"For making me slow down. For reminding me to actually see the world I've been studying instead of just rushing through it."
I could second-guess myself, I reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering against her cheek. She turned to look at me, her dark eyes wide with surprise and something else—something that made my heart beat faster.
Time seemed to slow as we stood there, the space between us charged with unspoken possibility. Her gaze dropped to my lips, then back to my eyes, a question in them that I found myself desperately wanting to answer.
I leaned in, drawn by a pull that felt both inevitable and impossible to resist. She tilted her face up to mine, her lips parting slightly, and I could feel her breath, warm and sweet, against my skin.
The shrill ring of my phone shattered the moment. Fuck. We jerked apart, the spell broken. I swore under my breath as I pulled the phone from my pocket, checking the caller ID.
"I need to take this," I said, stepping back. "It's my captain."
Lila nodded, turning back to the view, but I could see the flush in her cheeks, the slight tremor in her hands as she gripped the stone wall.
"Rhodes," I answered, trying to focus on the call and not on what had almost just happened.
"Griffin, good timing," Captain Doyle's voice came through clearly. "How far out are you? The annual fundraiser's tomorrow night, and we're short on hands for setup."
I glanced at Lila, calculating distances and times. "I'm about four hours out, sir. Should be in Foxfire Valley by early afternoon."
"Perfect. We need that equipment you picked up, and frankly, we could use your muscles for the heavy lifting too. The casino donated some auction items that need to be arranged."
"No problem, Captain. I'll be there."
"Bringing company?" Doyle asked, his tone shifting to something more curious. "Rex mentioned you texted about picking up a passenger."
I hesitated, looking over at Lila. "Yes, sir. She was heading to Oakcrest Bay, but her car broke down. I'm giving her a ride, just stopping in Foxfire Valley first."
There was a pause, then Doyle chuckled. "Well, bring her along to the fundraiser. We could use all the help we can get, and Sabine's been complaining there aren't enough women around here who can hold their own."
"I'll ask her," I replied, not committing. "See you soon, Captain."
I ended the call and turned to find Lila watching me, her expression curious.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," I nodded, sliding my phone back into my pocket. "That was my captain, Doyle. They're setting up for their annual fundraiser tomorrow night and need some extra hands."
"A fundraiser?"
"For the fire department," I explained. "The whole town gets involved—casino night, auction, the works. It's a big deal in Foxfire Valley. I was planning to just deliver this equipment and head out, but it sounds like they really need help with setup."
She nodded, already walking back to the truck. "Sounds like an important event."
"Actually," I said, following her, "Doyle suggested you might want to stick around for it. Could be fun, and with your meeting rescheduled for Friday, there's no rush to get to Oakcrest Bay immediately."
Lila hesitated, her hand on the truck door. I could practically see the calculations happening behind those expressive eyes, the adjustment of plans, the weighing of pros and cons.
"I suppose a couple of days in Foxfire Valley wouldn't hurt," she said finally. "Besides, it might be interesting to see this town you've been talking about. And if Madeline doesn't need me until Friday, I might as well make myself useful."
Something warm unfurled in my chest at her acceptance. "Fair warning—Foxfire Valley is definitely unique. Like nowhere else you've been, I guarantee it."
"I'm adaptable," she said with a small smile that told me she was starting to believe it herself.
As we got back in the truck and continued our journey toward Foxfire Valley, the almost-kiss hung between us, unacknowledged but impossible to forget. I found myself stealing glances at her profile, wondering what would have happened if Captain Doyle had called just a few minutes later.
We'd be in Foxfire Valley soon, and I'd introduce her to my crew, my hometown, a slice of my life I rarely shared with outsiders. The thought was both exciting and unsettling. LilaKing was supposed to be a temporary passenger, a brief detour from my normal routine. But somewhere between her broken-down car and this scenic overlook, she'd become something more complicated.
Something I wasn't ready to define—but damn if I wasn't tempted to make her mine.
