by Anise Eden
“I knew something happened.” He took one of my hands and began stroking the back of it with his thumb. “When you came out of the field, you looked distraught.”
“I’m sure I must have.” I rubbed my eyes. “Honestly, I don’t even know where to start.”
Brow furrowed, Ben suggested, “How about why you got up at four a.m. and ran off to visit the dogs—by yourself?”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t like that. I was up; I couldn’t sleep. It was driving me crazy, so I just started walking around the lodge. Then I ran into Owen. I told him I wished I were with the puppies, because they helped me relax. He offered to take me to the kennel.”
The muscle in Ben’s jaw was ticking double-time. “So you just decided to go. Didn’t even leave a note.”
He sort of had a point. “Okay, yes, a note might have been a good idea, in retrospect. But I expected to be back before anyone woke up. And a trip to the kennel seemed totally harmless.”
Ben held his hand over his eyes, and I sensed he was trying to decide how to respond. “You had me worried.”
I winced as the pain in his voice pricked my heart. “I know. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Ben took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Finally, he dropped his hand from his face. “So did the puppies help you relax?”
Thank God, I thought, relieved that he had forgiven me, and that the conversation hadn’t turned into an argument. “Yes, actually, they did. But then, when I was walking home, I heard voices nearby. I knew I should have announced my presence because there were hunters out, but I just…I can’t explain it. It was like some invisible force pressed me to the ground and put its hand over my mouth. I felt compelled. No matter what my head was telling me, I had to follow that instinct.”
Ben’s eyes searched mine like he was sweeping a minefield. He gave my cheek one soft caress, as though reassuring himself that I was really there in front of him and that I was safe. “Okay, what happened next?”
I described everything I’d overheard to the best of my recollection, making several tries to be sure that I recounted the conversation between the two men as close to word-for-word as possible. As I spoke, a bone-deep chill settled into my body. And the more Ben heard, the darker his expression grew.
When I finished, he again pulled me to him, and I burrowed in. Although his muscles were hard with tension, he cradled me gently.
I could have stayed there forever, the two of us like nesting dolls sitting on a shelf, forgotten by the world. But after several moments, Ben let out a hard sigh. He pulled away from me just far enough that his eyes could meet mine.
“Okay then.” He glanced around the room. “Let’s get packing.”
“What?” I asked, disoriented by the abrupt change of subject.
“I’m always packed, and so is Pete. Vani’s accustomed to travel, I’m sure she can put her things together quickly. So I’ll help you.”
I followed his glance, a little embarrassed by the fact that the few things I’d brought were already scattered around the room. Then I gave my head a hard shake. “Wait—pack for what?”
“Well, we can’t stay.”
“Why not?”
He looked at me in disbelief. “Cate, what you just told me—it’s not safe here.”
“You mean because I wasn’t wearing an orange vest?”
“No. Although yes, that was very unsafe, but that’s not what I meant.” He took my hands in his. “Judging from what you overheard, there’s something sketchy about Mercier’s financials—something big that they want to keep hidden—and your presence is perceived as a potential threat to their secrecy. Meanwhile, we have no idea who or what we’re dealing with, and until we do, we can’t protect ourselves.”
I marveled at how quickly Ben had shifted into security mode. Yes, the hunters’ conversation had creeped me out, but it seemed unreasonable to think that our actual safety might be at risk. At least I thought it did. Ben had worked pretty hard to convince me that even the drugging episode hadn’t put him in any real danger. Then again, he had probably been minimizing that situation so that I wouldn’t worry. I swallowed hard. “What exactly are you afraid might happen?”
“We don’t know—and that’s the point. We’re in a remote location with water access and a lot of guns and ammunition lying around. Besides, we still don’t know anything about the people who own and run this place, except that they work in D.C. That could mean nothing—or it could mean that you might be in danger.”
“I might be in danger? You’re the one who got drugged!”
