One More Step

Goddamn romantic crap here.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Everly aimed her bear spray at his face.

“Easy.” He held up his hands. “I’m a cop. I was going to show you my badge.”

Everly’s eyes narrowed. We really needed to find her another show to binge on Netflix.

“She’s just a little on edge.” I placed my hand on her wrist, pushing her arm down as I gave her a scowl. “Nature stresses us out.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “Yet you’re in the middle of Yellowstone National Park.”

“We all make mistakes, Officer.”

“That’s not the hiking trail. That’s a bison path. They knock down trail markers a lot.” He lifted a hand and pointed toward the mountains in the distance. “The trail is over there. But you two looked lost so . . .”

He’d come to rescue us.

Which meant the reason we were standing in the middle of a bison herd was because they’d lured us to them.

Sadistic creatures, buffalo.

Neither Everly nor I spoke as we watched the man get closer, his features becoming clearer with every step.

Everly clutched her can of spray in a fist as he lifted an arm to wave.

I fought to keep my mouth from falling open at this unexpected and devastatingly handsome surprise.

Everly jammed her elbow into my side, forcing me to close my gaping mouth. “You’re drooling. Potential murderer, remember?”

“Fine. I’ll throw on some jeans and a clean t-shirt.”

Cash ran a hand over his face. “Can you at least pretend to try, Kenadi?”

She pulled the glasses from her face reluctantly. “You’ll get what you get. Text me the address.”

He could have sworn he heard her mutter something about a dating dictator just before the screen went black.

What I don’t understand is why I’m feeling strangely protective of her. I know the little kitten can take care of herself—she’s unapologetically vicious. But I also know what it’s like to be young and abandoned by a parent, to be handed over and forgotten.

“Is the coffee shop hiring?”

“We have a part time position, nights. It’ll include weekends.”

“That’s fine, I don’t have a social life.”

I may be terrified of flying, but I can fight like a pro and refuse to be a damsel in distress.