by Addison Cole
Jack picked up the sticks from their makeshift shelter—the one Savannah had fantasized about sharing with him—and carried them into the woods. She forced herself not to look at him. She didn’t want to see his midnight-blue eyes or the stubble on his cheeks that felt so good beneath her palms. Instead, she grabbed her bags and took one last look around the campsite that she knew she’d never forget. She’d opened her heart to Jack in ways she never had before, and she got hurt. As angry as that made her, it made her stronger, which was what she’d come to the mountains for in the first place. At least it wasn’t a failure.
“Aiden?” Elizabeth called into the woods. “Aiden?”
Savannah scanned the empty site. Her heart leaped into her throat. Aiden! She saw panic in Elizabeth’s eyes and went to her. “When did you last see him?”
Josie took off running toward the stream and called over her shoulder, “I’ll go see if he’s with Pratt and Lou.”
“I don’t know.” Elizabeth’s voice trembled. “Twenty minutes? I was busy packing.”
Savannah ran to Jack, hating that the angry mask he’d worn when they’d arrived had settled back on his beautiful face. “Aiden’s missing.”
Jack’s eyes did a fast sweep of the site, then the perimeter. “Elizabeth, how long ago did you see him?”
Elizabeth was circling the site, calling Aiden’s name.
“She said about twenty minutes ago,” Savannah answered. “I’m going to look for him.”
“No. You stay here. I’ll go,” he said. “He’s probably down by the stream with his father.”
“If he’s not, then I’m going. I’m not going to sit here while that little boy is out there alone.” She lowered her voice. “Remember the bobcat?”
Jack gripped her shoulders. “You’re not going in the woods alone. I’m not losing you, too.”
Lou and Pratt sprinted past Josie into the camp. Josie’s voice came over the crest of the hill, out of breath and unable to hide the fear in her eyes. “He’s not at the stream!”
Elizabeth’s face was beet-red as she screamed Aiden’s name.
“Where’s Aiden?” Lou yelled. He grabbed Elizabeth.
“I don’t…know. He was right here, and then…” Elizabeth cried.
“Where’s his survivor bag?” Jack’s eyes searched the site. “Elizabeth. Do you have his bag?”
She shook her head.
“I’m going to find him,” Lou said, moving toward the hill.
“Hold up.” Jack looked at Pratt. “Pratt, go with him. Leave a trail on the trees like I showed you so you can find your way back. Do not separate. You two go east. I’ll go west.”
“Josie, you stay with Elizabeth and do not let her leave this site. You hear me? If anyone finds him, you yell as loud as you can and bring him back here to the camp. If he shows up, you don’t let him leave. No matter what. We meet back here in”—he checked the time on his watch—“thirty minutes. Everyone. Right here. Elizabeth, we’ll find him. He can’t have gone far, and since he took his bag, he’s probably nearby playing survivor man.”
“I’ll go that way.” Savannah pointed to her left.
“Savannah.” Jack’s chest swelled as he pulled himself to his full height.
“I’m perfectly capable of searching for him, and I’m not going to be told what to do by you or anyone else. There’s a little boy out there, and he needs as many eyes looking for him as possible.” She set her jaw and met his stare. She was not going to be waylaid.
“Then you come with me.” He grabbed her arm, surveying the woods. Then he dragged her ten feet to their left and, still holding her arm, stalked into the woods. “I don’t know why you have to be so stubborn.”
“You can let go of my arm now,” she said. “How are we going to find him?”
“We’re going to do what I taught you on the hike. Look for recent signs—freshly broken twigs, footprints.” He stopped walking and cast a hard, hot stare at her, then released her arm.
“What was that look for?” And why did it make me want you all over again?
“Come on, Savannah. How can I concentrate on anything with you around? I’m a mess. Can’t you see that? I hear it in my own voice.” He moved farther into the forest and hollered Aiden’s name, then faced her again.
“Don’t you get it? I have never wanted to change for anyone before, and you make me want to change. I know I’m messed up. I never claimed I wasn’t. But you make me want to have a life again.”
