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“Clearly. I got here, didn’t I?”

“It’s got to be at least three miles.”

She shrugged. “I like walking.”

He dragged a hand down his face. Her brothers wouldn’t be thrilled to discover this tidbit of information. If he knew them, they’d probably lock her away in the house like one of those fairytale princesses.

“I’m an adult, Ash. I can handle myself.” Her clipped tone didn’t hold the confidence she probably wanted it to. Not after her experience with the guy from the tennis courts.

Ash jerked his chin to the paved path that lined the perimeter of the park. “Walk with me.”

Charlie lifted her brows. “You can’t walk me home?—”

“In case he tries to come talk to you again,” he clarified. “We can walk until I finish my rounds. Then I’m taking you home.”

She huffed, but at least she didn’t argue.

When he reached forward, she flinched, making him pause. He’d only been trying to access the door so she could put her book away. His eyes narrowed on her. “Are you sure nothing happened?”

The color that bloomed in her cheeks was the most beautiful shade of pink he’d ever seen. Thankfully, Charlie wasn’t looking at him while he studied her. She merely shook her head as shemuttered, “Nothing happened, Ash. Just—” she bit her lower lip and finally lifted her eyes to meet his. “Don’t tell my brothers, okay?”

He hesitated. He couldn’t agree to something like that. Could he? Rather than answering her question, he pulled the truck door open and motioned toward it. “Put your book inside.”

She complied without a fight.

They started on their walk, Charlie keeping a comfortable distance between them. To the outside view, they definitely didn’t look like they were in a relationship. Hopefully that wouldn’t draw the attention of those at the tennis courts again. The last thing he wanted was to fend off more guys who didn’t know when to stop.

Neither one of them spoke for what felt like eons. The silence stretched between them so far and long that he wouldn’t have been surprised if she refused to say another word while they were together.

Well, he wasn’t going to let that happen. “What was wrong with him?”

She jumped at his voice and glanced up at him. “What?”

Ash smirked, putting on the mask of the teasing big brother she was probably used to. “Why didn’t you want to go out with him?”

Charlie scowled. “You’re the one who interrupted us.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “I only came over after I noticed how uncomfortable you were.”

“How could you even tell?

He stopped, and she took a few steps forward before turning to look back at him with question in her eyes. He folded his arms and cocked his head. “I’ve practically been part of your family for half of my life. You should be worried if Ididn’tnotice.”

“You were halfway across the park. How?—”

“I would have noticed you were in distress if I was on the opposite side of the park.” He let his words sink in, not caring if she started connecting certain dots.

“Then I suppose you have an answer to your question,” she said, her tone sharp, referring to his first question. “Something about him made me uncomfortable.” She spun on her heel and started walking again.

It took only a couple strides to catch up to her, but he wasn’t in the clear.

“What are you doing here, anyway?” she asked. “Are you following me?”

He couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped his throat. “I like to run here. I have to keep up my endurance—especially at this altitude. Next time I have to jump into a fire, I need to be in top condition.”

She sent him a side-eyed stare. “You look like you’re in decent enough condition to me.”

He gave her another flirtatious smirk, pleased with himself when she blushed and looked away. “You’d be surprised. It takes a lot of stamina to be able to fight fires. And when there’s a man down or someone we have to drag out of the fray, then I can’t rely on just looking like I’m in decent condition. I have to keep pushing myself.”