Chapter Six

Stone noticed the appreciative looks Valentine gave him as they drove through the windy mountain roads. As he drove, he tried to process them. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had looked at him like that—as if he was the best thing he'd ever seen.

As if I'm a steak, and Val hasn't eaten in weeks.

But he's a dude. Sure, I didn't mind a few sucking my dick, but that was different.

Considering Valentine had gone through the trouble of tracking him down and asking him on a date, Stone didn't think the man was interested in just a quick bump and grind before they both went their separate ways. A date in the woods was too romantic a gesture. It said, let's get to know each other to see if we're compatible.

Stone hadn't looked for anything beyond a quick pick-up in more years than he could count. Finding a permanent partner wasn't even a blip on his radar. He didn't know what to think about the sudden, unexpected attention.

While it made Stone uncomfortable, he didn't make a habit of lying to himself. He had to acknowledge that Valentine had been correct when he'd declared that Stone found him attractive. Stone didn't know why, but there was just something about him that seemed to check Stone's boxes in a way he'd never experienced with anyone.

The fact that it was a guy was definitely throwing him for a loop.

If he was a woman, would I be struggling this much? Or would I be the one asking her on a date?

In truth, Stone really didn't know. His thoughts revolved back to the fact that he hadn't been looking for a relationship. Stone couldn't remember the last time he'd dated anyone.

High school, maybe?

It was sort of expected in order to get a date for the prom.

When Valentine's friends began slowing, Stone snapped his attention on where it should be—driving. He knew better than to allow his mind to drift while riding his motorcycle. That was a recipe for disaster.

Peering around the area, Stone followed the others off the road and onto a narrow, grass-covered track. He frowned, not entirely certain where they were. Stone had allowed his mind to drift too much while sorting through his thoughts and feelings.

Not that Stone had really gotten anything sorted, at all.

Everything about the situation was odd as hell.

The group continued along the narrow path—Stone wouldn't even call it a road—for another several hundred yards before it petered out. The guys turned their bikes around so they were facing out. Then they shut them off and relaxed on their kickstands.

Stone followed suit and dismounted when Valentine did. After removing his helmet, he locked it in a side bag, placing his leather jacket in there, too. He knew if they were hiking, he wouldn't need it.

While Valentine pulled out what was obviously a picnic basket and a blanket from his saddlebags, the other pair didn't even get off their bikes.

When the pair saw Stone looking at them, Zion smiled at him. "We're not crashing your date, man," he told him. He rested his forearms on the front of his bike and shrugged one large shoulder. "But Val's cousin, Congo, would kick our asses if we allowed him to wander around the mountain alone while he's injured."

"Yeah," Eurik added his two cents. "Congo's protective of all of us, but Val's family, after all."

Confused, Stone asked, "Why's Congo protective?"

Stone noticed Valentine had tucked his own helmet and jacket away and currently had a blanket draped over his shoulder.

Wow. He's going all out.

"Uhhh." Valentine looked like a deer caught in headlights, uncertain what to say or do.

Zion cleared his throat while Eurik rubbed the back of his neck.

Ooookay. They're obviously hiding something.

Unease slithered up his spine, and Stone felt the hairs on his nape stand on end.

Heaving a deep sigh, Zion rubbed a hand over his clean-shaven jaw. "Okay, look," he began, obviously coming to a decision. "I can't tell you everything. It's confidential." His black brows furrowed as a muscle ticked in his jaw. "What I can say is... we were in battle. We were captured. Some of the guys in our... troop... didn't make it." Something dark moved behind the big man's eyes, like a remembered pain. "Congo's not just Val's cousin, but our leader. So those of us that survived and were rescued, well, he feels a certain amount of responsibility."

"Even though there wasn't shit he could have done about it," Eurik cut in, his voice a rough growl. "Shit happens, man."

The fact that these men were ex-military made sense to Stone. Between their size and bearing, the way they watched their surroundings while watching out for each other, could all be explained by POWs returning with a healthy dose of PTSD. Hell, while Stone had never been diagnosed, he occasionally suffered his own bouts of insomnia and nightmares.

Lifting a hand to stop them from saying more—orders were orders, after all—Stone told them, "I get it. I was in the motor pool, so"—he waved his hand dismissively—"no need to try to explain more."

"Thanks for understanding, man," Zion replied with a smile.

Valentine appeared a little concerned, as if he wanted to say more.

Maybe realizing the same thing, Eurik clapped his hands together and stated, "Okay, guys. You have a great hike and date." He leered as he winked and teased, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Shoot us a text when you're on your way back out, Val," Zion ordered, leveling a serious look at him. "Or you'll never hear the end of it from Congo."

Valentine groaned as he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah," he grumbled under his breath. With a shake of his head and a sigh, he mumbled, "You'd think I was five or something."

"It's or something, man," Zion called over the roar of his newly fired-up motorcycle.

With another wave, both men headed off.

Stone focused on Valentine and arched a brow. "So, uh, protective much now, huh?"

"Afraid so," Valentine admitted with a grimace. His black brows furrowed as he picked up the picnic basket. "Hope that doesn't make you think less of me."

Falling into step beside Valentine, Stone admitted, "Actually, I'm a little jealous." He took in the way the larger man's brows shot up, and he admitted, "I don't have any family. It was just my mom and me, and she passed a few years back."

