“How is there still snow on the ground?” Emmie asked, panting. “It’s already March. It’s seventy degrees at home.”

Ox looked up. “But it’s not seventy in the mountains, and aren’t you glad you get to see the trees with snow on them?”

“I’m a little afraid of that snow falling on us. One branch lets go and we’re avalanche victims.”

Ox stepped behind her and put his arms over her head. “I’ll protect you.”

“Whoo!” Jeremy ran up the trail ahead of them, nearly skipping. “Smell those trees!”

Emmie knew he was a climber, but she’d had no idea he was that fast. She turned to see Ethan and Tayla trudging behind them.

“You’re doing great,” Ethan said. “You’ve got this.”

Tayla glared at them. “I blame you for this, nature boy.”

Ox said, “It’s okay, Tayla. I know you have to hide your love for me with aggression.”

“Get bent!”

“Stop,” Emmie said. “As soon as I told you it was an excuse to buy new shoes, you were in. Also, you look fabulous.”

“Bet your butt I do.” Tayla wasn’t breathing all that heavily. She was way more proficient in yoga than Emmie was and had great breath control. She just liked to complain, and she was still a little freaked out by the vastness of the Sierras. Her best friend was a city girl even if she had decided to give Metlin a chance.

Ox put his arms over Emmie’s shoulders and hugged her close as Ethan and Tayla walked past. “Was this a horrible mistake?”

He was still working his way back into Tayla’s good graces. Spending more time at their apartment and installing shelves in Tayla’s room had helped, but the newly dyed brunette still took more than the occasional jab.

“She’ll be fine,” Emmie said. “She’ll do a photo shoot at the top of the hill with two handsome men wearing flannel and sporting facial hair. The likes and comments will assuage her.”

“I’ll have to trust you on that one.”

Ox had social media accounts, but he didn’t run any of them; Emmie did. INK: Books had social media streams and INK: Tattoo had separate ones. Ox already had a great following and was starting to sell some of his original sketches online through the website. Every little bit brought in a little bit more. The Main Street store. The online store. Books. Tattoos. T-shirts. Art.

They were making it. Personally and professionally.

“Hey, check this out.” Ox grabbed her hand and dragged her off the trail, through the deeper snow that still blanketed the brush. “I want to show you something cool.” She followed and watched as he seemed to disappear into the trunk of a fire-scarred sequoia.

“Ox?”

He peeked his head out and grinned. “It’s hollow.”

“Cool!” She ducked under the low entrance and inside the tree. The base had been burned out but the tree had grown past it, forming a large hollow that was still blanketed by damp pine needles.

“Come here.” Ox pulled her into his arms and lifted her up for a kiss. Emmie wrapped her legs around his waist and held on while he kissed her silly.

Ox did a lot of things to make her silly. He coupled quiet, sardonic humor with teasing touches and an uncanny ability to read her moods. He’d taken to picking out books for her and hiding them around the house. An erotic romance hidden under her pillow. A Miss Marple mystery hidden in her underwear drawer after he’d teased her about her “granny panties.” A book about stress and meditation techniques sticking out of his drawer in her bedroom, which was constantly overflowing and driving her crazy.

And what did she do for Ox? Sometimes Emmie wondered. She brought him a cup of coffee in the morning, and he smiled at her like she was the sun. She wasn’t a natural with romantic gestures, but she was slowly figuring out that he loved it when she massaged his head at night, and giving him extra pillows would usually sooth any grumbling. If he was in a bad mood at work, she’d get him tacos, and he looked at her like she was a goddess.

Plus she made out with him in the forest.

Ox lingered at her mouth, tasting and teasing her lips with his own.

“You know,” she said. “The first time I remember seeing you, you were standing on Main Street, kissing Ginger.”

He hid his face in her shoulder. “Don’t remind me.”

“And I remember thinking: that man knows how to kiss a woman.”

“Mmmm.” He took her lips again, drawing out the kiss until Emmie’s head was spinning. “I kiss you the best.”

Emmie smiled. “I know.”

“I everything you the best.”

“Everything?”

“Of course. I’m the best me when I’m with you.” He put her down and led her out of the hollow tree before he turned, letting Emmie climb on his back. “So everything is the best.”

She hugged her arms around his shoulders as he hiked back through the snowy forest. “And I’m my best and happiest me when I’m with you.”

“Yeah?” He looked over his shoulder and she kissed his cheek.

“Yeah.”

“I guess you better keep me then. We should amend the employee manual.”

“What should this rule be called?” Emmie asked. “The no-escape clause?”

“I’m in if you are, Buttons.”

Emmie hugged his shoulders and smiled against Ox’s shoulder. “I’m in.”

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