by Terri Reed
“So are you going to tell me now?” Tessa asked, her voice quiet yet intense.
He knew instantly what she referred to. The kiss. The memory never lingered far from his thoughts.
He studied her face in the soft light streaming into the trailer. She’d tried taming her hair by running her fingers through the curls and tucking them behind her ears. Her high cheekbones created shadows on the landscape of her pretty face.
Raw protectiveness surged through him. If something happened to Tessa, he didn’t know if he’d be able to take it. Somehow, in such a short time, he’d come to care about her in a way he hadn’t experienced before. She’d squirmed beneath the barricades of his heart, teasing affection and caring into blooming like the winter camellias that would soon be flowering in his mother’s garden. How had he let that happen?
No way could he admit to his feelings. He was struggling to come to terms with it all, and revealing his heart wouldn’t be a smart move, not when their lives depended on clear thinking. He could pretend not to understand, but she’d see through that ploy. Minimize. That was the way he could deal with her question and the truth of his answer. “What can I say? I was happy to see you. You could have left me there.”
“And that’s all?”
The question hung in the air. She wanted to know if his feelings for her ran deeper than happiness at being rescued. Whether they did or not didn’t matter. Couldn’t matter. They were still in danger and on the run for their lives. Confusing the situation with an attraction or infatuation would only complicate everything. Because when they left these woods, they would go their separate ways. That was how it had to be, how he wanted it to be.
“That’s it.” He could feel her gaze on his back like laser points. Her hurt was a palpable entity that pulsed through the small trailer, making him suddenly claustrophobic. “Let me know when you’ve warmed up enough to keep moving.”
EIGHT
Tessa burrowed deeper into the blanket covering her. Everything hurt, from her toes to her scalp to her heart.
The faint glow of the moonlight from outside did little to dispel the shadows inside the travel trailer. Jeff had hunkered down by the door, keeping watch. She could hear the sound of his breathing. The rhythmic noise was both reassuring and disconcerting.
The icy night air seeped in through the broken window, chilling her bones despite the dry, oversize sweats and blanket. Drawing her knees to her chest, she berated herself for being upset and disappointed.
Okay, she had reason to be upset. Ranger Randy had been shot, possibly killed, trying to help them escape. The memory of witnessing him tumble into the stream played through her mind. She and Jeff were hiding out in an abandoned travel trailer in the middle of the woods, hoping to evade a madman and his goons. Sherman and his illegal drug-making operation threatened the health of the forest as well as their lives.
Anyone in their right mind would be upset, freaked out and on the edge of panic.
But the disappointment biting at her came from the knowledge Jeff had only kissed her on impulse. He’d said he’d been happy she hadn’t escaped without him.
A simple thank-you would have sufficed.
Why had he gone and complicate things with a kiss?
Why was she getting all twisted up inside over a kiss?
It was just a kiss.
Not a promise, not a declaration, not even an “I like you and want to see where this will go” statement.
The kiss didn’t mean anything.
It wasn’t as if she’d never been kissed before. But somehow this kiss impacted her deeply and stirred in her a yearning for connection in a way she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.
But she knew with painful familiarity that opening herself up to connecting with Jeff would only end in heartbreak. Once they escaped these woods—she sent up a quick prayer that they would leave the forest alive—their lives would go separate ways.
And even if there wasn’t the matter of distance between them, risking her heart again wasn’t something she planned to do, especially with a man who claimed to not believe in love and who wouldn’t commit himself to a relationship.
She squeezed her eyes closed with a prayer for safety and for Ranger Randy on her lips. But mostly she prayed for strength. Strength to not only stay alive, but also to keep her heart safe from Jeff.
When she opened her eyes, he looked toward her as if he heard her thoughts. His shadowed gaze made her feel exposed. A blush crept up her neck. She was glad for the inner fire heating her skin but more for the fact he couldn’t see the color rising in her face.
“Are you warm?” His gruff voice, his impassive face, gave nothing away.
She swallowed past the dread and resignation clogging her throat. She’d never take a heater for granted again. “As much as I can be.”
“We should head out,” Jeff said. “That town the younger ranger talked about can’t be far.”
Sadness enveloped her. “Do you think he’s dead?”
Reaching out a hand to help her off the bench, Jeff said, “I don’t know. I pray not.”
“Me, too.”
He held out her shoes. “They’re still damp, but they’ll have to do.”
At least the socks he’d found in the drawer were warm and dry. Forcing her feet into her cold, wet boots worked another chill over her body. She zipped the sweat jacket all the way up, put the hood over her head and tied the string under her chin. Then she wrapped the blanket around herself like a cape.
Jeff found a plastic garbage bag beneath the sink and stuffed their wet clothes inside. “Ready?”
“Yes. Let’s get out of here.”
“What about the animals?”
“I’d rather take my chances with the four-legged kind than the two-legged ones with guns.”
She prayed they didn’t encounter either one.
“Wait.” He rummaged through the bag of clothes until he found the small set of shears she’d lifted from the warehouse. “Put these in your pocket. They aren’t much but that’s all we have.”
“You should keep them,” she insisted.
