our plates are mostly empty.
“I’d better get her home,” Slate says, his hand on Hazel’s lower back.
She lets out a yawn and then nods. “Yeah, I’m wiped. Rory, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Goodnight, Mama,” I say, giving in to the urge to pat her belly.
Marigold rises and stacks our plates. “I’ll drop these in the kitchen. Cedar, are you on dish duty tonight?” He shakes his head. “Good, you can walk Aurora back to Heath’s cabin.”
“Um, that’s okay. I remember the way.”
Cedar’s open mouth closes.
“It’s getting dark quickly and the forest looks different after dark. There aren’t city lights out here. It’s pitch black. You need someone to help you, sorry.” Marigold leaves no room for arguing as she walks away, balancing the stack of plates in front of her.
“Sorry,” Cedar says.
“I really think I’ll be fine on my own,” I protest.
He huffs, shaking his head. “She’s right about it being dark. My family’s cabin is near Heath’s, so let's walk together. Just to be safe.”
My lips press together, keeping my arguments contained. I pride myself in being capable, so the entire situation irritates me. But this gorgeous man wants to walk through the trees with me, and that’s hard to say no to. I feel my resolve slipping. “Okay, fine.”
Cedar allows me to take the lead as we cross the clearing. I may think I have a general idea of where Heath’s cabin is, but as soon as we reach the shadow of the trees, I am entirely lost. But Cedar doesn’t tease me or point out my failure. Instead, he walks beside me, subtly directing my steps with his own. My ego purrs. When was the last time I met a man who doesn’t jump at the chance to sayI told you so?
That appreciation is replaced with an unnerving sense of disorientation as the trees swallow up all available light around us. The starlight through the branches can’t reach us and taunts me as it paints the highest branches in silver.
Grinding my molars, I slow and step carefully, trying desperately to keep track of the man a few inches away from me. Surely he won’t let me walk into a tree. Does he know the forest so well he can walk in the pitch black? Haven’t they heard of a flashlight?
My foot catches, my body jolting forward as my momentum turns to falling. There is no time to cry out, my body tensing for impact. Before I hit the ground, hands close around my upper arms, halting my nose-dive so suddenly, I let out an embarrassing “Umph.”
“You okay?” Cedar asks as he levers me back to standing.
“Yeah, totally,” I say, doing my best to sound cool and collected. Never mind that my heart is hammering in my throat so hard, I’m sure he can hear it.
He sighs, clearly not fooled by my bravado. It’s probably the shake to my voice that gives me away. “Aurora, why don’t you hold on to my arm. We are almost there, but I know it’s too dark for you to see.”
Gently, his hand finds mine, guiding it to his arm. Holy biceps. My breath stalls as I wrap my other hand around his arm, feeling the muscles shifting under my fingertips.
“Thanks for catching me,” I murmur, internally berating myself for feeling up his arm, even if he placed my hand there.
He doesn’t seem to mind or he’s too polite to react. I can’t see his face, but his voice is casual as he says, “No problem. This is exactly why I wanted to walk you back. It wouldn’t be a good vacation if you broke your arm on our uneven trails.”
“I appreciate that. I don’t want to be a burden for Hazel. I’m worried I’m adding to her stress,” I admit, though I’m not sure why I’m opening up to this almost stranger.
Cedar doesn’t answer for a long minute, but his free hand covers mine. “Step up, there’s a rock here,” he says.
I ignore how his voice turns my stomach all gooey. He’s my sister’s new family, not someone in the city. She would have to live with the consequences if I hit it and quit it, and something tells me Cedar isn’t a playboy on hookup apps.
