TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

donned their packs and started out. “We can hike to the trailhead from here; it starts at the end of Ute Street.”

She realized that wouldn’t mean anything to him if he hadn’t spent a lot of time in Aspen, so she led the way. On Main Street, they walked side by side while he told her how his most recent shift had gone. From the sounds of it, it was pretty quiet. Good!

Again, her thoughts went to what they might do after the hike, and again she reined them in.

“Thanks for suggesting this, Tony. With your training, I didn’t have to worry about the level of difficulty of the trails you’d be capable of hiking.”

“I’m supposed to get in more exercise, so whatever you came up with will be great.”

“Supposed to?”

He was silent a moment, then said, “I’m going to someone who’s helping me learn to cope better with…things.”

She stopped and turned to him. “Tony, I’m so glad to hear that! I’d wondered how you’d been dealing with it all.”

He glanced away and rather than make him uncomfortable, she fell into step again.

“It’ll be a process, but she’s providing me with ways to regain control of my nights especially. Those are the worst.”

Here all she’d been thinking about was sex later on, but Tony had been dealing with demons during his nights. She decided not to push him on the idea of staying over unless he brought it up. They ought to take things a little slower anyway.

For the most part, they hiked the first part of the trail in silence, focusing on their breathing and putting one foot in front of the other as they climbed the switchbacks. Other than pointing out who lived in the various mansions they passed, she didn’t say much until they came to her favorite vista overlooking Aspen at Ute Rock.

She pointed toward the rocks. “This is a great place for the snacks I’ve packed.”

“Sounds great. I’m starving.”

“I should have offered you something back at the condo.”

“No, this is perfect timing. I grabbed a sausage biscuit on my way here, but it’s worn off.”

Carm removed a checkered square tablecloth and spread it on a rock. She realized it was silly but had wanted this meal to be as special as their dinner ten days ago. She laid out plates and utensils and pulled out bread, cheese, cold cuts, and grapes to place between them.

“This is quite a spread. You went to a lot of trouble.”

She shrugged off his praise. “Just a light lunch to give us energy to finish the climb.”

“I appreciate it.” Tony filled his plate with some of everything, and they began eating in silence while looking out over the valley. After a few initial bites, he said, “Gorgeous view.”

“One of the best of Aspen around here. And you can’t see our resort, so I don’t have to wonder if everything’s going well down there.”

“I’m sure it runs like a well-oiled machine with you and Sandro at the wheel.”

She laughed. “Oh, we have our moments of total chaos, but this is a quiet time of year compared to winter.”

“I’ll bet.”

After he’d finished eating, he continued to stare down at the view. She hoped this provided him with the same sense of peace that it did her. She didn’t want to break the silence with idle chitchat, so she just let the wind brush across their faces and the sounds of the birds fill their ears.

“Marc and Angelina’s new place is peaceful like this too,” Tony began, “but no views of the city. Their place is pretty remote.”

Carm nodded. She’d been invited to a girls’ night at Angelina’s, just before the surprise birthday party, and had accepted so as not to tip Angelina off that something else was in the works a few days later.

“I’m so happy for them,” Carm said. “They seem to have it all worked out now.”

He chuffed. “Despite their rocky start, I think you’re right.”

Carm didn’t want to revisit the early animosity that had existed between her and Tony, mostly because they’d been worried about their siblings. She’d let go of that this summer, probably at Capitol Lake. Everything was good now—both between their now-married siblings and themselves.

Carm glanced over at Tony who sat with his eyes closed as if communing with nature. The strain she’d seen on his forehead and around his eyes the night they’d had dinner had disappeared. Was he coming to peace with what had happened in June? She knew from her family’s experience dealing with Marc’s past trauma that it could be a long process, but she hoped Tony would find peace eventually.

Laughter from approaching hikers made him blink his eyes open, and he turned to her and smiled. “Thanks for bringing me up here, Carm.”

Her heart warmed in the glow of his smile.

“Thanks for being up to the challenge. Not many of my friends are.”

“I’m your man, any time you want.”

The urge to kiss him again was strong, but all too soon the other hikers broke into their private moment, and they decided it was time to vacate the spot.

“The hike to the double diamond ski trail is steep,” Carm cautioned. “Are you up for it?”

“I am if you are,” he replied before taking a long draw from his water bottle.

They packed up their trash and belongings, donned their backpacks, and set out. This part of the trail was hot, dusty, and straight. Carm preceded him in the narrow spots, but more often now they could walk side by side.

Due to the strenuous hike, they didn’t say much, but the silence was comfortable. She enjoyed being with Tony, which surprised her given her first impressions of him. No telling if anything might come of the relationship—whether they’d ever become lovers or grow as friends—but for now she’d simply enjoy his company.

So far, the day had gone perfectly, but she was going to hate for their hike to come to an end. Of course, after the passion had flared the other night, maybe the