Page 34

Here, surrounded by nature, it was almost unnerving. But it was also… freeing.
I stretched, rolling onto my side, only to find the bed beside me empty.
Christian.
I sat up, tucking my knees to my chest as I glanced at the clock.
He’d mentioned something about an early morning hike last night, but I’d been half-asleep at the time, too comfortable to question it.
I pushed off the covers, slipping into a sweater and leggings before padding barefoot across the hardwood floors.
Downstairs, I found Christian on the deck, already dressed in hiking gear, two cups of coffee in hand.
He turned when he heard me, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. “Good morning.”
I rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the morning chill. “We’re really doing this, huh?”
He stepped closer, handing me a cup. “You promised.”
I scoffed. “I don’t remember promising anything.”
Christian sipped his coffee, eyes amused. “You were half-asleep, but you definitely agreed.”
“Lies.”
“Do you really want to argue with me before caffeine?”
I narrowed my eyes, but I took a sip. It was rich, bold—exactly the way I liked it.
“Fine. But if I die halfway up a mountain, I’m haunting you,” I told him.
His lips curved. “Noted.”
The trail wound through thick trees, the scent of earth and pine surrounding us as we climbed higher.
Christian set a steady pace, though he occasionally glanced back to check on me, his expression unreadable.
I focused on the crunch of leaves beneath my boots, the rhythmic motion of moving forward, but my thoughts kept drifting.
To the article.
To the whispers that had followed.
To the way Christian had stepped in so seamlessly, like it was the most natural thing in the world to defend me.
I glanced at him, his sharp profile outlined by the early morning light.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked.
Christian didn’t break stride. “Doing what?”
“This.” I gestured vaguely around us. “Taking me away from the city. Trying to… I don’t know. Fix things.”
He was quiet for a long moment before he finally spoke. “Because I can.”
I frowned. “That’s not an answer.”
He slowed his pace, turning to face me. “I know you, Scarlett. You’ll try to fight this on your own. You’ll act like it doesn’t bother you, like you don’t care. But you do.”