"I'm sorry," Valentine rumbled, offering him a wry smile. "I can offer you my family, but you've just seen how protective we all are of each other." After issuing a low laugh and shaking his head, Valentine told him, "You may not like ‘em when they meddle."

Stone nodded, taking that at face value. "I am a pretty private person. It's the reason I drive a semi," he admitted, glancing Valentine's way before refocusing on the woods and where he was putting his feet. "It's good money, and I don't have to deal with a bunch of idiots very often. Not sure I want a bunch of strangers suddenly all up in my business."

Reaching out, Valentine touched the backs of his casted fingers to his upper arm. "But they're a support system, too," he told him, appearing concerned. "If you ever need anything, they'll always have your back."

Uncertain how to respond to that, Stone kept his mouth shut. Looking around the woods, he changed the subject, instead. "This isn't a real trailhead," he pointed out. Stone glanced Valentine's way, arching his brow. "You said you know the park rangers around here. Did they tell you about this place?"

While Valentine gave him a knowing smile, he didn't call Stone on the blatant shift. "Yeah. The head ranger is Declan, and he's a friend of"—pausing, he waved his casted hand in dismissal—"it's a friend of a friend of a friend thing. When I said I wanted to take you on a hiking date, this was one of the places recommended." Pointing at the narrow path, Valentine told him, "As long as we don't stray, we'll get there in under thirty minutes, and it's supposed to be a really great place for a picnic, to relax, and even take a dip if we want."

"A dip?" Stone narrowed his eyes as he eyed Valentine. "As in swimming?"

Valentine grinned widely. "Yep." From his gaze sweeping over him, the guy's innuendo couldn't be missed when he asked, "Fancy a skinny dip, handsome?"

Stone groaned as he shook his head, doing his best to ignore the rush of heat the look and words caused. "That's the worst line, ever, man," he stated, instead. "You're really trying to get into my pants, aren't you?" Unable to help himself, Stone asked, "Is that all this is? Are you horny, think I'm hot, and want to get me naked for a few hours of fun before we go our separate ways?"

On the way there, Stone would have sworn that wasn't the case, but he had to ask. For some reason, thinking about it, saying it, caused an uncomfortable twist in his gut. He did his best to ignore it, since he had no clue how to process the sensation.

Surely it's not disappointment.

"Not a chance," Valentine replied gruffly. There was even a slight growl in his voice. He cleared his throat before saying, "That's not what this is at all." After a second of hesitation, Valentine chuckled depreciatively before adding, "But I don't want to come on too strong and freak you out, either."

Why the hell do I feel relief?

"Oookay," Stone responded quietly. Rubbing the back of his neck, he wondered if he could get away with another subject change. "So, uh—"

He was coming up blank. That was another reason he didn't try to date. Other than trucks and work, he didn't really have a lot to talk about.

Spotting Valentine's cast, Stone asked, "So, uh, what happened to your arm, anyway?" He seemed to be using it fairly well, but the cast looked new.

"Got hit by a truck," Valentine revealed with a grimace. "Not my finest moment."

"Hit by a truck?" Stone froze for an instant, the image of the bear limping into the woods coming to mind. "Damn." He pushed his residual guilt away and jogged a couple of steps to catch up. "Sorry to hear that."

Valentine actually smiled at him. "Eh, like I said. Not my finest moment." With a roll of his eyes, he claimed, "Certainly wasn't the trucker's fault. I'm the idiot who got distracted while out running and strayed too far into a road without looking where I was going." Lifting his arm, Valentine told him, "I'm lucky this was the only injury I came away with, and it'll be healed in a couple of weeks."

"Happened a while ago, then, huh?" Stone thought that made sense with how easily Valentine was moving. "Glad to hear you're on the mend."

Stone had never broken anything, but he'd seen plenty of battle-buddies taken out by fractured limbs and torn ligaments. The body was a pretty fragile thing, but at least it was resilient. There was so much that they could heal from.

Except sometimes cancer.

With a small smile, Stone realized that his mother would probably have liked Valentine. While he didn't know what she would have thought of his pursuit of him, if they'd met each other in some other situation, she would've liked Valentine instantly. She would've loved his energy and relaxed nature.

Hell, I like that about him, too.

So many people would take just such a type of accident and tried to twist it to their own end. Too many people sued others instead of taking responsibility for themselves. Instead of blaming the driver of the vehicle, Valentine took it in stride and admitted his fault.

Stone found that commendable, raising Valentine's esteem in his eyes.

They walked in silence for several minutes, and Stone enjoyed the scent of pines and the sounds of animals scampering through the underbrush. The quiet between them was comfortable as opposed to oppressive. He didn't feel the need to fill it, and evidently, Valentine didn't either.

A few moments later, Stone recognized the sound of rushing water ahead. It wasn't long before a clearing opened before them. A number of rotting tree trunks littered the massive space, and dilapidated buildings were half-hidden in the encroaching forest.

Sweeping his gaze over the area, Stone took in the falling structures and moss-covered walls. He squinted into the trees and made out the edges of five buildings—two sheds, a long building that could have been a barracks, and two huge structures that had probably held machines.

Stone had a strong desire to explore as he muttered, "This is impressive. I wonder how long ago this logging camp was abandoned."

The name of the trail Valentine had told Zion to lead them to now made sense—Old Lumbermill Trailhead.

Unable to help himself, Stone started between trees toward the nearest building.