East of Redemption (Love on the Edge #2)

by Molly E. Lee

  “I wouldn’t have called you here if I wasn’t.” I kept my voice lowered as we spoke huddled away from the rest of my team who were, thankfully, too busy doing their individual tasks to listen to us.

  Tal fingered his bushy beard, his eyes lighting up with wonder and a hint of fear. “Is it in a condition to be moved?”

  I shook my head. “It’d take several men to move it to a location safe enough to hook it up to a machine strong enough to lift it.”

  He sighed, adopting a small pace in front of me. After several moments he glanced at the cave’s entrance and then back to me. “You have full control of these men, yes? And this site?”

  I glanced at the work stations in front of the cave. “No one can make a move without my say-so.”

  “Good. That is good.” He stood still, his eyes boring into mine. “And you have no need to return to those depths again, yes?”

  “No. I got what I went in there for.”

  “Then I trust you will report the lack of discovery to your team.”

  I tilted my head. “Is that what you wish? You aren’t the least bit curious?”

  “What man of faith wouldn’t be, Mr. Wells? That is not the point. The greater good of my people, and protecting those of our faith, has been the sole purpose of the Safeguards for centuries.”

  I sucked in a deep breath, burying my own curiosities deep down where I’d never find them again. I held out my hand, and he took it. “I’m sorry I didn’t find anything, Tal. Maybe on the next one?”

  Tal’s ultra-white teeth stood out against his dark caramel skin. “Yes. Until the next one, Mr. Wells.”

  “She’ll never agree to it.” I sat in my hotel room with the Skype box open on my laptop, my producer Robert’s face filling the screen.

  “You had better hope she agrees, Easton. It’s what the people want.”

  “Another focus group? Seriously?”

  “I had to. It was the only way to get the rest of the producers to draft another contract.”

  I flung my hands in the air. “Finding King fucking Solomon’s treasure wasn’t epic enough for you?”

  “We want the whole package. And each member of the focus group commented on how much they loved her. They want more of her, and the two of you together.”

  “I won’t ask her to do that. She has her own life. Her own career.”

  “Her ambitions aren’t far from your own. She’ll still be documenting and preserving.”

  I raked my fingers through my hair.

  “This is a deal breaker, Easton. If she doesn’t sign off, we don’t. It’s business, kid.”

  I thought I’d be more upset over his ultimatum, but where I’d expected rage over the thought of losing my show, I found nothing but . . . indifference.

  Huh. I didn’t need it anymore. I didn’t know if I owed that to the time I’d had with Rain, or the fact that I’d brought Harrison to the surface today, or a combination of both, but the desperate need for the show to sustain my lifestyle had waned. Of course I loved what I did and would keep doing it if I could, but it wasn’t worth the stipulations the producers placed on it.

  “All right, Robert. I’ve got to go. Excavation to run and all that.”

  “Easton . . .”

  I shut the laptop before he could continue. The sensation of freedom washed over me. I no longer defined myself by the show. I didn’t need the edge it pushed my body to, the torture to alleviate my guilt. My lungs filled with air, and it felt like the first real breath I’d taken in years. A strong, undeniable, damn near gravitational pull jerked in my core. I knew exactly what I needed now. And I wouldn’t waste another second waiting for it.

  Rain

  THE HIKE TO my dad’s cave had been incredibly easy without the pressures of an opposing team or lack of supplies. It had only taken me a couple days after a quick stop at the tiny village Easton and I had stayed in the last time.

  The site had changed drastically in the few weeks since I’d left, though. A huge camp had been set near the water source that flowed just outside the cave. Tents, tables with laptops and maps and grids covering them, and at least thirty people were stationed across the land.

  Whoa. Easton’s producer wasn’t kidding when he said he had resources to ensure the proper excavation of Dad’s cave and the treasure within. Of course, Easton was nowhere in sight, which only upped the jitters that made my stomach queasy. I was terrified of how he would react to my presence. Now that I understood the reasoning behind his departure all those years ago, I feared I’d see it in his eyes the second he saw me—my father’s death, over and over—and the pain I could cause by simply being present. I’d taken a risk, coming out here unannounced, but I knew if I didn’t at least try I would regret it for the rest of my life.

