Snowbound Targets (HQR Romantic Suspense)

by Karen Whiddon

  “Not if it helps them find your friend,” she pointed out gently.

  “Agreed. But it won’t. I haven’t heard from Rick since the explosion. He never followed up with me or responded to the message I left him. There’s nothing I have to say beyond that. Not helpful. Not helpful at all.”

  A strong wind had begun to blow by the time they finished straightening up the kitchen.

  “I bet the satellite is out again,” Jason said. “It’s pretty temperamental as it is. Any strong storm with wind, rain or snow knocks out the signal.”

  She actually didn’t mind. “I guess we’ll just have to play poker or Scrabble,” she said, not even attempting to hide her glee.

  Of course, he picked up on it. “Which do you prefer?”

  “Scrabble, I think. I’d like something that would really occupy my mind.”

  Laughing, he went and got the game from under the television console.

  They played an intense game, each challenging the other’s word choices more than once, resorting to the dictionary to make certain the words were real.

  Finally, Lucy stifled a yawn. “I think this day has caught up with me.”

  He glanced at his watch. “Wow. It’s later than I realized. Time to go to bed.”

  Though she knew he hadn’t meant anything by his innocent statement, her entire body heated. Foolish, she thought, pushing to her feet and gathering up the tiles.

  Once they’d put the game back into the box, Jason stowed it away. “Give me a few minutes and then the bathroom is all yours,” he said.

  Tongue-tied, she managed a nod.

  Later, once Jason had retreated to his bedroom and closed the door, she made up the couch and turned off the light. Despite her earlier exhaustion, she tossed and turned and couldn’t get comfortable.

  Maybe it was divine providence, but just as she thought she might be able to drift off, she heard something outside. A clanging sound. It might have been wildlife, but then again it might not. Holding absolutely still, she listened, waiting to see if she heard anything else.

  Nothing but the relentless sound of the wind.

  After a few moments, she relaxed. Plumping her pillow, she snuggled under the covers and closed her eyes.

  Then she smelled smoke.

  Three loud knocks on his bedroom door hopefully were enough to startle Jason awake. She pushed the door open and took a deep breath, staying in the doorway. Though the room remained dark, she could make out the shape of Jason, just now drowsily sitting up in his bed.

  “I heard something outside and now I smell smoke,” she said, her voice shaky.

  Turning on his bedside lamp, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and into his boots, sans socks. “Are you sure?” he asked, removing a pistol from the lockbox in his nightstand and, after dialing in the combination, he checked to make sure it was loaded.

  “Positive.”

  “Stay here.” Rushing past her, he grabbed his coat, putting it on as he hit the door.

  She caught her breath, wishing she could help in some way.

  She looked around wildly and grabbed the metal poker from near the woodstove. This would work if she had to help in any kind of self-defense, just in case she didn’t have time to look up the combination to Jason’s gun safe where he kept the rest of his weapons.

  “Lucy!”

  She wasn’t sure if it was the wind, or if Jason was calling her name. Either way, she refused to sit inside and do nothing, especially if he was out there grappling with an intruder. She stepped into her boots, glad she’d worn her socks to bed, and grabbed the sweatshirt she’d worn earlier.

  Coat on, she rushed outside after him.

  * * *

  Jason spotted the new set of footprints first thing. The wind had already gotten to work blowing snow to obliterate them, but he was able to follow them around to the side of the cabin where he kept his firewood.

  As soon as he rounded the corner, he knew they were trouble. Someone had set the woodpile on fire, no doubt hoping the wind would fan the flames.

  Yanking on his gloves, Jason got busy trying to use snow to put out the fire. Luckily for them, instead of helping the flames grow, the wind appeared to be unsuccessfully trying to put them out. Clearly, some sort of accelerant had been used on the woodpile, most likely gasoline, and the tarp he’d used to cover the logs had been yanked to one side.

  His efforts barely helped. No sooner did he get one area put out when another caught. The fire burned strongest in the alcove closest to the wood siding of the house. So far, it hadn’t latched on to the cabin. If it did, the cabin would most likely be a goner.

