After a beat of silence, I look down at the woman currently leaning against me. The tiniest sob shakes her shoulders, and she sniffles softly. Goddamn, if my chest isn’t caving in at the sight of her tears. It’s been years since I’ve led any sort of rescue mission, but all of my training is still there, working in the background.
My sole purpose now is to get this woman to safety and make sure she doesn’t cry anymore. It makes my chest feel funny, like I can’t breathe knowing she’s upset.
“You’re going to be okay,” I say in what I hope is a calming voice. “My name is Wilder. I’m a former Army Ranger, and I have some field medic experience. I’m going to take you back to my cabin and patch you up, all right?”
It’s been months since I’ve had to talk to another human being, but when I’m in soldier mode, all that other shit can take a back seat. This woman needs to know she can trust me and that I’ll lead her to safety.
And when the sun comes up tomorrow, I’ll promptly drop her off at the base of the mountain where she belongs with a strong warning not to come up this way again.
Even as I think the words, I don’t know if that’s what I really want. No time to dive into what the hell that means. Not with an active mission taking place.
“My name is Ari. Short for Arizona. I have five younger siblings who depend on me and parents who love me very much and would notice if I went missing.” She tries to take a step away from me, wincing as her left ankle wobbles.
I pull her against me again, not wanting her to hurt herself any further. “Are you telling me personal facts because you think I’m going to kill you?” I ask, my eyes wandering down her body.Ari is a thick girl, and I won’t lie; I love it. She’s wearing layers under her coat, but I can still make out her curves. Not that it matters.Totally fucking inappropriate.
“Just covering my bases,” Ari says with a nod.
She’s kind of… adorable. I don’t know if I’ve ever thought that word, let alone about another person. “I think the personal facts are supposed to be true at least, right?”
Ari whips her head up, those green eyes piercing me to my core. She narrows her eyelids, a tiny smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. Jesus, I want to kiss her. Which isn’t like me. The thought sends me reeling, and I have to break eye contact to ensure I don’t act on my crazy urge.
“How do you know I’m lying?”
“So you admit it?” I counter.
“I–” Ari pitches to the side, a whimper escaping her lips.
Without a second thought, I scoop her up in my arms, carrying her through the forest bridal-style while she clutches her backpack to her chest like it’s her only lifeline.
“I’ve got you,” I tell her, unsure what to do with the warmth spreading across my chest now that the green-eyed goddess is curled up against me.
She sighs and rests her head on my shoulder. I get the sense she’s been alone for a while and isn’t used to someone helping. I can relate. While I can’t keep Ari, I can provide a place to stay for the night and an ice pack for her undoubtedly sprained ankle.
“Thanks,” she murmurs, swallowing down another whimper.
“What hurts?” I grunt, the words coming out far harsher than I meant. I want to end her suffering and ensure she never experiences pain again, which I realize is an over-the-top reaction to a woman I just met.
“I’m fine,” she squeaks.
“More lies,” I tell her, looking down at the woman in my arms. Her face is twisted up in pain, her jaw clenched so hard she might crack a fuckin’ tooth if she’s not careful.
“My ankle was numb, but now it’s on fire and throbbing. And the headache behind my left eye feels like it’s going to crack my skull open. But overall, I think I’m pretty good. At least I’m not at the bottom of a ravine, which I totally would have been if not for you, so… thanks.”
She ends her rushed speech and sucks in a breath, squeezing her eyes shut against another wave of throbbing pain. I grunt and hold her closer, picking up my pace while still making sure I’m not going to fall and injure this woman any further.
“Do you know any ghost stories?” she asks, surprising the hell out of me.
“Uh…”
“To distract me from the pain. I’ll go first. I visited this old, haunted asylum in Pennsylvania last year. Legend says that up to six hundred people died there under suspicious circumstances. One patient–”
I stumble over a large boulder hidden amongst the brush, jostling Ari. She tries not to make a sound, but I know I hit her sore ankle, which makes me want to punch myself in the face.
After a few moments of silence, I realize Ari isn’t going to continue her story. I have questions on why she’s intentionally visiting these dangerous places, but now isn’t the time to bring out the inquisition.
I wrack my brain for any kind of story, whether filled with goblins, ghosts, or princesses. But I have nothing. So, I tell her the only story I know. Mine.
“My unit had been in the desert for four days when we got the order,” I start, looking straight ahead. Eye contact feels… strangely vulnerable, and I’m already all wound up by this woman. No need to confuse things even more.