  The producer’s offer had given me the nudge I’d needed. Though I had forced the man’s hand when he’d threatened Easton’s show if I didn’t sign on. He was sorely mistaken if he thought I’d take that lying down. By the time I’d hung up the phone with him, he’d drafted the contract I’d demanded, which secured Easton’s show for another five years, regardless of ratings, as long as he continued to make notable finds and adhere to the survivalist rules the show had set for him. Easy things on Easton’s end, but I needed assurance the bastard producers wouldn’t use his love for the show as a bargaining chip anymore.

  “Rain?” An unfamiliar voice called to me from inside one of the canopied hubs of action, and I walked over to the man, gripping the straps of my pack.

  “Do I know you?” I asked as I reached him. He had jet-black hair that matched the ink decorating his forearms.

  “Not yet.” He reached out his hand. “I’m Kevin. Easton’s rope guy. It’s a real honor to meet the only person in existence who can put that cocky asshole in his place.”

  The grin on his face, paired with the completely loveable way he’d spoken, set me at ease. He knew Easton well, and I immediately liked him.

  “He doesn’t know you’re coming.”

  It wasn’t a question, but I shook my head anyway.

  He nodded and called over his shoulder. “Crystal! I need you to cancel that flight Easton had you book this morning.”

  My stomach sank as a petite redhead called back a mocked yes sir to him. “Is he at the airport?”

  “No. He wanted to do one last sweep of chamber six before heading out.”

  “Chamber six?”

  “Yeah. It’s sick. He’s never hit a score this big. The magnitude of the collection alone . . .” He stared at the cave. “It’s exhausting.”

  The thrill of discovery coiled my already-tight muscles as he picked up a radio off the table and clicked the button down. “Anyone have eyes on Compass?”

  The use of my pet name for Easton had my eyebrows raising.

  Kevin tilted his head. “Did you not want me to track him down?”

  I shook my head. “Why did you call him that?”

  “Compass? It’s been his code-name since we started filming.”

  “Are you filming the excavation?”

  “No. Since the show started . . . good God, what is it? Eight years ago? Fuck, I’m old.”

  I pressed my lips together to hide my smile. He’d left me but never forgot. Warmth swelled in my chest as static blared from the talkie in Kevin’s hand.

  “I’m not even rappelling, Knot. Can’t I have ten minutes to get this last check done without you nagging me?”

  Knot for a rope guy? The notion made me laugh, as did the irritated but brotherly tone from Easton.

  Kevin clicked the button down. “Fine, I’ll just take this gorgeous blonde out for dinner myself. I know a great place to catch her a lizard.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  I covered my mouth to keep a lock on my laughter.

  “She’s not going to wait around forever, man. I’d get your ass out here before someone much smarter and hotter than you comes along.” Kevin winked at me, and I could only imagine
the shenanigans these two got up to on shoots.

  Damn, it would be a fun ride . . . if Easton wanted me, that was. And there was the rolling stomach I’d almost forgotten. Kevin set the radio down, ignoring more questions from Easton. “He’ll be a few minutes.”

  “You’re just going to leave it at that?”

  “Yup. Least I can do after he killed the show.”

  “What?”

  He sighed. “It’s not official yet, but the producers laid an ultimatum on him he wouldn’t comply with. It’s fine, we all get why, but I’m still sad about losing the gig I’ve loved for so long.”

  I arched an eyebrow. I guess Easton hadn’t checked in over the past two days since I’d made the deal with the producer. It would be difficult to check an email out here, I suppose, assuming the laptops running on the tables were more for data collection and not hooked up to a hotspot router—or maybe he’d simply ignored any attempt at contact from Robert.

  “Why do you think I’m here?” I asked.

  “Because you love him and all that shit?”

  I laughed. “Well, there is that . . .”