Empathy swept through her. “A life, or your old life?” she asked softly. She scanned the ground with every step as they walked deeper into the forest.
Jack stopped again. “Is that what you think? That I want to replace my old life? That you’re somehow like Linda? You’re nothing like her. She was quiet, meek, petite, blond. She’d never argue over anything. I don’t think we raised our voices more than twice in ten years.” He moved a lock of hair from her shoulder. “What I had was love and a normal life. That’s what I meant. I miss those things, and you make me want them again.” He turned and resumed the search.
She was at a loss for words, confused. Did he mean he did want a relationship with her? Silence stretched between them until she finally said, “We should call for Aiden.”
They both called his name, and Jack continued talking as they moved farther up the mountain.
“I thought I was happy before, completely fulfilled, and I was. Then. But when I’m with you—and the night we spent in each other’s arms—it made me realize that there was more to me than I ever knew or understood, and you brought those other parts to life.”
Jack called out in a deep voice, “Aiden!” Then he turned to her again. “It’s you, Savannah. I want to change because of you. You opened my eyes.” He turned to the other direction and hollered Aiden’s name before turning back to her again. “I don’t expect you to wait for me or stand by me or any of that. What you said makes sense. You’re the last woman on earth I want to hurt, and you don’t deserve my crazy mood swings. I’m going to try to finally deal with my own issues, and if I can find my footing again, and if you’re interested, we’ll go from there.” He shrugged. “All I can do is my best. And if I can’t do it, well, then what have I lost?”
A lump formed in Savannah’s throat. “Darn it, Jack.” She turned away before he could see her eyes fill with tears. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of a bunch of sticks leaning against a tree.
“Jack,” she whispered. “Look.”
Jack followed her eyes to the base of a large tree, where he saw the tips of sticks leaning vertically against the tree. Most of the trunk was hidden behind a large bush. They approached the tree, and both let out a sigh of relief when the makeshift shelter came into view. Jack crouched down and peered inside.
“Thank heavens,” Jack said as he reached into the shelter and lifted Aiden into his arms. “Hey, buddy, that’s quite a shelter.”
Aiden blinked several times, like he was coming out of a foggy dream. “Jack! I survived the woods, just like you.”
Jack pressed him to his body. His right hand covered the back of Aiden’s head. “You sure did, little buddy. We were worried about you. Did you forget the rule about never going into the woods alone?”
Aiden looked at Savannah. “No.”
“Then why did you?” Jack asked.
“Because I knew Mom couldn’t go ’cause she had to pack, and Dad was at the stream. I just wanted to survive the woods,” Aiden explained.
“Aiden, look at me.”
Aiden shifted his big blue eyes to Jack.
“I’m proud of you for remembering what to do, but the woods are dangerous. There are bears and bobcats and all sorts of nasty things out here. You have to promise me never to go into the woods again no matter what you want to prove. Promise?”
Savannah felt tears fill her eyes at the joy of finding Aiden and the tenderness that Jack showed toward him.
“I promise. I’m sorry,” Aiden said.
<
br /> “We’re getting ready to go on the plane, so now we have to leave the woods.”
Aiden wiggled out of his arms. “Okay. Let me get my stuff.” He climbed back into the shelter. When he returned, he had a handful of rope and put it in Jack’s hand. “I made slip knots just like you showed me.”
Jack picked Aiden up and hugged him tight. “I was worried about you,” he said. He reached a hand out and touched Savannah’s cheek. “Aiden, let’s make a promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yes, a promise. Let’s promise not to hide in the woods anymore. Both of us. I promise if you promise.”
Savannah could barely breathe. In one breath, he made her angry, and in the next, he filled her heart with hope. That couldn’t be a healthy combination, but she was drawn to him in ways she knew would taunt her days and haunt her nights.
