He seemed very capable. Powerful. Sexy.
But could she trust him to protect her?
“It did happen.”
He darted a glance across the five feet of space lingering between them. “What?”
“The murder. Two killers are walking free. Trent tried to warn me, but I didn’t realize it.”
“He tried to warn you?”
“Trent knew they were coming. I didn’t realize he was trying to tell me to run until it was too late.” She stared into the distance of the sheet of snow. “I don’t know what he was into, but I hate that he’s dead. I hate that I can’t rest until I know his murderers are put behind bars.”
“Had you noticed any changes in his behavior? Attitude?”
Thinking back, she had noticed a few things. “I didn’t know him that well, but he did seem preoccupied the last month. I heard him once say “Gotta bite the enemy before he bites you”. At the time I didn’t think much of it, but now it seems something was happening to him.”
“Why do you think he betrayed your uncle by handing over information?”
“Greed maybe. Only Trent can answer that question and he’s gone.”
“Congressman Noleen has a head start in the prediction polls.”
“Yes he does. People like him, from young to old, from the rich to the poor. He can relate to farmers and factory workers as easily as he can speak to corporate executives. It helps that he has a handsome face and kind eyes.”
There was a long hesitation and she could see that he debated what he’d say.
“Is he ethical?”
She laughed and gave a small shrug. “We’re talking politicians. I can say with no doubt that he loves America. His intentions are good. We certainly don’t see eye to eye on politics, but he’s a good man, like a father to me…almost.”
“Almost? That’s a heavy word.”
“I believe his politics will always come first.” She found it easy to speak to Cox, and she liked that he genuinely listened.
Her suitcase dropped from her hand and she had to stop for a minute. So much for working out. It hadn’t prepared her for trekking through the snowy woods with a fifty pound suitcase.
She squinted at Cox through her cloud of frozen breath. “I believe it’s very odd that Trent could have betrayed Uncle Brent. If you knew him, you’d probably agree. Out of the entire team, he was by far the most dedicated.” She grabbed the handle to her suitcase and stepped over a broken branch. The toe of her boot hit, causing her to stumble. She thought she was going down, until she felt a strong clutch on her elbow and dragged against a hard chest. He’d caught her from falling. Bringing her chin up, their gazes met and connected. His fingers tightened on her, not hurrying to let her go. Swiping her tongue across her bottom lip, she waited, watching…wondering. His chest lifted and fell. His breathing grew ragged. Would he kiss her?
His eyes filled with conviviality that contradicted the firmness of his jaw. “Don’t look at me like that,” he forced through clenched teeth.
“H-how am I looking at you?” Her heart beat so fast she thought it would pop out of her chest.
He lowered closer, so close that she saw a scar above his brow. “Like you want me to do what I’ve been wanting to do for a few hours now.” His husky voice made her nipples tighten.
“I don’t want you to kiss me.” Her trembling core denied her words.
“Is that what you think I want?” He chuckled. “I meant taking you over my knee and swatting some of that mutiny out of you.”
Her breath came out in a sigh of disbelief. How dare he! She jerked her elbow away, but the tingling in her body and the telltale moisture between her breasts remained. “I dare you.” She lifted her chin, defying him.
“Let’s take a break.” There was a new roughness to his voice.
“We should keep walking. We want to get to the cabin before dark.” She switched the case from her left to her right hand and stepped over the broken branch without stumbling again. Her feet and fingers were cold. Stopping and resting meant the longer it would take to get to the warmth of the cabin. They weren’t far, now.
“If you say so.” In two strides he caught up with her and she felt his gaze on her.
“Do you have something you want to say?” Why did he make her nervous?
“Why were you naked outside of your apartment?”
She wanted to look at him, oh how she wanted to, but she didn’t want him to see how upside down she felt. “I had stepped outside to grab the newspaper and the door closed, and locked, behind me.”
“I believe I was a little grumpy.”
“You think?” She laughed. “But what would I expect from a man-bear?”
“You call me man-bear?”
“On occasion.” She smiled.
“In my defense, I had worked on a tough case, my buddy was shot, and I guess I didn’t leave the job at work.”
“Was he okay?”
“Yeah. He’s okay. But just so you know, obviously you work out. I did notice.” Was he teasing her? Looking for a comeback from her? “You didn’t move because of me, did you?” When she didn’t answer he exhaled loudly. “I would have gotten used to the barking—”
“I just decided I needed friendlier neighbors.” She couldn’t resist the need to glance at him. He was tall, and even at her five-foot seven height, he still towered over her watching her with his perceptive gunmetal green eyes.
He smiled and his eyes appeared effervescent against the backdrop of his olive complexion. His sharp, defined cheeks lowered into a strong jaw that was covered in dark whiskers peppered with silver. She guessed he hadn’t shaven in a few days, or slept, because the dark lines under his eyes had gotten inkier as the day progressed.
Hazel appreciated his nice plump lips, something she’d never been blessed with herself. She bet he could kiss the panties off a woman.
