Page 16 of Rear View

Alec inclined his head. “Got something to prove in Greenfield next week.”

Damn right, we did.

“Better take good pace notes, then,” Yara taunted.

Ryah leaned closer to Sheila and pitched her voice low. “What are pace notes?”

“Wednesday and Thursday, they’ll do the Recce.

It’s their recon. Xavier’ll drive the course while Alec takes notes on the quality of the road.

Turns, potholes, crests, that kind of stuff.

Friday’s the Shakedown, when they drive it to practice and get a feel for the conditions.

Saturday, Sunday is the race with all the stages. ”

“Stages?”

“Basically, a series of time trials.”

My chest inflated, ’cause her interest felt real nice.

Ryah helped Sheila arrange the food. Miles started the fire without blowing himself up, which, judging by his sister’s thumbs-up, seemed to impress my dream girl. When everything was set, I started cooking—hot dogs and buns. Simple, easy and damn good.

When it was ready, I handed the food out, sat myself down next to Ryah and everyone dug in.

“X says you go to U of E,” Sheila said.

“Mm-hmm,” Ryah answered around her mouthful of food.

“What are you taking?”

She swallowed, then swallowed again. “Master’s in educational psych so I can go into counseling. I’m working my dissertation now.”

My brows arched up. Pretty and smart…like, the real kinda smart. “What’s that entail?”

“A ridiculous amount of research and critique. One of my profs is my thesis adviser, so he oversees my work.” She shook her head. “He’s a bit of a stickler on everything. But he knows what he’s doing.” Then so low, I barely heard it, she said, “I hope.”

“Anything you can’t do, darlin’?”

Her smile was tight and the bright copper in those eyes dulled as they fell to her feet.

What the hell? I drew my head back, and sat up straighter. I tipped her way, nudging her with my elbow. “You good?”

Again with that tight smile, until her eyes slid past me to Kamala, who piled chocolate and cracker stuff onto a paper plate next to her, then cut into a pack of marshmallows.

Ryah’s feet bounced. “Are we having s’mores?” she asked, her voice going high.

She was excited in that try-new-things kinda way. “You ever had ’em before?”

“Never.” She bit her lip.

Yara’s hand thumped over her heart like she was wounded. “You’ve never had s’mores? How is this possible?”

My dream girl tensed, her shoulders drawing up.

Miles cleared his throat and cut in, “We didn’t do this kind of thing growing up.”

Whatever’d just happened had Ryah retreatin’ into herself again and I hated it. Wanted that smile back. Reaching over, I grabbed one of the roasting sticks, stabbed two marshmallows over the ends and turned to her. “Melted or burned?”

“I don’t know.”

“One of each, then, yeah?”

Her mouth tipped up at the corner. “Yeah.”

Her excitement was contagious, and I grabbed the rest of what I needed, took the mallows from the fire when they were ready and put them together. Things were messy as all get out, but worth it.

“Can I grab another drink?” Ryah asked.

“Don’t need to ask, darlin’. Anything you want here is yours.”

Her gaze skimmed my face as she breathed, “Anything?”

Fuck me. I swallowed hard and gave an easy nod.

“Oh, thank God.” She squeaked and snatched the s’more from my hand, biting into it like a starved wolf on steak.

The laugh that broke from me had her brother peering our way. He watched his sister, some emotion close to surprise playing across his face.

“How is it?” I asked her.

She moaned in answer.

Sweet Christ. If she kept doing that…

Trying to clean her fingers, she sucked them into her mouth one by one. I tried not to stare so damn hard, but everything she did pulled me in. I was a moth to flame with that girl.

Hiding my amusement, I passed over a wad of napkins, then lost control and keeled over when they wadded up, sticking to her little hands. She looked around, her eyes wide like she didn’t know what to do. I reached out to help her.

She shook her head and pulled back. “You’ll just make a mess of yourself too.”

Getting messy with her sounded fine by me. Leaning to the side, I grabbed a jug of water, took those hands between mine and poured, thumb stroking her skin as I scrubbed ’em clean.

Her body relaxed, expression softenin’ when she watched me work. Her gaze flicked to the side. “Your machine’s nice. Is it new?”

Alec’s grin was pure shit disturber. “He just got it yesterday.”

Taking more napkins, I dried her off and shot him a shut-your-mouth glare. If he’d have been close enough, I’d have sacked the dick.

Ryah’s brows rose. “Good timing.”

“More like intentional,” Yara mumbled.

My dream girl peered between us. “Intentional?”

I dropped my elbows onto my knees and hung my head.

“Totally,” Yara said, too damn proud. “He bought it to take you.”

Ryah’s gaze flew wide while Miles ducked his face to hide a laugh.

Yara gripped her stomach, her cackle carrying through the valley. “Should’ve seen him when he couldn’t find you online.”

Shit on a stick. I sat straight again and eyed Ryah, then gave her a half shrug. Her lips curved over her teeth, and she bit down like she was holding back her amusement.

I loosed an exhale, then flicked a finger between Alec and Yara. “Both of you are fired.”

They roared.

Yara clapped and hopped on her machine, Kamala joining her. “You assholes just gonna sit there?” Starting it up, she revved her engine.

Alec and Miles followed suit. “You coming, X?”

I chucked my chin Ryah’s way. “Wanna join?”

She peeked up at that hill, then shook her head. “I’m not so brave. You go. Show me what you got, rally boy.”

I grinned.

“Have your fun,” Sheila cut in. “I’ve got Ryah.”

Climbing onto my snowmobile, I turned it on, gave dream girl a wink, then hit the gas, taking the lead as I whipped up the hill.

At the top, we pulled to a stop, and I checked to make sure Miles had made it.

He pulled up alongside me and nodded. “Thanks for this, man.” His gaze found his sister at the bottom. “I’ve seen more of the old Ryah since you came around than I have in the last two years combined.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re doing but keep it up.”

I wanted to pull the answers from him, but he’d said it wasn’t his place once, and once was enough. I peered back toward her.

What the fuck happened to you, darlin’?