Chapter Fifteen
JACK OPENED THE cargo hold and began removing the luggage. The flight into New York had been relatively smooth, and it had given him time to think through the previous few days. Normally, he’d land, say farewell to his students, pick up a few supplies, and head back up to the mountains feeling like he’d unloaded a great weight from his shoulders. This afternoon, the anxiety that usually drove him to expediently say goodbye to his passengers had turned on him, and he dragged his feet. He was in no hurry to go back to the mountains—or to say goodbye to Savannah.
“Jack, we can’t thank you enough,” Elizabeth said as she picked up her bags. “I don’t think any of us will ever forget this trip. Thank you for bringing Aiden back to us. Aiden will never forget what you taught him. Right Aiden?”
Aiden wrapped his arms around Jack’s legs. “I promise not to hide in the woods. You promise, too, right?”
Jack crouched down and looked him in the eyes. “You bet I do, buddy. No more hiding.” He tousled his hair and stood back up to shake Lou’s hand. “Lou, you helped me out there. Thank you.”
“I don’t know how I could have done that, but if I did, you’re welcome.” Lou embraced Jack. “Thanks for everything, man. I hope we see you again sometime.”
Pratt picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “I still can’t believe you’re an engineer.” He pulled his tuque down past his eyebrows. “You’re much cooler than the guys I went to school with.”
“So are you, Pratt. What did you decide to do about your parents?” Jack smiled when Josie appeared by Pratt’s side.
Pratt laced his fingers with hers. “I’m going to talk to them. Really talk, not fight, and if they don’t like it…” He shrugged. “Well, I guess they’ll need to make a choice. See me and agree to disagree on my career choice or forget they have a son.”
“Pratt,” Josie chided him.
Pratt lifted the right side of his mouth in a smile. “I’m kidding. I won’t let that happen.” He looked at Jack. “She’s a ball breaker.”
“Josie, you keep him in line, you hear?”
“I’ll do my best,” she said. “We’re just hanging out for a while, nothing serious.” She lifted her eyes to Pratt, and Jack could tell there was more to them than a couple of kids hanging out.
“Enjoy the now, Jack,” Pratt said.
“Thanks, Pratt. You too. Josie, watch out for snakes.” As they walked away, Jack caught a glimpse of Savannah hugging Elizabeth, then Aiden and Lou. I need to fix the past to enjoy the now. He looked away, thinking of when he’d first seen Savannah and how he’d assumed she was a spoiled city girl. Boy, was I ever wrong. They headed into the airport terminal, leaving him and Savannah alone under the warm afternoon sun. Her cheeks were flushed as she came to his side.
“You look different than you did when you arrived,” Jack said. “Prettier.”
A flush rose on Savannah’s cheeks. She put her hands in the front pockets of her jeans and looked at the plane. “You know, I thought you were such a selfish jackass when you were so hard on Pratt when we first arrived.”
“And now?” He was afraid of what she might say, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The sun glistened, highlighting the blend of yellows and greens in her beautiful eyes. Jack didn’t think he’d ever forget the look in her eyes when her legs were wrapped around his waist in the stream—like she’d been dreaming of him her whole life. And even if she hadn’t, he was going to keep that image in his mind as inspiration to follow through with what he’d promised.
“Now I see Jack Remington, a man, a widower, and a soft-hearted-survivor-man-slash-pilot.” She licked her lower lip. “Who can be a real jackass when he gets scared.”
“You had me there for a minute. I thought I’d made out like a bandit. Do you have to be brutally honest?”
“I don’t know how to be anything but,” Savannah said. “I’m afraid Bradens don’t lie very well. My big rancher father drove morals and ethics into our little brains on a daily basis.”
“I’m going to miss you, Savannah,” he said. He stepped closer to her, breathing in her fresh, feminine scent, knowing it might be the last time he would be able to. His heart ached at the thought, and he swore to himself that he was going to do everything within his power to fix his life so he could be in hers. But Jack worried that a woman like Savannah would have her pick of better men than him.
“This all feels so weird. Two nights ago, I would have sworn we’d be leaving hand in hand today.”
He put his hand on her cheek, and she pressed her face into it. “You took a broken man, and in a few short days, you opened his eyes to what he was missing. You deserve so much more. You deserve a man who is whole.”
