“I’m serious,” Cade said. “Our survival could depend on how fast we move.”
Feeling shredded inside, she raised her gaze to his. And for an endless moment, she just looked at him, absorbing his strength and resolve.
And a deep sense of certainty filled her. No matter what had happened in their past or how he felt about her now, this man would do anything to protect her. She could trust him with her life.
She had to, because each time she’d ignored his directions, she’d caused more problems. So far, she’d only delayed them, and acquired some bruises and scrapes. Next time, she could get them both killed.
And no matter how wrenching it would be to leave the dog, she couldn’t endanger Cade. “I understand,” she whispered.
“Good.”
She dragged her gaze back to the dog. But their situation would have to get extremely dire before she abandoned him. And she wouldn’t let it reach that point. She’d hike like a demon to that clearing so they could outrun that fire.
Resolved now, she polished off the last of her sandwich and leaned back, pretending to rest. It wasn’t hard. In fact, she had to fight the urge to sleep. The dry breeze swished through the weeds beside the trail, its hypnotic murmur sedating. Insects droned in the rising heat, lulling her into closing her eyes.
Determined to stay awake, she jerked her eyes back open. Then she brushed the dirt off her torn jeans and grimaced. God, she was filthy. What she wouldn’t give for a shower and bed. A moan rose in her throat at the thought.
Cade reached for his canteen. “How’s your shoulder?” she asked.
“Could be worse.”
Or better, she suspected. He tapped several ibuprofen onto his thigh, tossed them into his mouth and chased them down with water. His Adam’s apple dipped as he drank.
Her gaze slid down his whiskered throat, over the sinewy cords of his neck, to the makeshift sling cradling his arm. She felt a spurt of admiration. God, he was stoic. He had to feel worse than she did. He’d jumped from a plane, battled the fire and been crushed by a burning tree. Then he’d forded a river, tramped over the mountain, and stopped a predator from attacking. Yet he managed to keep himself going.
And if he could do it, so could she. “You ready to go?” she asked.
“In a minute.” He passed her the canteen, then leaned back and closed his eyes.
“Mind if I take one of your pills?”
“Help yourself.”
Deciding one wouldn’t do, she shook three from the plastic vial and gulped them down. With a sigh, she recapped the canteen. Even warm, the water eased her dry throat. Now if she could only close her eyes…But she didn’t dare. She’d fall asleep in seconds and not budge again for hours.
Unfortunately, that didn’t give her much to do except look at Cade. Her gaze traveled over his familiar, handsome face. Dirt streaked his temples. A two-day growth of beard lined his lean jaw. Her pulse hummed. In all her life, she’d never seen a sexier man.
Without warning, he opened his eyes. His gaze seared into hers and her breath jammed. Her heart stilled, as if trapped by that heated stare, and she couldn’t look away.
And the memory of that kiss swept through her. The frantic hunger, the clawing need. The pulsing surge of desire.
His hot eyes narrowed on hers. “So, who are you engaged to?” he asked.
Thrown by that question, she sucked in her breath. She couldn’t lie to Cade, nor did she want to. They’d had too many misunderstandings in the past. They needed honesty now.
“No one, actually,” she admitted. She lifted her hand. “Phil asked me. He’s a guy I’ve dated for a couple of years, but I…I haven’t made up my mind.”
His gaze held hers for a long moment, but she couldn’t read his expression. Then he stood. “Why not?”
Good question. Ignoring her protesting body, she rose to her feet and gathered their trash. “No reason. I guess I just needed time. He’s a great guy. Steady, dependable.”
Like a dog.
Their gazes latched. Cade’s accusation hung in the air between them. He lifted his brows, as if daring her to deny it.
Her face hot, she jerked her gaze away. She snatched up her bag and grabbed Dusty’s leash, but questions crowded her mind.
Was Cade right? Was she expecting too much from a man? Was she wrong to want her husband to stay home?
Phil wouldn’t think so. He never felt the need to roam, and he certainly never sought out risky adventures. His idea of a thrill was cramming in an extra round of golf before the evening sprinklers came on. And he’d gladly spend nights at her side.
But Phil had never kissed her like that.
“We need to head back down the road a half mile, then cut across the valley,” Cade said. “We’ll look for a game trail to follow.”
“All right.” Grateful for the change of subject, she quickly fell in beside him. But as she tramped along, trying to ignore her blisters and aches, she faced another harsh fact. If she married Phil, she’d never feel that excitement again. The only man who created that havoc was Cade.
And why was that? She loved Phil, didn’t she? Frowning, she skirted a rut in the trail. Of course she loved him. Their relationship was just more mature, based on stability and respect.
Boredom?
Doubt slowed her steps. No, that wasn’t true. Of course Phil didn’t bore her. He relaxed her, sure, but wasn’t that better than a roller-coaster relationship filled with extreme highs and lows? It was certainly easier on her nerves.
But if she loved Phil, then why did Cade affect her so strongly? Was it just lust? A heavy dose of sexual chemistry? Or something deeper?
That thought stopped her cold. Cade glanced back, and she hurried to catch up. Panic raced through her chest. She couldn’t still love Cade. No, absolutely not. Loving him meant months of loneliness, reliving the misery of her childhood, being forever left behind.
Besides, she hardly knew him anymore. She’d changed since their divorce. She’d become more independent, more focused on reality, and Cade had probably changed, too.
She slid a glance at his rugged profile, and the cold truth slammed through her heart. Despite the passing years, he hadn’t changed that much. He was still the amazing man she’d married. Generous and strong, brave and exciting-and unable to stay home every night.
Unless…Her breath hitched. Was there a chance he’d reconsider? That he’d give up his smokejumping job? Especially now that he was injured…
They reached the end of the mining fence, where the trail switched back and sloped downhill. She cleared her throat, not sure how to broach the delicate subject. “So, are your parents still living on their ranch?” she finally asked.
For a moment, he didn’t answer. A Steller’s jay squawked in the silence and the pine boughs creaked overhead.
Then he glanced at her, and she saw pain in his eyes. “They died in a car wreck a few years back. They hit a deer and ran off the road.”
“Yeah.” Tension carved grooves around his mouth, and he looked away. They hadn’t been close; she knew that much. She’d met them once when they’d come to Missoula, and they’d seemed anxious to leave. But no matter how strained the relationship, losing a parent was hard.
Regret formed an ache in her chest. She wished she could have been there to help him, to comfort him in his grief. Knowing Cade, he’d shouldered the stark pain alone.
She reached out her hand to touch him, to let him know that she cared, but then she paused. He wouldn’t welcome her solace, not anymore.
And strangely enough, that hurt. She dropped her hand to her side. “So who runs the ranch?”
