Up in Flames (Crash and Burn, Book Two) (A Military Romance) by Eva Grayson Read Free Book Online Page B

she’ll realize you care about her. That your feelings for him have nothing to do with her. It will all work out,” Emme adds quietly. “I promise.”
    During this conversation, my stomach has tightened into a knot a sailor would envy. God, I hope she’s right. But only Sunday will tell.

Six

Cole
    “ Y ou have met me before , right?” Lauren’s face has gone ghostly pale, and she’s staring at the old wooden sign outside of the brick building. “You do remember I’m petrified of heights. I didn’t think that was a big mystery or anything.” A breeze catches her hair and sends a few errant strands that came out of her braid across her face. She brushes them back.
    “It’ll be fun. You’re completely strapped in, and we have two guides working with us to ensure our safety. They check the equipment and lines every morning, without fail.” I keep my voice low and soothing as I cup her elbow and lead her inside. “Trust me.”
    “I trust you,” she mutters. “But I also don’t like falling to certain death.”
    I roll my eyes. “Stop being a chicken. It’s going to be great. You’ll see.”
    The zipline tour we’re about to do starts soon, and we’re supposed to get safety lessons before we even ride up to the first zipline station. I’ve done ziplining a few times now; it’s exhilarating, a way to get that adrenaline rush without doing something fucking stupid. I have a feeling once she gets up there and goes flying across the canopy, she’s going to love it.
    Lauren, however, seems to disagree with me. But to her credit, she’s slogging along at my side, though her mouth is pinched so thin I doubt a sheet of paper could slip through. That’s my girl, stubborn as hell even in the face of fear.
    I called in a favor with a friend of a friend to get us a semi-private ziplining session. Three hours of soaring over trees, rappelling, and hiking. So fucking awesome. It’s me and Lauren, two of the employees, and another couple who just got married and are on their honeymoon. That’s not going to be awkward or anything. But beggars can’t be choosers, and they’re doing me a favor. Hopefully Lauren will relax and enjoy the experience. I suspect underneath that façade of hers is a heart that aches to try something a little more dangerous.
    I check us in. The other couple is already there, a husky light-skinned black man and slender dark woman who haven’t stopped holding hands since I spotted them. The smiles on their faces are big as they sneak glances at each other, like they still can’t believe they’re married. Their wedding rings glint in the fluorescent light.
    Fuck. I want that. So much. I want Lauren to wear my ring, to hold my hand. Maybe this wasn’t my best idea after all. I know we’re strictly here in friendship mode, and while it makes me want to take a header off a cliff, I also know I can’t push her too fast or she’ll run from me again.
    We line up by the harnesses, which are stretched out on the floor, ready for us to step in. Our instructors can’t be older than twenty-one; the black-haired girl, Veronica, has a nose ring, and the blond guy, Dexter, has artfully mussed hair.
    They do the introductions and ask our names. The other couple is Martin and Sharon. Lauren keeps glancing over at them, an unreadable expression on her face.
    “You’re going to have so much fun out there,” Veronica starts. She goes into her spiel about how the safety equipment works. We pick out gloves, get into our harnesses, and don hats. Then we head to a minivan with three rows of seats and are driven through the woods up a winding path.
    It’s a beautiful spring afternoon. I breathe the air from my rolled-down window in deeply and reach over to cup Lauren’s knee. Her hand flies out to grip mine.
    “You’re sure this will be safe?” she whispers by my ear.
    “I won’t let you fall,” I vow. I tuck a lock of red hair behind her ear.
    Her gaze flicks to my mouth, then back up, a look