Savannah moved away from his hand. “People always think they know what other people deserve, and I’m so sick of it. What does it even mean to say that I deserve someone who’s not broken? Maybe I’m broken. Have you ever thought of that?”
Jack smiled, though he didn’t mean to. He could tell from the way Savannah’s lips pinched tightly shut that she didn’t appreciate it, but she was so beautiful when she was fired up.
“You’re not broken, Savannah. You’re hurt. There’s a big difference. You’re a smart, strong woman with a solid career and probably better things to spend your time on than worrying about my baggage.” He searched her eyes for understanding, but what he saw was anger and hurt. “Savannah—”
“You know what, Jack? Maybe you’re right.” She blinked away the dampness from her eyes and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll miss you, too.” Savannah picked up her bags and walked away.
Jack’s stomach twisted. She glanced back, and he raised his chin and tried to smile, unable to pull himself together enough to even manage a proper wave. She disappeared behind the terminal doors, and Jack let out the breath he’d been holding. He grabbed his gear and headed for the terminal, wondering if he was strong enough to face the life he’d abandoned.
Chapter Sixteen
SAVANNAH CLIMBED INTO a cab and gave her address to the driver. She stared out the window, thinking about how arrogant and cold Jack had been when they’d first seen each other at the airport and how she’d been turned on by everything about him. She leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes. What am I doing? I went from a man who wants every woman on earth to a man who’s afraid of what wanting a woman does to him.
Savannah pulled out her cell phone and turned it on. Messages began flooding in. What had she been thinking? She usually couldn’t go a day without checking messages, much less several. She was sure her voicemail would be full, and she wasn’t in the mood to deal with clients. She had another attorney covering for her, and he’d just have to cover for her a little longer. She needed a good, strong dose of sanity. She called her father.
“Savannah, how are you, darlin’?”
Hearing her father’s deep voice thickened the lump in her throat, and all of a sudden she was a little girl again, climbing onto his lap when someone at school had hurt her feelings. Hal Braden was six foot six, like her eldest brother Treat, and he was the epitome of a broad-chested
aging cowboy: rugged, leather-skinned, and big-hearted. He was just what she needed.
“Hi, Dad,” she managed. “How are you?”
“Oh, doing fine, I suppose. We had two fillies born, and Rex has been taking good care of them. Got buyers already.” Hal Braden was an affluent thoroughbred horse breeder, and although Savannah and each of her siblings had large enough trust funds that would allow for them to not work a day in their lives, he’d brought them up to work hard and to love with their whole hearts. Savannah wished she hadn’t taken the latter so seriously.
She smiled at the mention of her older brother Rex. Jack reminded her so much of Rex that she wondered if she should have called him instead of her father. He might be able to enlighten her on the ways of angry men.
“Enough about me. How’s my girl?” her father asked.
Forget Rex. Calling Dad was definitely the right move. She needed his familiar, caring voice to wrap around her in a virtual embrace.
“Good, Dad. I’m good.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she pressed her finger and thumb to them. “I…uh…I’m just getting back in town from that survivalist training camp I told you about.”
“Run by Jack Remington?”
“Oh my gosh, Dad. How’d you know?” Savannah asked.
“Treat did some research on the guy.”
The Braden grapevine travels swiftly once again.
Savannah watched the busy streets of New York as they drove toward her Manhattan apartment. Of course he did. “I’m a big girl, Dad. I don’t really need Treat tracking me down.”
“He wasn’t tracking you down. He was making sure you weren’t going into the mountains with a crazy man. He said anyone can put anything on the interweb. Besides, Treat’s always going to be Treat.”
Savannah sighed. “Internet, not interweb.” As the eldest, Treat had always taken care of and protected Savannah and her siblings. She shouldn’t be surprised or bothered by Treat following up on her trip, but she intended to give him a talking to just the same. She wasn’t a kid anymore, and she didn’t need other people deciding what was good or bad for her. Why couldn’t they see that she didn’t need protecting? Only my heart does.