He shook his head. “If we’re caught they’ll search me. But they might not search you.”
Her hand closed over the scissors with dread. If they were caught. She sent up a plea of protection.
She slipped the shears into the inside pocket of the sweats. The space was meant for a key, not scissors. She pulled the jacket hem down to cover the waistband of the sweats.
Cautiously, Jeff opened the trailer door and poked his head out. “All clear.”
Grabbing her hand, he tugged her outside into the moonlight. Here the canopy of trees wasn’t nearly as thick, allowing the moon’s glow in the cloud-filled sky to illuminate the ground, revealing an overgrown path where a car had once tread, leading away from the trailer. “Let’s pray this takes us to safety.”
“Amen to that.”
He tucked stray curls into the edge of the hood. “Have I told you how impressed I am with you?”
Surprised pleasure curled her cold toes. “No. Are you?”
“Yes.” His fingers lingered, lightly tracing her jawline. “When we first met, I pegged you as a pampered, high-maintenance type of female.”
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Oh? What makes you think I’m not?”
“Not many women would hold up so well under the circumstances we’ve found ourselves in. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you.” She inclined her head in acknowledgment, hoping the effect his words had on her didn’t show in the shadowed light. She couldn’t remember anyone ever saying they were proud of her. Not her parents, not Michael, not her coworkers or boss. Touched to her core, she turned her head to nuzzle his hand. “I wouldn’t be doing so well if you weren’t here.”
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He cupped her cheek. “I’m glad I am,” he murmured.
“Me, too.” Moonlight fell across his well-formed mouth. Longing for him to kiss her again roared through her veins, chasing away the chill that had gripped her moments before. She licked her lips.
On a groan, he captured her mouth with his in exquisite tenderness. She clutched at his shoulders, drawing him closer as yearning and need rose within her, making her forget where they were, making her forget there was no room for romance between them.
She poured all the fear-laden angst and joy-filled hope she could into deepening the kiss. His strong, muscled arms slid around her, crushing her to his solid chest.
There was nowhere she wanted to be more than within his embrace. She melded to him, willingly absorbed by his overwhelming presence.
The kiss ended far too soon but gave her enough oomph to start down the path tucked beneath the comforting weight of Jeff’s arm.
They followed the worn tracks deep into the inky woods with no road in sight. Frustration beat a steady tempo in her head.
Jeff halted abruptly, his body instantly tense.
“What?” she whispered.
“Shh.” He hustled her to a thick bramble, shoving her behind him in a protective gesture that endeared him to her in a way no flowers or box of chocolate could ever do.
The thorny branches plucked at the blanket and poked through the material covering her limbs. She clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from making any noise as the sound of men’s voices growing louder raised goose pimples on her flesh and sent a wave of fear crashing over her until she thought she’d drown.
“We know you’re in there, Agent Steele, Dr. Cleary.” Aaron’s deep voice assaulted them. “Don’t make me destroy the shrubbery. We’re taking you back to the compound. Up to you if it’s dead or alive.”
She dropped her head to Jeff’s back. Not again. They were so close to freedom. Tears of anger and despair pricked her eyes.
He turned to grip her by the arms. “We’re sitting ducks in here. We have to give ourselves up.”
The moon’s glow washed over Jeff’s handsome and anxious face. He needed her to be strong. She wanted to be strong, wanted to be the woman he admired. But her legs felt wobbly and her lip quivered. “I know.”
“I promise you, I will get you out of this.”
She wished she could take comfort in his words, but was too afraid they were doomed and there was nothing either of them could do. “Why has God turned His back on us?”
Jeff shook his head. “God would never abandon us. He’ll see us through this.”
That was the second time he’d made that claim. She really wanted to believe him.
Anguish threatened to crush her, but she raised her chin, calling on every last ounce of strength she possessed.
“We’re coming out,” Jeff shouted. “Don’t shoot.”
Pulling her close, he gave her a quick and purposeful kiss. “Be strong.”
She hoped to give him a reassuring smile, but her lips trembled, spoiling the effect. With a nod, he walked out from behind the bushes. Half expecting to be riddled with bullets, Tessa followed. The night suddenly lit up with high-powered flashlights, revealing they were surrounded by a horde of men each with a pair of night-vision goggles hanging around their necks and weapons in their hands. Her mouth went dry.
“Where are your dogs?” Jeff asked, glancing around as if he expected the beasts to charge out of the forest at them.
“Those stupid animals wouldn’t cross the stream.” Aaron’s leering gaze slid over her, leaving a bitter trail of distaste in its wake. “Besides, it was more fun watching you two.”
Meaning he and his cohorts had watched them kiss. She fought the urge to gag. Aaron was beyond creepy. Beside her, Jeff’s fingers curled into fists. There was no mistaking the anger emanating off him in palpable waves. She feared Jeff would do something to cause Aaron to shoot him on the spot.
She tensed as Aaron stepped up to Jeff and slugged him in the stomach. Jeff doubled over with a grunt of pain. She marveled at Jeff’s restraint when he could easily have taken Aaron down, but she knew Jeff well enough now to know with so many guns pointed at them, he wouldn’t risk her safety.