Looking down, he pressed his lips together. “Probably to incapacitate me so you’d be left alone and vulnerable for a while. You’re the one they have to win over here, Cate. If you accept your inheritance and become an owner—even better, if you convince the MacGregor Group to be part of Skeet’s project—then your fellow owners won’t care if we uncover whatever shady activities they’re up to. You’d be an official member of the Mercier family by then, so exposing them would expose you, too. Who knows what kind of evidence they could manufacture to ‘prove’ that you’d been complicit in their activities? I’m sure they’d do their best to set it up so if they fell, you’d fall with them—and they know we would never do anything that might hurt you.”
“Well, if they know that,” I argued, “then why do you think I could be in danger?”
“Because they’re not going to win you over, and at some point, they’re going to figure that out. Once they do, given how much you already know, you could be viewed as a liability—and we simply don’t know what they’re capable of.”
There was something in his voice—an unspoken thought. I was willing to bet it was the same thought I’d had, but hadn’t had the courage to say aloud. “Ben, you don’t think…my father’s death?”
Instantly, his hand was cradling my cheek. “I have no more information than you have, but after what you heard this morning…” He folded one of my hands between his. “All I know is that we’re dealing with some bad people here, and we don’t know how bad. Until we do, we’re safer in our house than in theirs.”
“But wait a minute!” I stood up and began to walk back and forth, shaking my hands out. That week at Mercier might be my only chance to get the answers I needed about my father—and I strongly suspected that if we left, Ben would move heaven and earth to make sure that I never returned to the lodge. And Ben was right; it made sense that if Mercier was going to target anyone, it would be me—and only after they concluded that I wasn’t going to go along with their shenanigans. I could live with that risk, as long as I was the only one in jeopardy. I focused on sounding calm and rational. “Look, I hear what you’re saying, and I’m not dismissing your concerns. But if we leave now, how will we ever find out what’s going on? If whatever they’re doing is so secret, and they’ve managed to keep it hidden this long, I doubt we’ll be able to uncover anything from a distance.”
“That may be true,” Ben said, “but on the scale of priorities, your safety far outweighs figuring out what these jokers are up to.”
His expression hardened, and I could see that he was getting ready to dig his heels in. I had to think fast. “But what if my safety and what’s going on at Mercier are related? Thanks to Joe, I’m tied to this place now. If the other owners come to see me as a threat, it’s possible that I won’t be safe anywhere! Like you said, we don’t even know who these people are.” I turned to face Ben, folding my arms across my chest. “If you’re so hell-bent on keeping me safe, it seems to me that the best way to do that is to stick around long enough to figure out what’s going on and who we’re dealing with.”
I was relieved to see that my argument gave him pause. Ben rubbed his jaw and regarded me intently. I could tell that he hadn’t missed a trick. “You’re right about one thing,” he said. “I am hell-bent.”
Oh for God’s sake, I thought. At least he was considering. I just needed to give him a final push. “I want to find out exactly
what happened to my father. And what about Skeet’s research subjects? Their safety is important, too.”
He raised an eyebrow, and I knew that my strategy had been seen through. Nonetheless, I managed to stand there, still and silent, as my argument hung in the air between us. Finally, his eyes softened a bit.
“All right, you win this one, Trouble.” He gave me the grudging look of someone who had just been bested at poker. “We’ll stay—for now. With new security protocols in place, which you will follow. Without exception.”
I stepped forward and stood between his knees, smirking down at him. “I knew my ‘win’ would come with list of terms and conditions.”
Ben’s eyes flashed with amusement as he slid his hands around my waist. “And I’ll tell you what they are after I consult with Pete. For now, though…” He shifted me to one side, then got up and walked over to the couch, producing a duffel bag. He pulled out a small, black cylinder that I recognized. It was a panic button like the one he’d given me when I was being stalked by a former client’s ex-boyfriend. “The panic button is connected to my cell and Pete’s,” he said, placing it on the bedside table. “Keep it with you at all times.” Then he produced something that looked like a misshapen electric can opener.