A man like Cox didn’t have any trouble finding a woman—women who could see past the scowl. Her thoughts involuntarily raced back to the night she’d heard, through the walls, him and his date having sex. It hadn’t been that she was listening, but who could have ignored the pounding and the passionate screams? Hazel would die if he knew she’d taken out her dusty toy from a shoebox and used it for an hour, long after his date had gone home.
Hazel had been a bit envious. She could count the number of men she’d been with on one hand, far from being skilled in romance, but disappointedly, not one of them had made her cry out in sheer abandonment. Finding a man who could make her squirm in pleasure had been added to her bucket list, but, so far, luck hadn’t been on her side. Back a few years ago, she’d dated baseball pro, Dirk Cravens, after they’d met at one of her uncle’s galas. That first night, they hadn’t made it farther than her front door before they were going at each other with a need so strong she didn’t care that she’d promised herself to never have sex with a man before she knew his favorite color. Hazel would have believed because Dirk had such a hard hit with his bat, he would have known how to shoot a homerun in bed too. But boy had she been wrong. He’d been like a teenager when the clothes had come off…and she realized how size does matter.
The memory made her giggle.
Thankfully Cox didn’t hear her.
She bet he had the size and the ability…
But she had no interest.
Sure, she noticed how toned he was—and how he moved in a way that warned a woman he had a certain move. He carried a confidence that she found attractive in men. A woman like her needed a man who could stand up to her.
Lowering her gaze, she noticed that he was limping. “Were you hurt in the accident?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“An old injury tends to make itself known in cold weather.”
“Old injury? As a lawman?” She was curious.
“Military. An IED deployed, destroyed our convoy.”
“Was anyone else hurt?”
“Yes.”
She had a feeling
he didn’t want to elaborate but she was nosy. “What happened?”
“Most of the men in my unit were killed.” He kept his stare steady on the scenery ahead.
“I’m sorry. That must have been difficult.” He remained quiet. “You’ve had quite an exemplary career. My uncle must like you.” She couldn’t keep the bitter tone from her voice.
“You’re a paradox, Hazel. One second I think you adore your uncle and then you turn around and make a remark that makes me believe otherwise.”
She debated whether she should continue with this line of discussion but stuck in a snowstorm they had nothing better to do than talk. “I love Uncle Brent.”
“No…really?” he teased.
“Yes, really.”
“How’s the coat?”
“Warm,” she said between clattering of teeth. Her toes were freezing and what she wouldn’t give to be at the cabin in front of the fireplace.
“But you’re still cold.”
She didn’t feel the need to deny the obvious. “My fingers and toes.”
“Hang on.” He stopped, dragged off his gloves and held them out. “Here, take these.”
She stared at the offering. “You don’t have to do that.”
“No, I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” When she didn’t take it from him, he smiled and shook his head. “So you’re going to allow your pride to allow you to freeze?”
She wanted to argue, but the truth was she feared she’d have frost bite. “What will you use?”
“I have pockets.”
Finally, she added the additional layer which made a huge difference…not to mention the material smelled like him. She liked the scent. “Thank you. You wouldn’t happen to have handwarmers and ear warmers in your bag, would you?”
“If I’d known we would be hiking in the mountains in below freezing temps I would have brought my survival kit, but you know, this wasn’t part of the plan.”
“I would imagine you’re always ready for the unexpected.”
He tugged the strap of his backpack further up on his shoulder. She’d guessed a man like Cox could walk for days in the roughest elements, even with a limp. From his whiskered jaw and scowl, it all screamed military. His wide shoulders and rugged tough exterior screamed bad ass. An unforeseen image conjured in her mind, one that left her quivering. The best way to stay warm would be to snuggle. She smiled and turned her head to hide her expression.
“I can take the suitcase, too.”
“I brought it. It’s my responsibility, remember?” She reminded him of his earlier comment.
“I’m sure a man of your uncle’s caliber will have a snowmobile. I would have come back to get your bags.”
“Then why didn’t you leave yours?” She snapped up a brow, enjoying challenging him at every turn.
“I’m not having any trouble carrying mine. And no way would I allow someone to lay their hands on my gun.”
“I guess you would have a gun.”
“Two, actually. One in the holster and the other in my bag.”
“For someone who doesn’t believe I witnessed a murder you certainly have come packing.”
He grinned, showing deep dimples. “Always.”
How did he do that? With one look he turned her insides to jelly. “We’re not too far now. I can smell wood smoke in the air.”
“How far is the closest neighbor?”
“Not close enough to borrow a cup of sugar.”
“Seclusion. That’s good for a politician.”
“Uncle Brent isn’t there much, not these days. With one speaking engagement after another, one gala after another, another bill to examine.”
“Most women who’d witnessed a murder would be frantic. You seem pretty calm.”
“Because I’m not reacting a certain way you think I should be does that mean I’m not telling the truth about what I saw?”
“Wow, do you do this all the time? Assume you know what a person is thinking? I was paying you a compliment if you don’t realize that,” he huffed.
Some emotion threatened to seep through her tough internal walls. “As far as emotion is concerned, would that do me any good out here on a mountain?”
“I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say you don’t get this worked up with people you like.”