  “Lucy!” Hoping she’d hear, he shouted out her name. The wind carried it away. “Lucy!”

  A moment later, she appeared, still pulling on her gloves. She appraised the situation instantly, joining him in his efforts to use his hands to shovel snow.

  Shovel. Remembering he’d left his snow shovel on the front porch, he jogged over to get it. When he returned, he used the large flat shovel to propel snow onto the fire as fast as he could.

  Slowly but surely, he appeared to be making progress.

  Lucy doggedly continued her own efforts, and they worked side by side, bent against the force of the wind. Finally, the last of the fire went out, sending up dense smoke.

  “There,” Lucy exclaimed. “We’re victorious.”

  “Not yet,” he cautioned. “Keep on with the snow in case there are hot spots.”

  Grimly, they both kept after it. Finally, with snow piled up on his ruined firewood, he called a halt.

  “We’re safe,” he told her, putting a hand on her shoulder. “For now.”

  They stamped the snow off their shoes and went inside.

  “Someone set that,” he said, his voice as grim as he felt. “They wanted to burn us down inside our house.”

  She swallowed hard. “Did you see them?”

  “No. But I found tracks. And gasoline or something similar was sprayed all over the firewood. If not for that wind stirring up the snow, the cabin would be totally engulfed by now.”

  “But why?”

  “That’s the million-dollar question. I have to wonder if all this has something to do with Rick disappearing.”

  “Or with me being here.”

  The misery in her expression left him no choice but to pull her in for a hug. As he did, he realized she was trembling. “Stop blaming yourself. You have no way of knowing that.”

  Neither of them felt inclined to move. He loved holding her, the feel of her soft curves snuggled up against him. The clean scent of her hair, and the fruity scent of the body lotion she used on her skin.

  But when his body stirred and desire made his mouth go dry, he forced himself to release her and take a step back.

  “Do you think you can go back to sleep?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

  She grimaced. “I doubt it. But don’t let me keep you up. I’ll just sit out here with the lights on and read or something.”

  Again, as he gazed at her trying to be strong, his chest constricted. “You take my bed,” he said, swallowing tightly. “I’ll spend the rest of the night out here on the couch.”

  “I don’t know.” As she stared at him, her blue eyes shadowed, he realized she’d begun shaking again.

  “Lucy...”

  He wasn’t sure who moved first, but they wound up in each other’s arms once more. Holding her close, breathing in the sexy, feminine scent of her, he realized he would do anything to make her feel better. Anything.

  “Jason.” She said his name, her voice broken. When he raised her chin so he could see her face, her lips parted. He couldn’t do anything but cover them with his own. She returned his kiss with abandon, reckless and demanding. Shocked and more aroused than he’d ever been, his senses went on overload, taking he
r mouth with a soul-deep passion.

  When her tongue met his, mating and dancing, he tried to hold himself back, but that battle had already been lost.

  Tangled together, they ended up in his bedroom. “Lucy,” he began, trying to protest, aware he needed to remind her that they shouldn’t, couldn’t, but she shushed him and pulled him in for another searing kiss, and he forgot what he’d been about to say.

  She pulled off his shirt, her hands still unsteady, and then, with her gaze locked on his, her own. He couldn’t move or tear his gaze away as she unhooked her bra and let it fall to the floor. Her breasts were all he’d imagined, full and ripe and sweet. He swallowed as he reverently reached for them, loving how they perfectly filled up his hands.

  Unable to resist, he left the lure of her mouth to taste her nipple. The feel of his tongue made her moan and arch her back for more, even as she writhed against him.

  On fire, nearly lost, he regained enough of his mind to attempt a second rationalization, to let her, make her, say no and deny that she wanted this as badly as he did.

  “Lucy?” he rasped, a question in his voice. Instead of answering him with words, she replied with a sexy, seductive smile and a deep, sensuous kiss.

  But when she reached for his zipper and unzipped it slowly, and his body surged against her hand, he was lost. Past the point of no return.

