Down the Hidden Path

by Heather Burch

  He bit back a smile. “Yes.” There was a large section where the oak flooring had been removed. All six people on the tour had seen it.

  “That’s where they hid the alcohol,” Gray whispered, as if the G-men were sitting right beside them.

  “Uh-huh.”

  Gray hugged herself. “I love this place.”

  Miah’s gaze narrowed. “No. You don’t.”

  “What?” she squeaked.

  “What you love, Gray, is people. Their history, their stories. You couldn’t care less about this building. It’s the life inside it that you’re interested in.”

  He watched as her head tipped, thoughtfully considering his words. “I’ve never thought about it that way.”

  “That’s probably why you like graveyards. You look around them and you see the lives, not the deaths. You’re an incredible woman, Gray Smith. The world could learn a lot by watching you.”

  She chewed her lip. “Well, I’m glad the world isn’t watching; I’d undoubtedly trip down the stairs and land on my head.”

  He laughed. “Can I talk to you about something else?”

  She took a sip of her drink. “Sure.”

  “Caleb wants me to turn the lodge into a place where soldiers can come for rehabilitation.”

  The gnawing on her bottom lip intensified. “Really?”

  “Said we have everything we need. If it’s helped him, it could help others.”

  She leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. “It’s a great idea.”

  “He also wants to live alone.”

  Gray reached to take Miah’s hand. “How do you feel about that?”

  “Sad.” His head tilted back and forth. “And happy for him. It’s good.” He continued to nod, convincing himself and Gray.

  “It is good.” While they ate, Miah told her the details of Caleb’s accident. Firelight flickered on the table, casting a soft glow onto Gray’s face.

  “That’s why he almost drowned in the pool.” Gray used the end of her fork to toy with her dessert. He knew she was enjoying the food, but she had lost some interest in it when he started talking about Caleb. She was back in work mode now. He’d need to redirect soon.

  Miah nodded. “Guess so. He doesn’t want to even try anymore.”

  “It’s okay, Miah. One day he will. Until then, I think we just have to respect his wishes and not push.”

  But Miah was a soldier. Pushing was what he did best. “Yes ma’am, Dr. Gray.”

  She giggled. “Try this.” She speared a bite of chocolate cake and held it out to him.

  Miah’s lips closed on her fork. “Mmm.”

  Gray pushed her sleeves up a bit farther on her arms. “Is it warm in here? I think it’s warm in here.” It was, and it had nothing to do with the temperature in the restaurant.

  They sat a while longer, looking out over the river and enjoying the comfortable silence between them. This was right, Miah decided as he paid the check and tucked an arm around Gray. This was perfect and something he didn’t want to ever give up. This was . . . this was what soldiers should get to come home to.

  He kept an arm around her as they walked to the truck. The flurries had stopped, but Gray watched the sky as they strolled. “Do you think it looks like we’ll get more snow tonight?”

  “Yes.” Miah didn’t know, but the way her head was tipped back, exposing her throat, made him want to keep her examining the heavens.

  “You do?” Her chin came down to find him staring at her.

  He reached the truck and moved her so that the passenger door was at her back and he was at her front. “I do.” The words rolled off his tongue as if carrying some deep, hidden meaning. He’d considered the merits of marrying Gray. Then, they could raise David together. But if Gray thought that was why he wanted her by his side, she’d never go there. She didn’t want to be anyone’s tagalong. But that’s not why Miah wanted her. He wanted every ounce of Gray in every way. And it had nothing to do with the child they shared. It was her laugh, her frown, her scent. It was the sunshine on her hair and the wind across her flesh. She was daylight and dusk and everything in between. “I love you, Gray.” It came right out of his mouth. He supposed hiding it anymore would be ridiculous. Surely, she already knew.

  Gray sucked a sharp breath. “You . . .”