She’d just ignore that question. They came to a clearing and she pointed east. “The cabin is that way. I recognize the landmarks.” Relief spread over her. “It’s right over that hill.”
“So we have to climb it to get there?”
“Unless you prefer walking back to the road.”
“I’m good with climbing.” He brushed passed her.
As she suspected, the hill was frozen and as they made the first steps on the incline, their boots crunched and slipped on the snow. She squinted at the pain in her knees when she fell. Cox reached over, grabbed her up by the arm, almost lifting her off the ground with his aid. Once she was settled back on her feet, he continued up the incline. Thankfully, his footprints made it easier for her to climb the slope. She carefully watched her steps and, because she was concentrating so hard on each one, she didn’t realize Cox had stopped until she ran into his back. Rubbing her sore nose, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It gets a little steeper here, so I think it’s best we climb at an angle.”
She didn’t argue, just followed. She’d have to rely on his honed skills to get them to the top. In good weather, the hill would have been a bitch to climb, but in the middle of a snowstorm, it could have been compared to Mount Everest. Thankfully, they’d made it halfway pretty smoothly, and although her lungs ached from breathing in the cold air, she kept her eye on the prize. Before long she’d been in the warmth of her uncle’s cabin and this would all be in the past.
Her gaze came up on Cox’s firm bottom. She started to turn away, but realized he had no clue where her eyes had focused. She could stare all she liked, even admire his tight butt. Although she didn’t care much for him, she certainly could appreciate the package. And wow, the package was amazing and making the climb on the hill a little more bearable.
She noticed that he was favoring one leg. “Your leg is bothering you.”
“It’s fine,” he grumbled.
“Now who’s being prideful?” she teased.
She expected a growl in response, but instead he gave her a smile, a nice smile bracketed by deep dimples that made him appear younger, almost boyish. “You should do that more often. Smile.”
“And have people believe that I’m a good guy? Nah.”
“Don’t worry, that’s a far stretch.” She let him take the lead again. Then finally, they reached the top of the hill and she swore she heard angels sing. “Flat land. Halleluiah.” Her breathing was heavy, her shoulders ached, and her feet were numb.
The next part of their walk was in silence, she guessed each were excited that soon they would be out of the cold. Shivering, tired, and moving slower, she couldn’t describe the feeling of finally seeing the cabin when it came into view.
“So this is it?” he said.
“This is it.” A fence of hedges lined the driveway and a white picket fence surrounded the cabin. Unlatching the gate, she held it open for him.
“No security?”
“Nope.”
They continued up the snow-covered walkway until they reached the steps that led to the front porch. The row of inviting white rockers that usually lined the porch were put away for the winter. The welcome sign that hung on the door had fallen and she re-fixed it on the hanger. She patted her pocket, feeling a sense of foreboding. “Oh no!” She gave a quick check of all her pockets. “Oh no. No.”
“What is it?”
“The key. I can’t find it”
“Did you check all your pockets?”
“Yes, every single one.” She visually retraced the steps they took from the gate, her heart pounding and her stomach twisting. “It must have dropped from my pocket at some poin
t.”
He swiped a hand down his jaw and looked up and down the porch. “It’s getting colder out and it’ll only get worse as the sun starts to go down more. You stay here. I’ll find a way in.”
What choice did she have? She couldn’t take another minute of the cold. Her patience had long thinned.
Chapter 10
Without breaking anything, Cox had made it inside the cabin and unlocked the door for Hazel. Her nose was red and her bottom lip quivered. She hurried inside, toed off her boots and raced for the thermostat on the wall, switching it up higher.
“I’ll start a fire.” Happy that the basket next to the fireplace contained split wood, he stacked the pieces in the hearth and used a lighter to start the blaze. The warmth seeped into his skin and he hadn’t been this grateful for heat in a long time.
Hazel settled next to him on the thick rug, holding her hands in front of the fire. “I don’t think I could have walked another ten feet.”
“Let me take a look at your hands and feet for frostbite.”
The hesitation showed in her frown. “I’m okay. I’m just cold but I’ll warm up here in front of the fire.”
“That’s what we want, but if you have frostbite, we’ll want to warm you up slowly.”
Nodding her consent, she leaned her back against the couch and stretched her tired legs out. Her eyes held curiosity mixed with uncertainty. He realized he’d have to be gentle with her, build her trust. “I’ll have to remove your socks.” With her nod of consent, he removed the fuzzy pink socks and laid them to the side. Her toenails were painted purple and her skin was red and cold to the touch, but he didn’t see any sign of serious cold injury. “I think we made it here in the nick of time. Looks like you just missed having frostbite and maybe just have a case of frostnip. But we should still warm you up slow. Climb up on the couch.”
He could see the slight slump in her shoulders and guessed the walk had tired her out, resolving any need to argue. He helped her stand and she spread out on the couch. Cox grabbed the throw from the back of the chair and laid it over her, realizing her gaze hadn’t left him since she laid down.
“This isn’t part of the job,” she said in a soft, penetrating voice.
Tormented by the Lawman (Mountain Force Book 3) Page 9