Silas claps my shoulder once. “Good. Keep her safe. We’ll bring the rest home.” He heads off toward the main lodge, already pulling out his phone.
I stand there a second longer, watching the snow fall, letting the weight of the assignment settle into my bones.
Keep her safe.
Easy. Except Emma doesn’t act like someone who wants to be kept safe. She acts like someone who wants to fight. And if she tries to fight on her own, she’ll get herself killed.
I head back inside.
Emma is finishing her coffee when I walk up behind her.
Kayley nudges her. “Oh, here comes Mr. Grumpy.”
Emma turns and smiles up at me, bright and unsuspecting. “Hi, Mr. Grumpy.”
I hook a finger under the back of her chair and pull it out slightly. “You’re coming with me.”
Her brows lift. “Wow. Buy me dinner first?”
Chase chokes on his pancake.
I ignore him. “Now.”
Emma stands, smoothing her hoodie. “Where are we going?”
“My cabin.”
Kayley’s eyes widen with delighted scandal. Harper covers Poppi’s ears like the baby is going to learn something inappropriate.
Emma glances between them. “Why are they making faces?”
“Because they have too much time and not enough hobbies,” I say flatly.
Chase calls after us, “Use protection, Rhett!”
I spin toward him. “I’m going to bury you in the snow… again.”
Chase grins. “Romantic!”
Emma laughs as I herd her toward the door.
She leans closer, whispering, “Do you threaten everyone you like?”
“I don’t like you.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, unconvinced. “And you don’t read romance novels either.”
I stop in the doorway and look down at her. “If you bring that up again, I’ll assign you latrine duty.”
She pauses. “Do you… have a latrine?”
“No.”
“Then your threats are empty.”
I can’t help it—a low sound escapes my chest that might be a laugh if you squint.
Emma’s grin turns triumphant. “Oh my God. Youdohave a sense of humor. It’s just buried under tactical trauma.”