  His lips found hers. Cold, sweet, tinged with chocolate cake and the kind of desire that can only come from a woman like Gray. He nuzzled against her cheek, the smooth skin at her temple. His hands roamed over her hips, her back. “I love you,” he said again, just in case she’d missed it the first time.

  Gray’s heart nearly erupted from her chest. Her hands found their way beneath his suit coat and bunched into the material of his shirt. She’d wrinkle it for sure, but she didn’t care. This was a fantasy world where she was the princess and Jeremiah was in love with her. She flattened her hands on his chest and pushed him away. When he was at arm’s length, she whispered, “Say it again.”

  The frown from being interrupted disappeared into a warm smile. “I.” And he moved in to find the hollow of her throat. She groaned at the kiss he placed there against her throbbing vessel.

  “Love.” His hands slid down, down, with excruciating slowness, then shot back up like a rocket, clamping over her shoulder blades and pressing her entire body to his. It was a roller coaster she could feel from the inside out.

  “You,” he whispered against her ear, and every ounce of her soul melted into his hands.

  When the silence stretched, he tipped out. “I think this is the part where you say you’ve fallen in love with me, too.” One of his brows peaked, waiting.

  So many emotions assaulted her, she wondered if she’d be able to sort and articulate them. She had to try. She had to make Miah understand. “I haven’t fallen in love with you, Miah.” She started to explain, but was stopped by the sudden fear and tension that entered his gaze. A long breath, ragged and full of hopelessness, drifted from his lips. He looked lost, haunted.

  “Wait. You didn’t let me finish. How could I fall in love with you if I never stopped loving you?”

  His hands became soft on her arms, as if all his strength had gone into staying upright. “Say it again,” he whispered, repeating her words.

  She moved closer. “I.” With her hands roaming over his shoulders, she tipped up to find the hollow of his throat. He growled in response to the kiss she placed there. “Have.” Her fingers traipsed over his chest. “Always.” Eyes opened and fitted tightly to him, she smiled. “Loved you.” For good measure, she mouthed the word “always” again.

  His kiss was fast, hard, and left her body screaming for more. When a harsh wind pressed into them, Miah groped for the truck’s door handle. He quickly deposited her inside then climbed in himself, but rather than put the car into drive and head home, he turned on the engine, cranked the heat, then returned to her mouth. He kissed her until the windows fogged and the truck’s heater became too much.

  Finally, Gray dragged herself from him. “Miah,” she whispered. “We’re making out in a restaurant parking lot like two teenagers.”

  His grin was quick and wickedly sexy. “So?”

  “As much as I’m enjoying this, people are coming out of the restaurant and staring at your truck.”

  He dropped his forehead to hers. “Let them stare.”

  She giggled and went right back to kissing him. She loved him, after all. And this was only the beginning.

  When his cell phone rang, they both jumped.

  Gray straightened her dress and tried to wipe off the lip gloss smeared around the edges of her mouth. Miah held the phone away from his face and mouthed, “It’s David. He’s just checking on us.”

  Aw. She reached for the phone. “Hi, honey. Did you and Stacey get plenty of homework done?” As she spoke, Miah’s hand landed on the bare
flesh of her knee and he squeezed. She kicked and tried to stifle her laugh. She gave him a death look.

  David asked if she was all right.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Miah is being a brat, but I can handle him.”

  At that, he leaned over and sank his head into the hollow of her throat, the heat of his mouth burning her flesh.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow after school, okay?” She tried to squirm away, but a hulking Miah made it difficult. “Good night, David. Sleep tight. Love you big.”

  She gave Miah his phone and settled under his arm. “Thanks for an amazing evening, Miah.”

  He toyed with the edge of her sleeve. “It doesn’t have to end, you know.”

  She looked up at him. “I know.”

  He bent to kiss her temple. “Come back to the lodge with me.”

  She dragged her knuckles down his cheek, knowing exactly what he meant and wanting it more than she wanted her next breath. She’d stayed at the lodge lots of times. It wouldn’t be that strange for David to wake and find her there. But Gray had no poker face, was a terrible liar, and David was way too perceptive for his own good. And staying at the lodge tonight meant an entirely different thing than any time before.