  “Wait. Are you saying . . . ?”

  I nodded. “If he wants me.”

  He fist-bumped the air. “Yes!” He jerked me into a tight hug. “Thank you. I seriously have no clue how to write a resume and really didn’t want to.”

  I patted his back, kind of honored by the quick acceptance into what was clearly a tight-knit family-like crew.

  “You have five seconds to get your hands off her before I throat-punch you, Knot.” Easton’s voice was playful but bordered on sharp.

  I jerked out of Kevin’s embrace, and my stomach flipped when I set eyes on Easton. He looked unbelievably good, with clear brown eyes that obviously had gotten the proper amount of sleep—and food and water. And the tight T-shirt he wore stuck to him from the heat, showing off each hard plane of muscle, including just a hint of those V-lines I loved to trace with my tongue.

  I blinked hard, returning my focus to his eyes. Watching them for any signs of pain. I only saw shock—and happiness. Kevin slowly backed away with his palms raised, leaving me with Easton.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, closing all but a foot of distance between us.

  “Is this okay? That I’m here?” I asked, taking my pack off and setting it on the table next to us. My shoulders were grateful for the freedom.

  “Of course. Just . . . wasn’t expecting you.”

  “I was offered a job,” I blurted out, instead of going with the much more emotionally deep speech about love and needing him and wanting him that I’d planned. I resisted the urge to face-palm myself.

  “What?”

  “I’m your new camera girl?” Good Lord, even that sounded dirty. Lock it up, girl. You can’t jump him in front of his entire team.

  “You agreed?”

  “And you didn’t. Was that because you didn’t want me here? Because if that’s the case, I can cancel the contract.”

  “You want to go on location with me? For . . . what did he say it’d be . . . five years?”

  I wanted much more time than that. “If you’ll have me.”

  The grin I’d grown up loving shaped his face, and he lifted me off my feet, crushing me to him. He turned his head, brushing his cheek against mine, and I met him in the middle, pressing my lips to his.

  The connection made the rest of the world drop away, until there was just Easton and me and the sparks bursting beneath my skin. I sighed between his lips and locked my ankles around his waist.

  “Ah hem.” Kevin cleared his throat ultra-loudly, and I snapped out of it.

  I didn’t jump off Easton but instead buried my head in his shoulder to hide the blush flooding my cheeks.

  “Yes?” Easton asked.

  “Sorry, man. Just got the call. Chamber number seven has been located.”

  I snapped my eyes to Kevin, who held the talkie in his hand.

  Easton brought his mouth back to mine, brushing his lips across them in a soft kiss before pulling back and pinning me with those damn eyes of his. “Are you with me?”

  My heart swelled. Easton wanted me here, trusted me with this, and didn’t look at me like I only reminded him of the most tragic moment of his past. He looked at me like I was a drink of water on day two without it. He looked at me like only I could slake his hunger when he was starving. And I was fully prepared to do that for as long as he wanted me to.

  I unlocked my ankles, and he gently set me down. I grabbed my pack and slipped it on, knowing there wasn’t a situation on this earth too dangerous for Easton and me. We could face, and survive, anything together. “I’m with you.”

  Easton

  “YOU THINK BROWNIE is still out there?” Rain asked as she gazed through the window. I navigated the Jeep down the long, graveled path toward the Montana cabin where we’d spent a summer years ago.

  “You know, I believe he is,” I said, smirking to myself. She had no idea yet, but that was part of the fun.

  She glanced at me. “You think the cabin owners will be pissed we just showed up?”

  I shrugged. “I tried to track down who bought it but couldn’t find much on the guy. I guess he travels a lot.”

  She sighed.

  “Hey, we’ll check it out. If nothing else we can at least go for a small hike in search of your old friend.”

  The idea brought a smile to those gorgeous pink lips of hers, and I couldn’t wait until I could set my mouth on them again.

