Page 150 of At First Spark
She nods once, leaning against the counter again, her gaze drifting toward the window.
“What’s the plan today?” she asks.
I take a slow sip of coffee, buying myself a second.
“Deputy’s coming back by the inn,” I say. “Marshal too, if they can get out there early enough.”
She nods. “And the barn.”
“I’ll handle that.”
Her head turns sharply. “We’ll handle it.”
“No.”
The word comes out firmer than I intend, and her expression hardens immediately.
“I’m not sitting out because you think I should.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s what you meant.”
I set the cup down carefully, forcing myself to stay level.
“It means I don’t want you anywhere near another fire until we know exactly what we’re dealing with.”
Her eyes flash. “We already know what we’re dealing with.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Which is exactly why I don’t want you in the middle of it.”
Silence falls between us again, heavier this time. It’s not just tension.
“You don’t get to decide that for me,” she says quietly.
“I know.”
“Then stop acting like you do.”
Every instinct in me has shifted from awareness to protection so fast I haven’t figured out how to separate the two yet.
I drag a hand down my face, exhaling slowly. “I’m not trying to control you.”
“It feels like you are.”
For a second, I don’t have an answer.
The truth sits somewhere in the middle, messy and uncomfortable. I’m not trying to take anything from her. But I am trying to keep her safe in a way that doesn’t leave much room for compromise.
“Then tell me what you need,” I say finally.
Her gaze holds mine, searching.
“Honesty,” she says. “Not decisions made for me.”
I nod once.
“That’s fair.”
