I wanted to believe him. “How?”
“Signal dampeners,” he said immediately. “I already have this place nearly off the grid, but…” He held out his hand. “Give me your phone just in case. I can sweep it for trackers and get your location locked down.”
“Give you my phone?”
“Do you trust me?” He grinned that grin again. There was something different about him today. He looked…he looked like he gave a shit again.
And the result was... devastating.
He’d shaved off some of the scruff that clouded his features. His jawline now appeared burnished in gold. Instead of lowering his eyes every time I spoke to him, he kept them level with mine, sometimes letting them fall to my lips.
“Maybe?” But I handed over my phone anyway.
“Give me a few hours to double check everything,” he said as he slipped it into his pocket. “And then I’ll come back to get you.”
“Get me for… what?”
That grin again. “A sunset hike?”
I pressed my hand to my chest. “Today?” I squeaked.
His grin slid from his face. “Aria, if you’re not ready, I’m not going to push you. But I want… I want to show you I can keep you safe… keep my promise. Staying here is all well and good, but can you really do that for the rest of your life?”
“I kind of planned on it?”
“Can’t argue with that,” he sighed.
And… to my surprise…
He didn’t.