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“Do what?” I met his gaze, conscious again of what an unusual color his eyes were. Hazel flecks swam in his gray irises, the hues swirling as he went on.

“Lean against the bridge.” He took a step closer. “The wood is old and molding. Only a little pressure could see it could give way, and I’d hate to see you at the bottom of the trench.”

Straightening at his warning, I spun to take in the drop he was referring to, the pit of my stomach falling away as I imagined just how far I could have fallen.

“Okay.” Darting away from the wooden barrier, I sounded as flustered as I felt. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” The gravelly resonance of his tone seemed to travel through me. “My role today is to keep you safe.”

“Right.” I sensed heat crawling from my jaw to my cheeks, though I wasn’t sure why I was embarrassed. Perhaps the close shave with danger had inspired it, or maybe it was down to the mysterious guide. Turning away from the intensity of his gaze, I met Chelle’s bemused expression. “Thank you.”

“You were right, Erin.” Chelle’s smirk suggested she thought she knew the reason for my growing blush. “Getting a guide was a good call.”

“There you are!” Apparently eager to introduce himself, James stalked past me, with Miles on his heels. Peering out at the green canopy of trees all around us, I’d never been happier to see him. “I’m James—the one who emailed you.”

“Of course you are,” the as yet unnamed guide replied. “Good to meet you.”

“Same here.” James grinned. “Shall we get going?”

“Wait,” Miles countered. “We still don’t even know our guide’s name.”

I held my breath as all four of us stared at the dark stranger. For some preposterous reason, finding out his name seemed unreasonably significant, as though my future happiness hinged on the answer.

“I’m Eli.” His smile was knowing. “And for the next few hours, none of you will be leaving my side.”



















Chapter Two

Serious Business

Eli

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JUST LIKE EVERY GROUPof city-dwelling, pampered little darlings who had come before them, the four of them gawped at me. Pulling in a breath, I surveyed the group with my normal level of disinterest. Parties like the one standing before me were always the same. Bordering on middle-age, they were usually demoralizingly unfit, and at least one of them would be on the brink of a personal crisis. That was what the hike into the wilderness was all about,finding themselves,although even after all the years I’d been taking them out into the woods, I still had no idea what that meant.

“What do you mean, we won’t be leaving your side?” James, the one who’d been badgering me with messages for days, edged closer. “We’ve paid you to be our guide, not a dictator.”