Running Wild(Wild #3)(69)

“Yeah. Of course. I just thought you’d be, I don’t know …” He lets that thought go unfinished. Maybe he truly doesn’t know, or maybe he’s just playing dumb. “And you’re here, grabbing coffee for you and—” His eyes tally the cups in my hand and then searches the vicinity. I know the moment he sees Jonah, recognizes him, because his jaw tenses.

“Coffee for me and tea for Jonah’s wife,” I say, because I know where his assumption is headed, and I have no desire to hurt him more than I already did.

When we split up, I made the mistake of being too honest with Jonathan about my feelings for the bush pilot. The truth that we weren’t meant for each other fell by the wayside as Jonathan railed. First came the accusations of infidelity, and then the promises that I’d regret throwing away our future over a crush. And even with his son staring up at him and his soon-to-be wife listening intently, I can see Jonathan’s ego still feels that sting.

“His wife,” he repeats, and there’s a moment of confusion, followed by understanding that suggests he hadn’t heard.

But the smug little smile that touches his lips? That makes me wish I’d let him stew in false assumptions.

This was the last encounter I needed today when I’ve already been feeling so low.

“Just the person I was looking for,” a familiar deep voice announces behind me.

I spin around to find Tyler strolling toward me, his uniform hugging his perfect form, his park ranger vehicle rumbling, the driver’s side door propped open.

God, he looks good. But …

Jonathan.

Jonah.

Tyler.

All in one parking lot.

“I’m in the twilight zone,” I mutter.

Tyler tilts his head.

“Nothing,” I say before he has a chance to ask. “What are you doing here?”

He holds up a coffee, as if that’s explanation enough, and then takes a few casual steps closer, just within my personal space, and drops his voice to a whisper. “And you look like you might be stuck in something you’d rather not be stuck in. Am I right about that?” Gentle eyes search mine.

He was the truck that pulled in behind me. I never bothered to look back. He must’ve seen me falter, must’ve read the tension in my body. Am I that obvious? Or is he that perceptive? He is in law enforcement, after all, trained to spot conflict.

Can he see me at war with myself?

I feel my head bobbing without much thought.

Tyler slips his free hand around my waist. I feel the warmth of it through my jacket. “I hope you don’t mind, but I need to steal this one away.”

He’s saving me. That’s what he’s doing.

I turn back toward Jonathan, watching curiously. Maybe it’s rude to not introduce them, but I have no reason to. Jonathan is part of my past, and Tyler is … well, Tyler is just a client, but Jonathan doesn’t know that. “It was good seeing you. Enjoy your day up in Talkeetna. And congratulations again on everything.”

Clancy lets out a screech that has Carrie darting around the picnic table, aiming the soother toward his mouth like a plug to stop a leak.

I allow myself a breath of relief as Tyler guides me away. Only where my stomach was coiling with discomfort before, now it’s full of nervous flutters, the faint scent of cologne with notes of cedar and citrus peel drawing me in closer. “Thank you.”

But Tyler doesn’t answer, his gaze hanging off Jonathan and his crying son.

On his son.

My heart pangs for this man as I see the pain in his stony expression as clearly as if it were written on a page. How often does Tyler see his unborn child in the faces of these living ones? How often does he wonder how different his life would have been, had they survived?

“Tyler?” I call out softly. His hand is still curled around my waist.

He snaps out of whatever trance he was in with a sharp inhale. “Yeah?”

“Thank you,” I repeat.

He slides his arm away from me. “What are friends for?” He mock frowns. “Oh, wait …”

He’s back to his casual charming self, but I just caught a hint of what’s hidden beneath the facade. “Were you actually looking for me? Is there something wrong with the dogs?” It’s been two weeks since I visited his kennel.

“Nah. Dogs are all good. I saw you there and you seemed anxious.” His eyes drift over my frame. “Your body language was off.”

“You’re an expert with body language?”

“With some things.” He hides a smile behind a sip of his coffee.

We’re heading back down this dangerous path again—where Tyler flirts shamelessly and I read too much into it, where I let false hope trick me into believing something that isn’t true.

“Who’s that guy?” he asks, nodding toward Jonathan.

“My ex.”

“Serious?”

“Five years.” I hesitate. “We were engaged.”

He shifts his focus from Jonathan to Carrie to Clancy, as if itemizing possibilities. “What happened?”

“It wasn’t meant to be. Long story.” I check Jonah. He’s still gabbing. “You’re a bit out of the way for Hatcher Pass, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been working at Nancy Lake this week.”