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“Awesome,” Finley exclaimed with a loud clap. “Our next meeting is Friday. Will you still be here?”

My held breath burned in my lungs as I waited, gazing down at Aspen, who peeked up through her long dark lashes.

“Yeah, I think I will be.”

Without thinking, I pulled her flush against me and sealed my lips over hers in an all-consuming kiss. Somewhere behind me, one of the pilots whistled, but I didn’t give two shits. After a minute, Aspen pushed back with a palm on my chest, out of breath and lips slightly swollen.

“Aiden.” I glanced over my shoulder at Miles’s voice. He angled his head toward the two men I hadn’t heard approach. For half a second, I worried he was pissed at me for making out with Aspen in front of everyone, but the slow smile and heated expression he shot the woman wrapped in my arms told me otherwise.

Tucking Aspen against my side, I shifted my full focus to Hudson and Oliver. My earlier joy and excitement faded as I took in the stony look on both men’s faces.

Fuck, this couldn’t be good.

My hold on Aspen tightened. “How did it go with the rangers?”

Hudson’s gaze flicked to Aspen before coming back to me. “It’s worse than we thought. We’ll get our notes together and debrief everyone soon. We just wanted to stop by and see if either of you had heard from Caroline.”

I shook my head and ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the ends. Fuck, I was a shit friend. I hadn’t thought about her possibly being missing, too wrapped up in everything about Aspen. Guilt swelled in my gut, making me nauseous.

“Us either.” Oliver shifted on his worn boots. “We’ve tried to locate her boyfriend?—”

“Jasper,” Hudson practically growled, hands curling into fists at his side. “I never liked that fucker.”

“But she did, based on the sounds that came from her cabin at night,” I said under my breath, making my friend snort.

“We haven’t gotten to talk to him yet. Now that we’re back, we’ll both head out to his place to see what he knows.”

“I’m sure Brandon wouldn’t mind you using the four-wheelers to make that trek easier on you both. Jasper’s place is way out there.” I looked down at Aspen to fill her in a little. “You think this is remote? His place is fully off-grid, just the way he likes it.”

“Something isn’t right, Hudson.” Miles turned his full focus to Oliver. “That father of yours needs to stop denying something is going on here and get some fucking answers. Someone broke into Aspen’s cottage while we were on an overnight hike, and your asshole father tried to convince me that nothing had happened. I don’t understand why he’s pushing back so hard when there is ample evidence to warrant a deeper investigation.”

Oliver ripped the ball cap off his head and rubbed at his temples. “I don’t know either. All I can figure is he feels he’s worked too hard to keep this place safe all these years, and the idea of someone out there hurting people on his watch is easier to deny than accept. Fuck if I know, though. I’ll talk to him. After this trip and talking to the rangers, there’s no putting off opening an official investigation.”

My muscles bunched.Fuck, what did they find out?

“I went into Caroline’s cabin,” Miles said with a shrug, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Nothing was out of place. All her hiking and climbing gear was gone as if she were going out, like she told me she was a few days ago.”

Aspen’s bony elbow dug into my side, making me hiss. “Ouch, angry little?—”

“Can you introduce me?” she asked, brows raised.

And I was a fucking rude-ass moron. “Shit, sorry, sweetheart.” Clearing my throat to stop the three men’s whispered conversation, I waited until I had their attention. “Guys, this is Aspen Carter. Her cabin was the one broken into at The Nest. Aspen, this is Hudson, a friend of our company’s owner and a detective from LA, and Oliver, Anchor Bay’s deputy sheriff.”

Aspen waved at them. “Nice to meet you both.” Before she could say another word, her stomach growled loud enough that all of us hid smiles or stifled chuckles. “Shit, that’s embarrassing.”

“More for these two idiots here,” Oliver said, slapping Miles on the back of the head. “Your girl is hungry. Fix that.”

A wide smile stretched across my face.

Fuck yes, she was our girl.

I locked eyes with Miles. “Dave’s?”

He nodded and jogged up the steps. “I’ll just grab her coat, and we can go.” He let out a sharp whistle, and Jubie appeared from around the cabin and happily trotted behind Miles, disappearing inside.

“Now for the big decision,” I muttered to Aspen.

“Um, yes, we are getting nachos.”