Page 54 of The Unlikely Pair

But I’m not pulling back because nothing is more important than keeping this fire alive. Our fingertips brush against each other as we remain human wind shelters.

The fire twists in the wind and dies down, and my heart stutters.

But then it lurches back to life.

I tentatively reach to get another pine needle to place on the fire. And then another.

Then, I select the smallest twig possible and add that.

Has there ever been a more brilliant sight in the history of humankind than the bright flickering of flame?

Harry and I nurture that small fire more carefully than we would a newborn, tentatively adding more twigs, then larger sticks. The flame grows bigger, consuming the fuel we give it.

It’s now gone from a newborn to a hungry child, and we’re rushing around the clearing to find more food to keep up with its demands.

“It’s growing so big,” Harry says in an awed voice.

I can’t help grinning widely at him.

Chapter Fourteen

Harry

Today, I have been hunted by dogs. I’ve been submerged in a frigid river. I’ve been shot at. I’ve nearly plummeted over a waterfall. I’ve scaled a sheer rock face.

But it’s at this precise moment that I am the most deeply afraid.

Because I’m currently the recipient of Toby Webley’s genuine, unguarded smile.

It’s never been directed at me before.

I’m well aware that it’s not truly intended for me. I merely happen to be in the vicinity. He’s smiling because we’ve successfully created fire, which means we won’t die of hypothermia in the next few hours.

I’m positive it is solely the smoke from our newly kindled fire causing this lightheaded sensation.

“We just need marshmallows, then we’d be all set,” Toby says.

“I believe they forgot to include marshmallows in the survival kit,” I say.

Toby’s eyebrows flicker up in response to my humor, and another smile tilts his lips. It’s more of a smirk this time, morelike the smiles I normally receive from him, but it’s still got his lingering happiness in it.

“Such an oversight,” he says.

“A momentous one,” I agree.

The fire makes everything better. It’s like having another person here, a sparkling, lively person who provides warmth and comfort.

Toby and I scramble to get material to feed the fire, and it grows in response to our careful attention, becoming a crackling beast.

Then, we spread out our clothes on logs around the fire to dry.

“If we stuff pine needles inside the clothes, it should help them dry faster,” Toby suggests.

“As long as we’re careful not to place our clothes too close to the fire, we don’t want them to ignite.”

“No. Clothing ignition is definitely not on my to-do list,” Toby says.

I stretch my legs towards the fire, ensuring the bandages on my heels get a chance to dry out.