“What is that?”
“It’s called a portable door jammer. Whenever you’re here in your room by yourself, you can put this against the door and no one will be able to get in—not by using a key, and not by pushing. Here, I’ll show you how to use it. It’s easy.”
Ben led me through the simple installation of the door jammer and watched me do it a few times to be sure I had the hang of it. “I want you to use this whenever you’re alone in the room, okay?”
“Okay.” A ball of nerves swirled around in my stomach. “I know you’re not sure, but what do you suspect is going on with Mercier’s financials?”
“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out. And I’m going to start by telling Danielle what you overheard. Since she works for the IRS, she’s good at finding ‘things that aren’t there’ in financial records.”
“Okay. Good.” My nerves calmed a little. Ben was in problem-solving mode, and Danielle was on the case. There was no way I wanted to sign any papers with Harris until I knew what the hell was going on. I stepped towards Ben, and as he took me in his arms, I closed my eyes. We stood there in silence for several moments. “Thank you,” I said softly, my face pressed against his chest.
“For what?”
“For not telling me that I was an idiot for taking a walk with hunters all around and no orange vest on. Or telling me how miserable I make you whenever I make you worry.”
“Cate,” he scolded, “you could never be an idiot.” He kissed the top of my head before carefully continuing, “Your natural spontaneity just takes over at times.”
“My…natural spontaneity?” I marveled at his creative, diplomatic reframing of the phrase, “idiotic impulsivity.” “You make that sound like it’s a good thing.”
“Oh, it can be.” An unmistakable vein of carnal intent ran through his voice. “It depends on the situation.”
My imagination sprang to life. It was all I could do in that moment to keep a lid on my “natural spontaneity.” I bit my lip until I tasted blood.
“And you could never make me miserable. I guess I have to work harder to make that clear.” He pulled away and looked down at me, taking my chin gently between his finger and thumb. “Any moment spent not knowing whether or not you’re safe is hell on earth for me. But that’s because you make my life more wonderful than I ever imagined it could be, not because you make me miserable.”
“Oh.” Ben’s words nestled into my heart. If he kept saying things like that and looking at me like that… But before I could even attempt a transgression, the adrenaline roller coaster I’d been on for the past hour took a serious dive, and my energy crashed. Once again, I dropped my head against his chest.
Ben bent over me, his worry lines deepening. “Look, you need a break, and I need to talk to Pete about what you heard in the field. I’m not sure I’ll get the details right, though. I’ll tell you what.” He led me over to the bed. “I think Pete and Vani are at breakfast. I’ll join them, then take them to Pete’s room for an overview. In a little while, I’ll come and get you so you can give them the full version. And I’ll bring up some breakfast for you. How does that sound?”
I looked down at my muddied, grass-sticking-out clothes. “Do you think I’ll have time for a bath?”
“Sure.”
Bath and breakfast sounded like the two most beautiful words I’d ever heard. “Coffee, too?”
Ben cracked a smile, and I saw that for the first time since he’d learned I was gone that morning, he was genuinely convinced that I was all right. “Of course, coffee.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Good. I’ll wait outside the door until you’ve locked the jammer in place.”
I groaned. “Are you serious? You think someone is going to attack me in my room now, in the middle of breakfast?”
“You’re right, that’s very unlikely. Still—indulge me?”
I sighed. “Okay, under one condition.”
“What is it?”
“This level of worry you carry with you all the time—it’s not healthy.” I spoke softly, sliding my hand into his. “Promise me again that when we get home, you’ll let me help you with this overprotective streak of yours?”
The gold flecks in his eyes lit up like flares. As we looked into one another’s eyes, the portal between us opened, and I was slapped by a surge of Ben’s emotions—anger and irritation for the most part, but also elements of embarrassment and fear. After what seemed like hours, he said, “I object to the term ‘overprotective.’ In this case, my level of caution is completely appropriate. But I did promise last week that I’d let you help me work through a few things, so yes. When we get home. I promise.”
