Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
He points to the largest black dot on the mountain. “We’re here, at the entrance to Smugglers Notch. If we have time later, we might want to come back to this one. There are supposed to be handrails on the path leading down to the main cavern and motion-activated lights so you can look around at the rock formations.”
“Totally,” I say, “sounds like fun. But we should probably head farther afield first. It sounds like all the caves on this side of the mountain have a good amount of foot traffic. Surely, if there were treasure to find here, someone would have found it by now.”
“True, but…” Wes points to the entrance of another fairly well-known cave about a half mile from our current location. “I was thinking about Devil’s Roost last night. I know we want to try a system that hasn’t been explored as much, but the Roost is the only cave mentioned by name by any of Butch Cassidy’s gang when they were interrogated by the police. And it opens up on the other side of the mountain, not far from the lesser-known systems.”
I nod. “So, if we don’t find anything in there, we can move on to poking around somewhere else. Sounds good.” I glance up at him, bobbing my brows. “And probably less of a chance of running into a colony of cranky bats in a place people frequent more often.”
“But if the brochure warnings are to be believed, we’re going to run into some sooner or later.” His eyes flash. “I can’t wait.”
“Me, either,” I say, smiling. “I’m glad we’re logical people who are scared of credible threats like clowns and leprechauns instead of silly things like bats and rabies.”
He nods and winks. “Thank God. But the bats won’t bother us if we don’t bother them, and we both have headlamps. If we see anything sketchy, we can always turn around and head back the way we came.”
Sobering, I agree, “Totally, and I think we should plan on playing it safe. Yes, I have a lust for adventure, but I’m more excited about living to see another day. And to eat the yummy stir-fry I’m going to make you tonight.”
“And Freya’s depending on us to come home,” he says.
Touched by the fact that my pet is on his mind, I lean in, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
He smiles as I pull away, his voice soft, “What was that for?”
“For worrying about my little girl.”
“She’s a cutie,” he says. “And we’ve come a long way since she tried to bite my dick off.”
Laughing, I agree, “You have.”
But not nearly as far as Wes and I have come.
Just a few days ago, we were barely speaking. Now…
Now, he feels like a member of my team, a person I can trust with my life, and the only man I want making me tingle for the foreseeable future.
I lift a hand, cupping his scruffy cheek for a beat, on the verge of saying things I shouldn’t. Feeling things I shouldn’t. It’s only been a few days. It’s too soon to tell him that I’m falling in love with him. But maybe by the next time we head off on an epic adventure…
We’ve already started talking about reworking our summer plans to go hiking together. The fact that he isn’t the slightest bit apprehensive about heading out into the wilderness alone with me for two weeks speaks volumes.
So does the warmth in his gaze as he leans into my touch. “I have so much fun with you,” he says softly.
“Me, too,” I say, the back of my nose stinging a little. “With you.”
But what higher compliment is there in the world than to be told that you bring someone joy? What are we here for if not to lighten the load for each other with jokes, fun, and affection?
I lean in, kissing the tip of his nose before pulling back with a laugh. “Okay! Let’s do this. I told Freya I’d buy her a jewel-studded collar if we find treasure.”
He chuckles. “She’d look swanky in a jewel-studded collar. But I’d prefer you in one. And nothing else.”
Cocking my head as I pull on my pack, I murmur, “If that’s what you want to spend your treasure money on, I wouldn’t complain.”
Laughing and teasing, we step into the sun, the strongest I’ve felt on my skin since last summer, making me grateful we’re headed back into the shade soon. There’s only so much sunscreen can do when you’re bone white from being indoors all winter.
We reach Devil’s Roost in about twenty minutes and pause for a beat in its ominous shadow.
“Well, I guess we know why it’s called Devil’s Roost,” I say, scanning the large, horn-like formations framing the entrance.
“Scared?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, but there’s a vibe here, right? Do you feel it? Something a little…off? Kind of like the forest last night?”