stakes were this high.
The path wound through the trees as they trudged along, then dipped into a valley sheltered between the two mountains. The gentle murmur of pine boughs ceased, leaving an oppressive heat in its wake. The buzz of cicadas droned in the air.
But gradually, the stillness gave way to the rush of water, and the welcome scent of moisture. A few yards later, the trail ended at a shallow stream.
Cade crossed it in a few easy strides, then waited for her to catch up. She paused to let the dog lap the water and then gently tugged him across. Knowing Cade was watching, she struggled to hide her limp.
“How’s your ankle?”
She grimaced. The man was far too observant. “Just bruised.”
He raised a skeptical brow. “We’d better wrap it. I’ve got an elastic bandage in my bag.”
“It’s not that bad.” And they couldn’t afford to waste time.
“It’ll get worse. Sit down on the grass and take off your shoe.”
Annoyed, she propped her hands on her hips. He ignored his own more serious injuries, yet insisted on pampering hers. “It’s really not that bad, Cade. I’d rather keep moving.”
“Not until we deal with that ankle.” His stubborn gaze drove into hers. “Look, I’ve had my share of twisted ankles. Smokejumpers land hard all the time. And the sooner we get that thing wrapped, the better chance we have of making that clearing.”
“Fine.” Frustrated, she plopped herself down in the grass. Phil would have listened to her. He would have kept on walking. But she couldn’t push Cade around.
She tucked the leash under her hip to hold it in place and started unlacing her damp shoe. Was that why she’d dated Phil? Because she could control him?
She mulled that over as she worked the laces. Phil certainly wasn’t weak, but he didn’t challenge her, either. Unlike Cade. When Cade decided something, he didn’t budge.
She pulled off her shoe, wincing at the blisters covering her heels. Then she pulled up her pant leg and cringed. Her ankle had turned purple and swollen. And autocratic or not, Cade was right.
She sighed. “I guess I do need to wrap this.”
He dropped the bags on the ground beside her, and lowered himself to one knee. “The elastic bandage should help.” He pulled it from his bag and held it out. “Here, take off the clip.”
While she pulled the small metal clip from the roll, he carefully lifted her foot. His warm, rough hand sent chills along her nerves. But then his thumb slid over her ankle and she flinched. “That hurts?”
“A little,” she admitted, although she liked the feel of his hand on her skin.
He slowly rotated the discolored joint, and pain jolted up her leg. She sucked in her breath.
He didn’t release his hold. “You need to get this X-rayed.”
“I will. As soon as we get to Missoula.”
His gaze met hers, and she saw determination in those vibrant blue eyes. “We’ll make it out of here,” he promised.
“I know.”
He held her gaze, as if to convince her, and the years suddenly peeled away. And for a moment, she was back in the time when he’d been the center of her world and dreams. When he’d been her fantasy man come to life. Back in the time when he’d loved her. Her heart fluttered deep in her chest.
But then he broke the gaze and gently propped her foot on his knee. “You’ll have to help hold the bandage.”
Shaken by the strong wave of longing, she hissed in a breath. “Okay, but don’t put too much around my foot or I won’t be able to get my shoe back on.” She handed him the balled elastic.
He unrolled the end and draped it over her instep. “You’ll have to hold this down.”
Leaning forward, she pressed the elasticized cloth to her foot. Using his left hand, Cade carefully wrapped her ankle, passing her the roll to complete each rotation.
They worked together easily, a comfortable silence between them, the dog panting softly at their side. Behind them, the gurgling stream splashed past.
And without warning, she recalled another time they’d worked together, that Christmas when they’d decorated the tiny blue spruce. They’d passed the tinsel back and forth around the fragrant tree just like this, sharing promising smiles and molten glances. Until that inevitable passion flared and they’d started to kiss…
The dog nudged her arm, and she cleared her throat. “So, besides sprained ankles, what kind of injuries do smokejumpers get?”
He paused for a second, as if recalling old wounds, and then he slowly resumed wrapping. “Just what you’d expect,” he said, his tone cautious now. “Bruises and cuts. Pulled muscles. Burns. Some long-term injuries. Knees take a lot of abuse, and the meniscus eventually tears. But usually nothing too grim.”
Usually. She eyed the towel knotted over his shoulder and her nerves drummed. “But you
“Not often, but yeah. Guys get knocked unconscious and cut by chain saws, hit by rocks or worse.” He stopped, and his gaze met hers. “Look, Jordan. You were right. This is a dangerous job. Parachutes malfunction. Fires blow up. And when something goes wrong, people can die.”
Riveted by his gaze, she swallowed hard. “You never admitted that before.” Any time she’d brought it up, he’d brushed aside her concerns.
“I guess when you’re young, you feel invincible. You never think it will happen to you.” He frowned. “Besides, I was your husband. I didn’t want you worrying about my job.”
So he’d tried to protect her. That made sense. Only she hadn’t seen it that way.
She hadn’t seen beyond her own fears to his courage, the fierce commitment to get the job done. To persevere and put out the fire, despite the personal risk.
Or to his need to shelter the woman he’d loved.
And suddenly, trapped in those piercing blue eyes, she felt a deep sense of loss. Cade was the most amazing man she’d ever met, and everything she’d ever wanted. But he wasn’t hers anymore-and never could be with his lifestyle.
And yet, she’d loved him.
She still did.
Her heart stalled. It was true. She loved Cade. Despite the years, despite the divorce, her heart still belonged to this man. He drew her in and touched her in a way no one else ever could.
She saw awareness flash in his eyes and her pulse thrilled in response. So he felt it, too. That pull, that wild attraction, that insatiable, soul-wrenching need.
But what did that change? What did it matter? She jerked her gaze away.
And nearly wept at the awful irony. All these years, she’d wanted security. And when she’d finally found a steady man, one who would never leave her, she’d realized she couldn’t marry without love.
And the one man she was destined to love, the one who touched her soul and stirred her heart, could never stay at her side.
He made a final wrap on the bandage, and propped her foot on his knee again. “Go ahead and secure it,” he said.
Her throat cramping, a huge sense of loss weighting her chest, she worked the small metal clip through the elastic until it caught. “That’s great. Thanks.”
She managed to curve her lips up into a smile and shift away. Then, feeling shredded inside, she picked up her shoe, loosened the laces and worked it onto her foot.
While she tied her shoe, Cade collected their bags and refilled the canteens. Then she grabbed the leash and stood, allowing her weight to shift to her foot. The bandage felt tight, but it braced her ankle. She just hoped it would get her to that clearing.
“How does it feel?” Cade asked.
“Great.”
“Jordan…”
“I’m fine. Really.” Except she loved a man she couldn’t marry. Ignoring the despair filling her chest, she forced her gaze to his. “Shall we go?”