  I’d barely stopped kissing her since she’d showed up on the excavation site in Israel two months ago. We’d spent our days unearthing more of King Solomon’s treasure, and more of his writings, which is what excited us both the most. And our nights, well, I spent those worshiping her body until we both collapsed from exhaustion.

  I’d told her in the seclusion of the hotel room in the village one night what’d I’d found in the depths of the cave’s center. She’d been both awed and nearly unbelieving as I further explained that no one could ever know outside of me, her, and the Safegaurds. I trusted her with everything I was and would never, ever lie to her again.

  Well, except maybe now, but this was for a good reason.

  We’d decided to make the trip out here after we’d reburied Harrison’s remains in the site her and her mother had designated all those years ago. In many ways, it felt like righting a wrong, knowing respect had been paid and that he wasn’t broken and alone in the depths of that cave anymore.

  “It looks the same!” Rain squealed as I parked the Jeep in front of the cabin. We got out, and I stretched my arms from the long drive as she bounced on the balls of her feet. “It doesn’t look like anyone is home, though,” she said, her shoulders dropping instantly. “Can we find a hotel close by and stay a couple days? Come back and hike every morning?”

  I took her hand. “Sure. Let’s take a walk.”

  She followed me into the brilliant green forest that surrounded the cabin, and I took the path I knew by heart. I’d walked it enough times between expeditions, when I’d returned to home base to decompress. After a comfortably silent walk, we made it to the spot where I’d made love to her before we’d been approached by the damn bear she’d instantly fallen in love with.

  I scanned the area, searching through the trees in the direction where I normally spotted him. Rain sat down on a large rock next to a wide tree. “This is incredible.”

  “Of all the places I’m going to take you to, this is the least exotic.” I sat next to her.

  “It’s my favorite. Always has been.”

  We were the same in so many ways. I took her face in my hands, reveling in the knowledge that she was finally mine—after all the years, all the secrets. She was finally, truly mine. Well, almost. I kissed her gently, my fingers trembling as I dug for the box in my cargo pocket. I’d repaired the wood as best I could, but it was clear the box had been partially smashed.

  “What’s this?” she asked as I hand
ed it to her.

  “I was carrying this the day Harrison and I went into his cave.” I took a deep breath. “Remember how I told you we’d switched packs?”

  She nodded, and I saw her swallow hard. “What is it?”

  “Open it,” I said and slid off the rock as casually as I could, dropping to one knee as she managed to get the lid open.

  She gasped, bringing a hand to her lips, her beautiful blue eyes jumping from the ring to me and back again.

  “I’d planned on asking for his blessing that day, Raindrop. I’m sorry it took me years to rework the courage to ask you . . . but I’ve always wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.” I took the ring out and held it up to her left hand. “Are you with me?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. Tears glistened in her eyes as I slipped the ring onto her finger. She threw her arms around my neck, the force from the motion so fierce it knocked us both backward. I held her to me, taking her lips with mine, allowing her to place her claim on me as I had just her. She tasted so damn good and felt like heaven pressed against me. I grabbed a handful of her perfect ass, pushing her into me harder, showing her how much I wanted her.

  “Here?” she asked between my lips.

  “Wouldn’t be the first time.” I gently bit her bottom lip and slid my hand underneath the hem of her shirt to feel her skin. She ground against me in response, eliciting a growl from my lips.

  An altogether terrifying growl took over my own, and we froze. I arched my head backward as she looked up, setting eyes on our old friend. Fuck, he had the worst timing.

  “Brownie,” she whispered, only allowing her lips to move.

  Taking great care, I shifted us in slow movements until we sat on the rock again. The old bear was as massive as ever, and though it’d only been a few months since I’d last seen him, he looked more gray than brown.

  “Just stay still. He doesn’t care as long as you’re on the rock.”

  Rain didn’t take the time to question me. She remained motionless and tracked Brownie’s moves as he padded through the trees to the stream that flowed nearby. He was a creature of routine, and I knew this was the time he liked to go fishing for his dinner. She watched him for an hour until he disappeared to the other side of the forest, and I had watched her, drinking in her happiness.