  “You won’t, will you?” He answered to keep her from having to.

  “I don’t want to rush.” It was all so beautiful and perfect right now, couldn’t they just enjoy the status quo for a little longer before they took that next step? Maybe for him, it wasn’t any big deal, but for her it was. Huge. Monumental and it was bound to alter everything.

  He drew a breath that seemed full of both reluctance and resignation. “I promised you we wouldn’t rush. But don’t forget you’ve got a promise to keep to me.”

  Yes, she did, and the very thought sent white-hot lava down into the depths of her being.

  He looked over, examined her face closely. “You do know what I’m talking about?”

  She thought of earlier in the night when he’d said, “I do.” Now, it was her turn. “I do.”

  Miah planted his hand on the seat between them and leaned over to kiss her. She met his lips willingly, touching, tasting, loving the feel of his hot breath and soft mouth. It was the kind of kiss that meant forever and she drank it in, hoping forever was as real as the feel of his lips on hers, as real as the snowflakes dotting the window, and as real as the earth beneath her feet.

  While the flurries continued to fall, Miah and Gray drove back to River Rock. Two people who’d finally learned what it was to not only love their son, but each other.

  The back wall of the hardware store was dedicated to camping and hunting and offered a good supply of fishing gear. Jeremiah was going to spend a small fortune on the top-of-the-line backpack and a goose-down sleeping bag for David. Earl, the store clerk, had pointed out the merits of the lightweight pack. Miah was just choosing a lantern when Earl returned. “You say it’s for a twelve-year-old? He’ll grow right into this one.” Earl patted the backpack as if Miah needed more confirmation about dropping the hundred bucks on it.

  “I think I’ve got everything.” He followed Earl to the front.

  Earl took the purchases and placed them on the counter. “One of my employees, he’s a senior at River Rock High, just bought this sleeping bag. Going to some hunting cabin this weekend.”

  Miah stopped digging in his wallet. “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. Him and his buddy. I overheard them talking. Said they’re getting beer on the way.” Earl shook his head. “Man, I remember what it was like to be eighteen.”

  Miah’s heart was pounding. Surely it wasn’t one of the seniors taking his son. “Just the two of them going? No younger kids?”

  Earl pinched the bridge of his nose. “I think he said some of the basketball team was going, but I’m not sure.”

  Miah’s hands were shaking as the nausea unfurled in his stomach. “What’s the kid’s name? Your employee?”

  “Randall. You know him?”

  He quickly accessed the details he knew from David. “He have a little brother named Trey?”

  Earl shook his head. “No. But his friend does. Markus Billings. The other boy that’s going along.”

  Miah had to close his eyes and count to five before he could say more. There was a white-hot ball of fire in his gut. “I’m pretty sure Randall and Markus are going to Old Man Carver’s hunting cabin. And the basketball boys going with them are from the junior high.”

  Earl’s face paled, the smile disappearing. “What?”

  Someone yelled from the back corner of the store. “Hey, Earl, I’m here.”

  Earl threw an angry look in the direction of the camping gear. “I’m having a talk with that boy now.”

  Miah motioned with his thumb. “That’s Randall?”

  Earl nodded, but when Miah flew away from him, Earl hollered, “Wait.”

  But Miah was a soldier on a mission. His target lay somewhere in the back of the store. He rounded a curve so fast, he nearly took out a display of rope. Sound intensified around him. He heard the squeak of tennis shoes and knew he’d almost reached his target. One more corner and there he was. Tall, skinny, wearing a green shirt with the hardware store’s logo on the breast pocket. Randall. Target acquired. Miah gave half a glance behind the kid who’d been stacking water bottles on a cardboard display. First, the boy turned in greeting, but when he saw the murderous look on Miah’s face, his grin faded quickly.

