Fighting Our Way (Broken Tracks 2)

“So… no to hiking?”

She halts at the entrance to her kitchen, turning her head slightly. “Yes to hiking.” Her lips lift up into a grin. “But hell no to the boots.”

I follow her out of the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe after I place the boots on the floor beside me. “What’s wrong with the boots?”

Watching as she kneels down, ass in the air, she roots through her small closet, yanking out items and flinging them behind her until she shouts, “Aha!” She stands up and I tilt my head at the walking boots she’s holding up. “You don’t go hiking in new boots, you have to break them in first.” She lowers her voice. “Amateur.”

I laugh at her mocking me. “Yeah, yeah. And here I was thinking it was a nice gesture.” I wink to let her know I’m joking, my eyes trailing down the length of her legs. Dear God, I need to get out of here. I walk toward the door. “I’ll be waiting in the car while you get ready. I’ve packed everything else but you’ll need your bathing suit.”

I make it two steps away from the door before her soft voice whispers, “Nate.”

Turning my head around, I stare at her, her chocolate eyes shining with some unnamed emotion as she drops her boots on her unmade bed.

My heart rate picks up as she slowly steps toward me, my stomach dipping the closer she gets. She never fails to make me feel things I’ve never experienced before. I want to be with her all the time: just her and me.

Her hand lifts when she comes to a stop in front of me, the pads of her fingers trailing over my jaw.

“I missed not seeing your face this week.”

On instinct, my arms slide around her waist and I smile down at her. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to come over, but work’s had me crazy busy.”

She leans toward me and I close the rest of the distance. As soon as our lips touch, her body curls into mine, looking for support. I tighten my embrace and she moans softly as I trail kisses down her jaw, ending at her ear, whispering, “I’m going to leave now otherwise we’re not going anywhere today.”

“Okay,” she replies with a sigh, pulling back at the same time as I do, her fingers skimming over her lips as if to lock away the feel of mine on hers.

“Remember to put on your bathing suit,” I say with a grin before turning the door handle and walking out to my SUV.

I nearly lost it in there. I was so close to throwing my plans out the window and spending all day in her bed. It’s different with her and I know it’ll be worth the wait when it does happen.

Ten minutes later she walks around the corner of the house with a big smile on her face. Her hair is up in a high ponytail making her cheekbones stand out more, but the few strands framing her face soften the harshness. My gaze falls down to the white tank top I can see her blue bikini top through and I have to shut my eyes for a second, turning back to face her as she climbs into the SUV with a struggle.

“Couldn’t have bought a higher car?” Her question is dripping with sarcasm as she huffs and clicks on her seatbelt.

I chuckle. “Maybe I should, then I’d have a good excuse to ‘help’ you into it.”

Although she fights it, a smile lifts her lips and I’m finally distracted enough to look over the rest of what she’s wearing. Khaki green shorts show off her tan legs and the boots she dug out are on her feet with thick socks sticking out the top. A turquoise fleece jacket sits on her lap but I tear my gaze away and start the engine as I look back at the house.

“I saw Tris take the kids out earlier.” She turns her attention to me as I drive out onto the street. “Art class?”

“Yeah.” Her voice sounds sad, and when I cut my gaze to her, she continues. “He’s taking them out for the day afterward. I just hope spending time with only him and the kids makes things better around the house.”

“I’ve barely had a response from him since Izzie’s party last weekend.” Things didn’t go down well when Harmony painted a photo of Natalia and Izzie together. She doesn’t say anything for a beat so I add, “Have things really been that bad? I thought him and Harm would’ve sorted things out by now.”

“I’m guessing by the state of his mood and the fact he’s locking himself in his office when he comes home that they haven’t.” She tightens her ponytail. “The kids are seeing it and I know they can feel his change in behavior. I want to say something to him, but…” she trails off, shaking her head. “I don’t know; I feel like if I tell him to stop acting the way he is then all I’d be doing is banging my head against a brick wall.”

The couple of times I’ve messaged him this week, his responses have gone back to the clipped tone he used to use with me, but I’ve barely had time to eat and sleep never mind sort out his mood swings.

“You shouldn’t have to feel like this.” My grip tightens around the steering wheel. “This is his shit to sort and he shouldn’t be making the people around him feel uncomfortable. If he doesn’t get his act together then I’ll…” I don’t know what I’ll do. Talking to him doesn’t seem to work, in fact the only thing—or person should I say—to get through to him was Harmony. “I’ll talk to Harm.”

I hear as she blows out a breath before she says, “You know what?” I raise my brow. “I think the best thing to do is to stay out of it all. If he wants to be miserable, then let him. All that matters are the kids, and I’ll do my damndest to make sure they’re doing okay.” I feel her hand land on my forearm, and I look down at it before bringing my gaze back to hers briefly. “I don’t want to spend the day going over Tris’s latest drama. I want to talk about you and me.” Her lips lift up into a gentle smile before she moves her hand and places it back in her lap. “Tell me what’s had you so busy this week.”

She’s right, I’m ruining the mood. I relax in my seat, the buttery leather moulding to my shape. “Work’s been manic. I haven’t been able to sit down and have a minute to myself because my partner was away until yesterday on a case in Boston. That meant I had to micro-manage all the associates and interns which isn’t my job but…” I trail off and blow out a breath. “I want a work-free day today. All talk of it is banned for the foreseeable.”

“Sounds like a plan: no work talk.” I see her lean forward out of the corner of my eye. “Where are we going?”

Her question makes me chuckle. I’ve come to expect it since learning she doesn’t like surprises. “Is this going to turn into ‘our thing’?”

“That depends,” she replies. “Are you ever going to tell me where we’re going in advance?”