She appreciated that even as a scream of rage tore from her. “Leave him alone!”
“That’s for making my father doubt me.” Aaron’s cruel sneer made her stomach curdle. “Bring them.”
Two men grabbed Jeff by the arms. A tall, burly man clapped a hand around Tessa’s biceps, ripped the blanket from around her and tossed it away before dragging her forward into the trees.
When they reached the edge of the stream, she was hauled through its churning flow. The fast-moving water from the falls plucked at the oversize sweats, threatening to drag her into the current. Only the tight grip of the unshaved man who held on to her kept her from slipping.
On the other side of the stream bank, she noticed drag marks on the ground along with a crimson trail. She bit her lip to keep from tearing up. They’d fished Randy out of the water and thankfully hadn’t left him for the coyotes or the grizzly bear to feast on.
The trek back to the compound was longer and more grueling as each step brought them closer to a destiny that made her mind want to shut down. But she couldn’t. She would be strong for Jeff. For herself.
Over the noise of the compound’s generator, the whump-whump of a helicopter filled the woods and sent hope jolting through her. Tilting her neck back, she searched the sky.
If she could see the aircraft, then whoever was inside could see her. The helicopter’s shadow passed over them. For the first time she realized there was some sort of material across the compound and attached to the trees like a supersize awning, providing concealment for those on the ground. Her hopes of being spotted sank.
“That’s a search party looking for us,” Jeff said. “These woods are going to be crawling with agents soon.”
Aaron laughed. “Sorry to disappoint you, Agent Steele, but no one will be looking here for you.” He pointed to the sky. “From up there, all they see is dense forest. They’ll move on. They always do.”
Jeff looked up. His jaw tightened. “The camouflage netting won’t fool the authorities for long. They’ll be back with infrared imaging, and when they do, you’re going down.”
Aaron’s lip curled. “In your dreams. Don’t you think we have all contingencies covered?” He tipped his chin to the men on either side of Jeff. “Put him back where he belongs.”
“I’m not leaving Tessa,” Jeff yelled and struggled against the men trying to lead him away. One of the men struck him on the back of the head with the butt of his weapon. Jeff crumpled into a heap on the hard ground.
“No!” Tessa lurched toward him. The man holding on to her wouldn’t let her move. “Please,” Tessa pleaded with Aaron. “Don’t hurt him.”
The malicious glee dancing in Aaron’s eyes said there would be no mercy from him.
Helpless to do anything for Jeff, she watched as the men dragged him to the small wooden shed in which they’d first been held captive. They threw him inside and locked the door.
“Take her to my cabin,” Aaron told the man holding her.
Horror flooded her. She didn’t want to be alone with this fiend. She had no doubt he planned to abuse her before killing her. She dug in her heels and clawed at the hand cinched around her arm. “No! I want to see Sherman.”
“That old man won’t help you,” Aaron said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Another man grabbed her other arm.
“Sherman!” Tessa screamed. All around them, men came out of the buildings. Aaron glowered at them, and they slunk back inside.
“Help me! Someone help me!” She continued to kick and scream as the two men dragged her to the first cabin, threw
her inside and slammed the door shut.
The square, fixed window in the side of the cabin was the sole source of light in the stark one-room dwelling. A bed, a sink and dresser were the only furniture. She ran to the door and yanked it open. A guard stood there with a rifle, barring her way. There was no compassion, no sympathy for her plight in his flinty eyes. She slammed the door shut.
She had to escape. She looked out the window. Sherman had come out of the house. He and Aaron were arguing. She pounded on the windowpane and screamed for help. If either man heard her cries, they didn’t show it.
Pitiful that she’d be turning to the head bad-guy honcho of this illegal operation for help.
Aaron suddenly walked away and stalked toward the cabin. Sherman whirled his wheelchair in the opposite direction and rolled quickly back to his house.
Panic seized her lungs. Her frantic gaze searched for a weapon, something to defend herself with. There was no lamp. She searched the dresser. Nothing but clothes.
She examined the steel-framed bed. Even if she had a screwdriver to work the nuts and bolts keeping the bed together and could use a piece of the frame to defend herself, there was no time. Aaron would be coming through the door any second.
As she straightened, something hard poked her stomach. The scissors. With a trembling hand, she pulled the small tool used to clip the buds from the marijuana stalks from the pocket of her sweatpants. She stared at the instrument in her hands, amazed she hadn’t lost them in the forceful current of the stream. Could she use them to protect herself?
Men’s voices outside the door jolted her heart into a rapid tempo. Palming the shears so that the sharp, metal tip stuck out between her middle and ring fingers on her dominant hand, she tested the weapon by making a sweeping arc in the air. As weapons went, it wasn’t much, but hopefully would work to defend herself with. She prayed it wouldn’t come to that.
* * *
Jeff came to with a mouth full of blood and dirt.
“About time,” a weak male voice spoke from somewhere to his right.
Squinting against the throbbing in his head, he turned to see Ranger Randy sitting propped up against the shed wall. Blood seeped through a bandage covering his thigh. Relief rushed in. “You’re alive.”