22. Olivia

Cloud nine was a dangerous place to be.

Dawson had stoked the flames of her feelings, assuring her that this wasn't an impulsive mistake. She'd known him enough to trust him completely. He wouldn't risk their friendship, as well as Olivia's friendship with her best and oldest friend, if this was a fling.

Despite the assurances, a knot settled in her gut. There was a mountain standing in front of her, and she had to cross it before things could be good for this new relationship.

Why did things have to change? She saw Dawson almost every day. They called and texted each other all the time. They helped and supported each other. They ran a farm together.

Well, they'd probably be kissing now. That was definitely a new development. Anna would notice that change-up.

Dawson was laying it all on the line, and she wanted to soak it all in and wrap up in his words. She could almost forget the danger waiting just outside the truck.

Wolves and broken trust. Two equally vicious threats.

There was no way around it. Anna would be crushed, and Olivia couldn't imagine being the cause of that hurt.

Stay loyal and deny her feelings for Dawson, or seek her own desires and break the strongest loyalty of her life? It was an impossible situation.

There was still the secret of her possible infertility. The upcoming appointment with her doctor to discuss surgery options loomed over her head like a dark cloud, and she couldn't bring herself to mention it tonight. They had enough standing in their way already.

One step at a time.

Dawson rubbed circles over the back of her hand with his thumb. "What do you say? Can we give this a chance?"

It was the moment of truth. Except, only some truths were taken into account.

"I want to. I really do. I'm not ready to talk to Anna about this, so can we take things slow for now?"

Dawson tilted his head. She couldn't make out his expression in the dark, but the shadows gave her what little bravery she had to confess her feelings to him.

"I'm okay with taking things slow. Are you saying we shouldn't tell anyone yet?"

"That too, I guess. I don't want Anna to find out about us from someone else, but I need to figure out how to tell her."

"Okay, but I can kiss you, right?"

"Dawson!"

He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. The world around them slowed as he stole her breath and heart. His voice was low and rough as he whispered, "I plan to kiss you a lot."

A thrill of excitement rushed up her spine. How long had she been waiting to kiss him? How long had she sat beside him wondering what it would be like to have his lips on hers?

Too long.

"Okay. Kissing is allowed," Olivia said. "I just need to figure this out with Anna."

"I don't know how to help you, but I'm here if you need anything."

She brushed a hand over his stubbled jaw. This sweet, protective, funny man was doing everything to ease her concerns. He understood her more than anyone else except Anna, and he had to know how difficult this was for her.

"Thank you. For understanding," she whispered.

"I wish you'd told me sooner. We could have pressed the play button on us a long time ago."

Olivia shook her head. "I don't think we were ready. I'm hoping we are now."

"Oh, I'm definitely ready," Dawson said.

She laughed and playfully shoved his arm. "On a more immediate note, how are we going to let our friends know we're okay? Won't they come looking for us?"

Dawson rubbed his jaw. "I hope not. I should have grabbed the sat phone before we came out here. I bet Lucas will come looking for us."

Olivia held her phone in the air and moved it around slowly, watching the screen like a hawk. "Mine isn't in emergency mode. Maybe I can get a signal."

"That doesn't mean they'll get it," Dawson reminded her.

"I don't need your negativity right now." She brought her phone down and typed up a message. "I'm at least going to try to send it."

"If nothing else, we'll sleep here and venture back out in the morning."

Olivia rounded on him, pinning him with a stare. "So we can see the wolves coming? No, thank you. I don't plan to meet death before I've brushed my teeth."

Okay, she sounded ridiculous, but she wasn't too keen about going back out there knowing what was waiting for them.

Dawson lifted his hoodie and pulled his gun out of its holster. He opened the console and stashed the weapon inside. "I'm always prepared, and I can certainly try to take care of the problem tonight, but–"

"Nope. I don't think I can handle that," Olivia interjected.

"And I don't like shooting into the dark. If one of our friends did come looking for us, they might be out there."

"But they'll be unprotected!"

"Nope. I left my shotgun at the cabin, but I know Lucas has one too." Dawson rubbed the back of his neck, carefully avoiding eye-contact with her. "I always have my pistol on me, but I was a little distracted when we left camp or I would have brought the shotgun."

