Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
That does it. I slam the truck into park as soon as we pull up, the tires kicking up dust. “You don’t get it, do you?” I growl, shoving the door open. “You’re so damn caught up in your documentary and your idealistic nonsense that you don’t see the bigger picture.”
I don’t wait for her to respond. I’m out of the truck and stomping into the woods before I can say something I’ll regret.
The burn site is quiet except for the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. My boots crunch against the ground as I pace, trying to shake off the frustration coiled tight in my chest.
Juniper Hayes. The name alone is enough to set my teeth on edge now.
I hear her footsteps behind me—lighter than mine but purposeful. She’s not one to let things go, apparently.
“You know,” she calls out, her voice cutting through the air, “storming off doesn’t exactly scream ‘mature wilderness firefighter.’”
I turn to face her, hands on my hips. She’s standing a few feet away, her fiery hair catching the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. “And following me doesn’t exactly scream ‘professional documentarian.’”
She takes a step closer, her chin tilted defiantly. “You don’t get to shut down the conversation just because it makes you uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable?” I bark out a laugh, though there’s no humor in it. “I’ve faced wildfires bigger than you can imagine. You think this makes me uncomfortable?”
She raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk that’s equal parts challenge and invitation. “You seem pretty rattled to me.”
I take a step closer, closing the distance between us. “You’ve got no idea what rattled looks like, sweetheart.”
Her breath hitches, just barely, but I catch it. She’s trying so hard to hold her ground, but I can see the way her resolve wavers under the weight of whatever’s sparking between us.
The air between us feels charged, like the moment before a lightning strike. She opens her mouth to say something, but I hold up a hand.
“Save it, Juniper. You can argue with me all you want, but out here? I know what I’m doing.”
She narrows her eyes, but instead of snapping back, she takes a deep breath. “Then show me.”
“If you can manage to keep your opinions to yourself, I will.”
Later that evening, I find myself at The Devil’s Brew, a cold beer in hand and the weight of the day still hanging heavy on my shoulders.
Hudson and the others are already at our usual table, their laughter carrying over the din of the bar. Zane spots me first, grinning like the cat who caught the canary.
“Well, look who finally decided to join us,” he says, clapping me on the back as I sit down. “How’s that pretty city girl?”
I glare at him, though there’s no real heat behind it. “She’s Barron’s cousin. Watch it.”
“That fiery thing’s his cousin?” Jack asks, leaning forward. “Explains a lot. Looks like she’s got a stubborn streak, that’s for sure.”
“She’s also a pain in my ass,” I mutter, taking a swig of my beer.
Liam smirks and Ridge smirks. “Yeah? You’ve been a pain in ours for years. Karma’s a bitch, huh?”
The table erupts in laughter, and I shake my head, but a small part of me can’t deny the truth in Ridge’s words.
“You gotta admit,” Hudson says, leaning back in his chair, “she’s got guts. Takes a lot to stand up to you, Flint. Hell, we don’t even do it half the time.”
“She’s trouble,” I mutter, but the words lack conviction. This woman is under my skin, there’s no doubt about it.
Zane leans in, his grin widening. “Bet you she’ll have you wrapped around her finger before the week’s out.”
“Not a chance,” I shoot back, though my mind betrays me by flashing to the way her eyes burned with defiance earlier.
“She’s got spirit,” Liam says, raising his glass. “You could use a little of that in your life, Flint. God knows you’ve been a grumpy old man since you left the service.”
I bristle at the comment, but the truth of it settles deep in my chest. I have been alone for too long, shutting people out, keeping my distance. But letting someone in? Especially someone like Juniper? That’s a whole different kind of danger.
“She’s not my type,” I grumble.
Hudson snorts. “Yeah, because she’s got a pulse.”
The table roars with laughter, and even I can’t hold back the small smile tugging at my lips.
“You know,” Ridge says, his tone softer now, “you don’t have to keep punishing yourself. A man can only spend so much time alone before it starts to eat away at him.”
His words hit harder than I care to admit, and I take another swig of my beer, letting the weight of them settle over me.
As I drive back to the cabin later that night, the image of Juniper’s fiery spirit and stubborn determination lingers in my mind. She’s a force of nature, unpredictable and relentless.