* * *
The parking lotat the local high school was half-full of familiar vehicles. Not many places were large enough for our entire SAR team to meet, but the high school gymnasium was one of them.
I climbed out of my SUV, my body protesting the movement. Today’s longer-than-expected hike had done a number on me. As if to punctuate the point, my phone beeped with an alert—my glucose monitoring app letting me know that I was trending upward. I shoved it into my pocket and snagged a granola bar from my cupholder, biting off a piece.
Grabbing my bag from the back seat, I slung it over my shoulder and headed toward the gymnasium. My steps faltered as I caught sight of the familiar Mercedes G-Wagon. My back teeth ground together as a flare of pissed-off annoyance surged to life.
He justhadto come back here.
Life had been a million times easier when Caden was running one of his family’s hotels in New York. I only saw him when I caved to temptation and searched his name. The photos of him with models, socialites, or whatever the flavor of the week was, hurt like hell. But at least I didn’t have to see it in person.
Now that he was back and working at his family’s fancy resort nestled in the mountains, I had to deal with Caden. But he couldn’t leave it at that. No, he had to infiltrate every area of my life. SAR. My friend group.Myfamily dinners.
I wrenched open the door and stepped into the gym.
Nash let out a low whistle. “Who pissed in your Cheerios?”
I glared at him. “No one.”
He chuckled. “That was real convincing.”
His fiancée, Maddie, moved closer, worry creasing her brow. “You okay?”
That was Maddie, through and through. Always wanting to make sure everyone she cared about was all right. Between her and our other friend, Wren, I had an embarrassment of riches when it came to the women in my life. And they’d both be sisters before long.
I pulled Maddie into a hug. “I’m fine. Just exhausted. Long day.”
Holt walked up then, frowning. “Are you okay? You don’t have to stay. Did you have dinner?”
I fought the urge to scream and instead took one of those deep, cleansing breaths that helped keep me from murdering the people I loved. “I said I’m fine. Just tired.”
He stared down at me as if he didn’t believe me. “You let me know if that changes.”
I made a humming noise that wasn’t agreement or disagreement.
“That’s Gigi-speak forgo screw yourself.”
That low voice that sounded like it was coated in sandpaper had goosebumps taking flight on my arms. I hated that it had that kind of effect on me. Hated that he somehow still knew me so well.
I straightened my spine, glancing up at Caden Shaw. I would’ve thought I’d be accustomed to his beauty by now. Those hazel eyes that punched right through you, the jawline covered in stubble that I itched to feel against my palm, the broad shoulders capable of carrying the weight of the world.
He wore his hair differently now. It was cropped close on the sides and long on top. It fit him. The longer strands saidin-control businessman, but the sides saidrebel.
“Oh, look what the cat dragged in. The one person no one wants here.”
Caden chuckled, and that sound was even worse than his husky voice. It had a smoky heat that wrapped around me, digging in deep. Just that barest hint of sound had my body waking up in ways it never did, even when I searched with all my might for that pull.
“Denial is not just a river in Egypt, Gigi.”
Every time my nickname left his lips, I wanted to punch him. It killed—the two syllables that reminded me of a simpler time. One where I was truly happy. Where I thought the world was fair and things always worked out.
My gaze flicked up to his as if of its own volition. “Pull your lip over your head and swallow.”
Nash groaned. “Will you two quit it? I thought you were getting along better.”
I squirmed in place. There’d been the briefest of cease-fires. A moment in the aftermath of Maddie’s kidnapping and Nash’s attack where I’d thought that maybe Caden and I were finding our way back to what we had been. But the second we’d known that everyone would be okay, Caden had put that wall right back up.
“I’m going to find a seat,” I muttered. I hurried away from the group as fast as I could.
