The day after the market, I found myself restless. My mind kept drifting back to Nolan—his intense gaze, the flicker of gold in his eyes, the quiet way he listened when I spoke. I needed a distraction, so I decided to explore the trails behind my cabin.
The forest was peaceful, the soft crunch of leaves beneath my boots and the occasional chirp of birds the only sounds. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting patterns on the forest floor. I was lost in thought when a voice startled me.
“Didn’t expect to see you out here.”
I turned quickly to find Nolan leaning against a tree, arms crossed, that familiar smirk tugging at his lips.
“Do you always sneak up on people in the woods?” I teased, trying to steady my racing heart.
“Only when they look like they’re lost in their own world,