“Okay, then.” Thinking it might be wise to lighten the mood, I smiled and said, “Now get out of here so I can show you my mad door-jamming skills.”
Ben grinned as he let himself out. Before he closed the door behind him, he said through the gap, “If you need any help with your bath…”
“Go!” Laughing, I put the door jammer in place. “It’s done, okay?”
Ben tried the door. Apparently my work satisfied him. “Okay. I’ll be back soon.”
“Bye!” I called after him, then immediately began shedding my clothes, anxious to immerse my aching body into some scalding hot water. I couldn’t wait to replace the smell of wet marsh with vanilla bean bubble bath to forget the hunters just for a few minutes and lose myself in the intoxication of sensation.
• • •
I was bathed, dressed, and feeling more like my usual self when Ben came to get me. We all gathered in Pete’s room, which was very similar to mine, but a bit larger to accommodate two.
Not only was Pete there, but Kai had also arrived. I tackle-hugged Kai, who squeezed me until I could feel my ribs rearranging themselves. When I asked where Vani was, Ben said they’d decided it would be safe for her to join Team Forward for yoga after breakfast, to see if she could glean any more information.
We sat in front of the fireplace. Kai took the space next to me on the couch. He grabbed my hand and patted the back of it. “You okay, baby?”
I smiled, grateful that I could always count on Kai to be sympathetic. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Good, glad to hear it.” Then Kai turned to Ben and said sharply, “I hope you didn’t invite me down here to mind her. I’ve got a wedding to plan, and I know what kind of chaos she creates!”
I snatched my hand away from Kai. “What the…? No one is minding me! And you’re here because there are all kinds of crazy things going on, and we need you!” I peered at Ben. “Right?”
“Absolutely,” Ben said without hesitation.
Kai turned a doubtful eye on me. “Well, forgive me for thinking you need to b
e put on a leash or something! What in God’s name were you thinking, running around in a cornfield in the middle of hunting season? And in your skivvies, no less?”
“My skivvies?” The look I shot Ben was hotly accusatory. “What have you been telling him?”
Pete drew his hat down over his eyes, but it didn’t hide the upturned curve of his mouth. “Ben told me what happened, then when Kai got here, I filled him in. I may have embellished a little.”
“You don’t say!” I glared at Pete, then at Ben. “And you didn’t correct him?”
“I didn’t think your wardrobe was the important part of the story. Besides, I brought them both up here so that you could tell them what happened yourself.” Ben made a sweeping hand gesture. “Please, in your own words. And you can start with this morning’s adventure. Vani already filled Kai in about your meeting with Team Forward last night.”
They all looked at me expectantly, so I regaled an amused Pete and a horrified Kai with the details of my morning’s hunting story as Ben paced the room, hands clasped behind his back.
When I finished, Pete gave a low whistle. “You mean to tell me…” He blew out a breath through puffed out cheeks. “You seriously mean to tell me they were shootin’ over bait?”
I blinked. “What?”
“You said they put corn in the field.”
“They said the guide had, yeah.”
“Well, that’s shootin’ over bait, and it’s illegal.” Pete frowned resolutely.
I dropped my head into my hands. “Do you mean to tell me that after everything I told you, the stand-out fact for you is that they were shooting over bait?”
Pete shrugged. “Well, it’s just not very sportsmanlike, is all I’m sayin’. I mean, they’re shootin’ for fun, not survival.”
I was gearing up to full-tilt incredulity when Ben jumped in. “Pete’s right, and the fact that they hunt over bait tells us something about how they approach things.”
“Yeah. They like to take shortcuts, and they don’t fight fair,” Pete said. “Put that together with the rest of it, and I’m not likin’ what I’m hearin’.”