Olivia propped her elbows on her knees. "I was distracted too. Not that I would have been thinking about arming myself."

"Are you saying I'm eye candy?" Dawson asked.

Olivia threw her head back and groaned. "Stop it. You know you're hot stuff."

"Hot stuff. I'm putting that on my resume."

A laugh bubbled out of Olivia's chest, but it was quickly followed by a yawn. "I am exhausted. What time is it?"

"Dark-thirty," Dawson said without missing a beat.

Olivia yawned again. She was used to staying busy, but her bedtime was closer to nine than midnight. Add in the extra hiking she'd done in the afternoon, and sleep was calling her name.

Dawson nudged her arm. "Scoot over."

She did as she was told, and Dawson bent his tall frame as best he could to see under the back seat. A few seconds later, he pulled out a bulging plastic bag. "Blanket."

"Are you serious?" She'd worn an undershirt, a sweater, and a coat, but the night chill was starting to settle inside the truck.

"Best to be prepared."

"Look at that Boy Scout training paying off," Olivia jested.

"Eagle Scout. I'm an Eagle Scout, and that is on my resume."

She laughed, and silent tears crept from the corners of her eyes. Wiping them with the back of her hand, she huffed. "I'm so tired that everything sounds funny."

"You must be extremely tired because my Eagle Scout status is anything but funny. I worked so hard for that. It's like my greatest accomplishment."

"And Beau dropped out as soon as he hit high school," Olivia said, remembering her brother's grumbling about camping.

"Quitter," Dawson mumbled as he pulled out the blanket.

Shivering, Olivia reached for an end to spread it out over them. "If it was this cold, I completely understand why he quit."

"Don't worry. We won't freeze." Dawson handed her the blanket and braced his hands on the front seat headrests. "You think I can climb into the front seat?"

Laughter bubbled in her chest as she imagined the tall man beside her folding himself in the cramped space.

"You think this is so funny. Wait till it's your turn." With that, Dawson bent and turned, swinging his behind around to position it in the front passenger seat. Then his long legs swung over the seat until he was draped over the console.

"Shoot. Now what?"

Olivia's fit of giggles intensified. She gripped her chest, gasping for air as tears streamed from her eyes. "How…how are you going to…"

"I don't need your negativity right now," he said, throwing her words from earlier back at her. "I just need to figure this out."

She pointed as she tried to catch her breath. "Move the seat back."

He reached beside the seat and it started slowly creeping back. "Freedom!"

Olivia doubled over, wiping happy tears from her eyes. "I'm glad this isn't a tiny truck. You would be in so much trouble."

"You wouldn't be much better off if you had to listen to my grumbling," Dawson reminded her.

Wrapping her arms around the seat to get to him, she rested her head against his, trying to stomp down her laughter. "I'm sorry I laughed at you."

"No you're not. You are having way too much fun." He turned his head and kissed her temple. "But it's your turn now, and I get to laugh."

Olivia raised her head and looked at him. "My turn?"

"Unless you want to sleep on that bench seat that's about a foot wide, you're sleeping up here with me." He opened his arms and smiled. "Plus, I promise body heat."

"We are not making friction in this truck tonight," Olivia said.

"Good grief, Liv. That's moving a little fast don't you think? No funny business. I just run hot." He pulled the collar of his hoodie to the side. "See?"

She slid her hand around the side of his neck, and the warmth tingled over her cold hand. "How are you that warm? It's freezing in here."

Dawson shrugged. "I'm always like that." He reached beside the seat again, and it started slowly reclining. "Come on."

"I can't believe we're doing this," Olivia mumbled so low Dawson probably didn't hear it. The thought of sleeping close to him was a little too exciting when she was supposed to be tempering her expectations.

Dawson guided her onto his lap, and she pulled the blanket over them. His arms wrapped around her, and she relaxed into his hold. With her head against his chest, the smell she'd come to associate with Dawson mingling with the lingering scent of the campfire filled her senses.

He squirmed a little, shifting her around in his arms. "You comfy?"

"Mmhm," she hummed as her eyes drifted closed.

Problems waited for them outside, but tonight, she'd sleep safely in Dawson's arms.