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Even if I didn’t sleep with a single wall dividing our rooms, able to hear him crying out in his sleep or thrashing around in his bed, I would’ve known the lie in his words.

“Keep an open mind, okay? She’s special, even if you won’t admit it to yourself yet.” Pulling up to her cabin, I reached for the door handle but didn’t shove the door open. “And I know you know that. I see it in the way you actually talk to her instead of communicating via caveman grunts and scowls.” The corner of his lips twitched upward. “Come on, let’s go get our girl and get this hike started. I, for one, can’t wait to see where the next twenty-four hours take us.”

Outside the truck, Miles rounded the hood and fell into step beside me. “Which head is thinking that?”

My laugh rumbled through the trees. I opened my mouth to respond when Miles went completely still. I paused, too, staring at my friend, wondering if he was having some kind of medical emergency or just needed to fart.

It could go either way.

But the second I noted the way his features pinched in concentration, gaze flicking from side to side, taking in every detail, stance wide and ready for an attack—oh, and the gun in his hand—I, too, went on high alert.

“What is it?” I asked, my hand sliding back toward my belt holster. The moment my palm touched the rough grip of my Glock, a fraction of my nerves eased.

“I don’t know,” he murmured. “It just feels off.”

“If you’re saying it’s off, something is fucking off.” I trusted his gut instinct implicitly. If there was a threat close, he knew about it. Part of it was trained into him as a SEAL; the other part was all him. He’d always had that gut instinct. Which was why he initially told me to stay away from my ex-wife and Jessica.

At some point, I’d listen to him.

Maybe.

Probably not.

“Go to the cabin. Protect Aspen.”

I widened my eyes at him. “And what the fuck are you going to do?”

The motherfucker rolled his eyes at my concern. “Snuff out the threat.”

“And then what?”

An intense look overtook his face. “Whatever needs to be done to protect what’s mine.”

I started toward the cabin but paused. “You just referred to me and Aspen as yours. You realize that, right? No take backs.”

“Shut the fuck up,” he grumbled and stalked out into trees.

“Just know I won’t let you forget that subconscious slip,” I shouted over my shoulder.

Jogging along the path, I leapt up the few steps, fist already raised to pound on the door. Only it swung open before I could make contact. Which really sucked because my momentum kept me moving forward, stumbling inside.

“What the hell?” she shouted as I skidded to a stop.

Whirling around like nothing happened, like I didn’t just trip and barge into her cabin, I pointed to the door. “Shut it.” Eyes wide, she slammed it shut. “Lock it.” Without looking away, she reached out and flipped the deadbolt.

Once that little safety measure was in place, I stomped to the back door to ensure those were locked up tight.

“What the hell?” she repeated, hands going to her hips.

“Sorry, we were on our way to collect you?—”

“I’m not a garbage can on the curb.”

I snorted a half laugh. “Fine, we were on our way to get you.” I arched a brow to make sure that wording suited her. With a smirk, she nodded and gestured for me to continue. “When Miles sensed something off around your cabin.”

She stilled and quickly jerked her gaze away. “Oh, really?” she mused while playing with the ends of her hair. “That’s strange.”

Her tone, posture, fucking everything was off. Stalking toward her, I moved into her line of vision. “What aren’t you telling me?”