Awakening Book One of the Trust Series - By J. E. Swift Page 0,63
the fruit from her, taking a large bite before she had a chance to protest.
She gave him a look as he sheepishly smiled, and grabbed his granola bar in retaliation. “Relaxed. You have not been on the phone once today. It’s nice. You have been so stressed.”
Declan’s forehead puckered as he absorbed her words. “I’ve seemed stressed to you?”
Caitlyn unwrapped the sandwich, taking a large bite before responding. “Yes. Very. When you are not training with me you are distracted.”
He finished the pilfered apple. “And here I was thinking I was hiding it well.”
She put her hand on his arm. “I’m just concerned is all. You are kind of like a pressure cooker ready to blow. So what’s up? Is this related to when I saw you and Caleb meeting a couple of weeks back?”
Caitlyn could practically see him trying to figure out in his head exactly how much he could disclose to her without getting in trouble. “Sort of. Things have been very taxing as of late. Not only has the Cine Tofa been encroaching on some of the Trusts territory for Potentials, but there are several members of the Trust that are missing.”
“Oh my God.”
“My father has asked me to aid in recovering the Trust members.”
The blonde wondered when he found time to take care of all his responsibilities. Did he ever sleep? “And how is that going?”
“Not well. The Cine Tofa has been denying all our requests for renegotiation or arbitration in order to free them.”
She sat quietly processing what he just told her. “And here I am making you go on a hike with me. Do you want to go back? We can, and I would completely understand. In fact, I can help you if you need it.”
“Thank you for the offer, but no. Besides, you are helping me. I needed a break, even if it’s just for a day. My father assured me that he has our legal department working on this as we speak, so nothing is on hold.”
“Good.” She did not want to have him linger on his unfinished work. “The next mile is supposedly really challenging.”
She stood up and winced, her right foot felt as if a blister were rubbing right against her boot. Declan reached out to steady her. “You okay?”
“Damn new hiking boots. I should have known better. I think I have a blister.”
“Let me look.”
“No, I’ll be okay.”
He looked at her pointedly. “Caitlyn, I can help. Just let me take a look.”
She plopped down on the ground, defeated by her own stupidity. Declan untied the boot, removing it gently. He rolled up the leg of her jeans before stripping her wool sock. Together they examined the angry red welt that was now forming on her heel. “Damn.”
“It’s a blister alright.” He grabbed her ankle.
“What are you doing?” Declan's large hands began to massage her foot, a pleasing tingling sensation replacing the pain. Her heart began to race just a little quicker as she watched him.
“Healing the blister.” She focused on the way that his hands made several passes gliding partly up her calf muscle before trailing its way back down to the arch of her sole. Finally, his fingers rested on her heel for several minutes, and she didn’t speak, not wanting to break his concentration. “There. Done.”
She lifted her foot, twisting the ankle at various angles, inspecting it. The heel was still red, but the welt was not raised anymore and the pain was virtually gone. It was much better than anything she could have done. “Amazing.”
He reached into his backpack, handing her a small package. “Here is some moleskin. It should help prevent the blister from coming back. Let me know if you start getting a blister on the other foot.”
“Thank you.” She wanted desperately to ask if she did get another blister if he could teach her how to heal it herself, but she wouldn’t. Declan definitely needed a day off and truth was, she probably did too. So she bit her tongue, applying the moleskin. “You ready to keep going?”
“Only if you are.”
The trail quickly turned to rock ledge, and Caitlyn found herself scrambling almost vertically up the granite, silently thanking Declan for healing her foot. Her calves were burning and it was with great relief when they finally reached the summit an hour later. She plopped down, taking a large swig of her water. Declan joined her thirty seconds later.
From where she sat, she could see the sleepy town below, the outlines of the