Running her fingers through her hair, blonde strands crackled with static as she forced herself to calm down. “I’m sorry. I don’t normally yell.” Her face scrunched up as she hugged her chest. “My ribs hurt and you’re right. I think a couple are broken. But unlike you, I’m not letting rage get the better of me. This is our life now. We’re lucky to be alive. Try acting like you want to survive and we’ll get along fine.”
Part of me wanted to tell her to go away. Because she was right. About everything. And it was about time someone had the balls to tell me to my face that I should be grateful.
This was a fresh start. No one knew me here. I had no dirty track record or deplorable history. She didn’t need to know the type of man I’d been because here I could be someone different.
It was as if a massive boulder suddenly rolled off my back, removing its weight of shame and anger.
I could be better here.
I could be anything I wanted.
Estelle didn’t move, her eyes never leaving mine.
Wincing, I arched my ass off the forest floor and pulled something out of my back pocket. I’d forgotten it was in there until Estelle took the kids to the beach.
I was going to keep them—just in case we needed them at a later date. I’d even been tempted to take them myself (because I was a weak asshole who put himself first). But I wouldn’t hide it. Because right now, this was an olive branch. My first decent thing I’d done for years.
Keeping my fist tight, I held out my hand. “Here. This is for you.”
For a moment, she didn’t move, but then she leaned forward and accepted my gift. The foil packet fell into her palm.
Her eyes widened. “No, I can’t take this.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No, really. I can’t.” She shook her head. “Conner or Pippa should have this. Or you...”
“I’ll manage and the other two will be okay.”
“But—”
“No buts. If you insist on being there for us—even me after I’ve been a prick to you—the least you can do is take it so you don’t have to care for us and be in so much pain.”
Estelle clutched the single dose of Advil that I’d bought before boarding the plane in Los Angeles. I’d had a headache and bought the two pills just in case it morphed into a migraine. I had a tendency to get those if I got too stressed and leaving the timber farm where I’d finally found peace stressed me to the max.
I smirked. “Not sure how you’ll take them seeing as I don’t have any water. But please, I want you to have them.”
“Is this your way of apologising?”
“I need to apologise?”
That earned me half a smile.
I chuckled. “Call it a do-over. Can we do that? Take the pills...please.”
I fully expected her to refuse. She was the type of person to forgo any benefit to herself and give it to others—I didn’t need to spend a lot of time around her to know that—but she ripped open the foil and placed the two tablets on her tongue.
Throwing her head back, she swallowed them dry.
She must be in serious pain to accept them.
Crumpling the packet into a ball, she wedged it into her jeans pocket and came closer. Holding out her hand, she smiled. “I accept your do-over. Let’s begin again, shall we?”
I tensed as my fingers interlocked with hers. The same spark and tingle of awareness danced on my skin. She was sun and sin and safety all at once.
Her lips parted as heat ignited between us. She tried to hide the fact she felt whatever it was unfurling intensely; it took every effort not to tug her into my lap and hug her. Just touch her. Yes, I wanted to kiss her but not because the old me was selfish and crude. But because this new me wanted to kiss her with gratitude.
Her gaze darkened as we shook hands. “I’m Estelle Evermore. Pleasure to meet you.”
My heart became a dragon, breathing hot fire as she smiled so innocently yet completely seductive.
Did she have any idea what she did to me?
Breaking our handshake, I cleared my throat. “I’m Galloway Oak. Likewise.”
“Should we get the simple bullet points out of the way and then head to the beach?”
“Bullet points?”
“Yes, you know. Age, occupation, future aspirations, that kind of thing.”
My lips twitched. “Shouldn’t we be enquiring what survival skills we bring to the table? This isn’t exactly a first date situation.”
She stiffened.
Way to go, Oak.
I sighed. “Did that come across as rude? If it did, I didn’t mean it to.”
She waved it away. “Don’t worry. You’re right, though. Okay, who are you, Galloway? Give me the abbreviated version so we can get back to Pippa and Conner as friends rather than enemies.”
My gut spasmed at the thought of ever being her enemy. I never wanted her to hate me. Not because we were literally the only man and woman in this place, but because something inside already howled at the thought of never being able to talk to her.
The problem with telling her about myself meant a whole lot of censorship. She didn’t need to know about me. It wasn’t lying; merely self-defence. Besides, I was a better person starting now. None of that crap mattered.
“All you need to know is I find you stunningly attractive and out of anyone in the world to crash land with, I’m glad it was you.”
She stumbled.
I grinned. “I take it I just shocked you.”