  Miah’s fingers dug into the material of the kid’s shirt and with one quick shove, the boy was against the wall, feet dangling beneath him. “You were taking alcohol on a camping trip with a bunch of twelve-year-olds?” The words were audible, but only barely, through gritted teeth.

  “What? No. No, I swear.” The kid clamped his hands over Miah’s as if he could pry his way free.

  Earl finally caught up to them. “Are you going to Old Man Carver’s hunting cabin or not?”

  At least Miah had backup. Earl wasn’t calling the cops on him.

  The boy continued to dangle. “Yeah, but we’re not taking—”

  Miah shoved him higher on the wall.

  Earl stepped closer. “I heard you bragging about it, Randall. I think it’s best you come clean; this is a decorated war veteran and I’d guess he knows how to hide a body. His son was one of the boys going.”

  Randall’s eyes had rounded to the point where Miah wondered if they’d pop right out of his skull. The kid shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. The beer was just for me and Markus. We figured no one would be checking up on us, and the kids would all be busy roasting marshmallows and stuff.”

  Judging by the look on Randall’s face, Miah’d made his point. He lowered the kid to the ground. “This is what you’re going to do. You’re going to call and cancel that trip. You’re going to apologize to the parents, and you’re never going to offer to take those kids again, you got it?”

  Randall nodded furiously and started breathing again when Miah released his hold.

  Earl placed a calming hand on Miah’s shoulder. “I’ll see that he makes the calls.”

  Miah nodded. “Appreciate it.”

  Earl guided him back to the front of the store. Earl hadn’t tried to stop him, but he obviously didn’t want the situation to escalate any further. “He’s got a truck to unload and was going to get out of here at six to get ready for the trip. As soon as he’s done with the truck, I’ll have him sit down and call those parents.”

  Miah cast a glance at his watch. It was after four now. David was probably home from school and Gray would be leaving the lodge soon to get ready for their date at the Neon Moon.

  “You want me to refund your money on the camping gear?” Earl started taking things from the bags.

  “Nah. We’ll be going soon enough. Once it warms up a little more. I’ll keep everything.”

  Earl replace
d the lantern in the sack. “Sorry about this.”

  “Not your fault.” But Miah couldn’t help but wonder if this was a harbinger of things to come. He was raising a boy. And boys found trouble. Sometimes, they didn’t even mean to, but trouble abounded in the realms of boyhood. David was a tween-ager. It could only get worse from here.

  Earl pointed down the aisle in Randall’s direction. “He really is a good kid.”

  Miah chuckled. “Good kid, bad idea.”

  The two shook hands and Miah left. Now all he had to do was figure out how to tell David his camping trip was canceled.

  He drove home in silence without even the radio to keep him company. The weather had warmed to a comfortable forty-five degrees, as if the weatherman were taunting him.

  When he pulled into the drive, he spotted Gray, and his stomach did that tightening thing he was becoming more and more used to. She wore jeans, a vintage T-shirt that was too worn to read, and her hair was tucked behind her ears. One hand clamped on the railing at the foot of his porch stairs. She shook the railing back and forth and the motion made her entire body move.

  He stopped the truck and watched while she tested the stability of his railing. When she saw him, her smile was bright, full, and just for him. He’d turned her concentration into a beaming grin, and blast it all if he didn’t want to do that over and over every day of his life. Take all of Gray’s seriousness and turn it upside down. She needed him. As a counterbalance. And he needed her for everything and then some.

  She placed a hand to her forehead when the sun hit her. “This needs to be tightened.”

  His fingers itched to crawl over her skin. Miah moved in closer, snagging her by the waist in one arm. “Is that so?”

  Her full concentration left the banister and landed on him.

  His body hummed like a race car in response. He’d like to follow this train of consciousness for a while, see where it led, but there were other things that took precedence.

  “We need to talk.”

  She blinked. “What’s up?”

  He sat down on the stairs and she followed his lead. “David’s camping trip.”