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“Yeah. I’m taking her on a hike up to Grizzly Peak. So we’re going to get outfitted.”

“I heard that.” She was looking at him and there was a glint in her eye that was slightly feral. “It’s an overnight hike.”

“It is. This is what I’m planning on doing for my business. So we’re getting some practice in. Same kind of thing we’ve been doing out at the ranch this past week.”

Her eyes went narrow. “I just want to know what your intentions are with my sister.”

He felt like a bomb had detonated in his stomach—and he didn’t use that metaphor lightly, because he knew what it felt like when a bomb detonated.

“I intend to take her on a hike.”

And that was the truth. His intentions were not, nor would they be, to do anything about the burning attraction in his gut. Because that was a bad idea. A very bad idea.

“Okay. Rory is verysweet. And I feel protective of her. Because she has gotten this far without...without... Just please don’t hurt my sister.”

He thought of Rory’s beautiful freckled face. Her upturned nose and wide hazel eyes. That glorious red hair that made his fingers itch to touch it.

That smile that felt like it was for him.

The him he was now.

“I would never do anything to hurt anybody on purpose. But I am kind of a mess. The thing is, though, I know that. So. You can rest assured in that.”

“Restis a strong word,” she said.

“Whatever helps you,” he said.

“Fia,” came a very stern-sounding voice that he wouldn’t normally have associated with Rory.

“What?” Fia asked.

“Don’t be mean.”

“I’m not mean,” said Fia.

“Why don’t you go pick a fight with Landry?”

Fia looked flustered, and then stepped away, and Rory went past her. “I’m ready.”

“All right.”

“I promise to have her back by dark,” he said, trying to give Fia a convincing smile.

Instead she just looked exasperated.

“What was that?” Rory asked.

“I was being charming,” he said.

“Yeah, I should’ve warned you. My sister doesn’t find men all that charming.”

“Who’s Landry?”

“Landry King? He’s the son of one of the big families. They have some kind of history, but none of us know exactly what it is.”

“How can you keep secrets like that in a place this size?”

“Well, my sister is intimidating. So anyone who knows anything isn’t going to spill. She’s also very private. Fia has had to carry a lot. Since my parents left, she had to finish raising us. I don’t think it was the most comfortable thing on earth. She’s amazing. But it’s too much for one person. She shouldn’t have had to do all of that.”