  They managed to hastily shed the rest of their clothes, mouths still locked together, and stumbled toward his bed. Just before, he reached in his nightstand and retrieved a condom, slipping it over his arousal. She pulled him down with her, on top of her, arching her back so that all he had to do was shudder to push himself inside her.

  Pleasure exploded the instant she sheathed him in her warmth. He struggled to maintain control, holding himself still, hoping if he didn’t move, he wouldn’t lose all restraint.

  Lucy clearly had other ideas. She pushed herself against him, urging him on, her body clenching around his as if feverish with need.

  He reared back, withdrawing slightly, muttering a request that she be still. Eyes wild, pupils dark, she shook her head defiantly, sending her hair whipping around her on the comforter. Arching up, she kissed him, deep and wanton, as if she couldn’t possibly get enough.

  His hastily erected wall didn’t stand a chance. Giving in to the wave of desire, he began to move. Fast and furious, deep and hard. She matched him, stroke for stroke. And when she began to shudder as she reached her climax, he followed right behind.

  They held each other as their heartbeats slowed, sweat-slickened bodies still fitting together as if neither could bear to break apart.

  As she curled against him, her eyes drifting closed, he couldn’t help but wonder at the bitter irony of fate, sending him this woman now, under such crazy circumstances.

  None of that mattered now, though he knew it should. He stroked her hair, realizing he was forever changed. He knew deep inside himself that he’d never be able to feel the same way about another woman. He wasn’t sure if this would turn out to be a blessing or a curse. Only time would tell.

  As for her, perhaps when her memory finally returned, she’d look back on her time with him fondly. Or not at all. He had no way of knowing.

  “You didn’t take advantage of me,” she said, before he could manage to summon up the question. “I wanted you as badly as you wanted me.”

  Though technically she was right, the knowledge did little to appease his guilt. He should have been stronger, but damn if they hadn’t fit together as if they were made for each other.

  “This changes things,” she continued, her words mirroring his private thoughts. “I should let you know, I don’t want to go back to the way we were before.”

  Bemused, he wasn’t sure how to respond.

  Apparently, she took his silence for dissent. “Jason. What’s done is done. Nothing we can do or say will undo that. We might as well go forward with this change. Who knows how long this will last?”

  And that, he thought silently, was the point. How long until she remembered herself, her life, and left him behind with a thanks and a carefree smile? He’d be left shattered, alone to try and pick up the pieces.

  Of course, he said none of this. Instead, he managed to smile and nod. “Come on,” he said, patting the spare pillow next to him. “Let’s try and get some sleep. I’ll give the sheriff a call first thing in the morning.”

  She smiled back and curled up into him. His heart full and aching, he turned out the light and hoped for sleep.

  * * *

  He must have fallen asleep. When he next opened his eyes, the other side of his bed was empty and the scents of coffee and bacon made his mouth water.

  Getting up, he pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a shirt and padded barefoot into the kitchen.

  “Morning,” Lucy said, her smile warm. “I don’t know about you, but I worked up an appetite.”

  As if on cue, his stomach rumbled. They both laughed. He ambled over to the coffeemaker and brewed a cup, then carried that back to the kitchen table. Sipping it, he watched her work, enthralled by the graceful way she moved around the kitchen.

  “Here you go.” She placed a plate with two fried eggs, toast and four slices of perfectly cooked bacon in front of him.

  “Thanks.”

  Once she took a seat across from him with her own plate of food, they both dug in.

  After they’d finished eating, he eyed her across the table.

  “I’m going to call the sheriff in a few minutes,” he said. “This time, he’s going to have to come up here. Unless you want me to tell him about you, you’ll have to stay in my bedroom with the door closed.”

  Alarm briefly flashed in her eyes, smoothing out just as quickly as it had come. “I’ll hide,” she answered. “I’m sorry, but I don’t trust anyone yet. With the exception of you, of course.”

  “Of course.” He smiled, still trying to get his unruly libido under control. Unbelievable that he could still want her so intensely after a night of making love.

  He got up and helped her with the dishes. Once everything had been neatly placed in the rack next to the sink to dry, he turned and went to his satellite phone. Picking it up, he punched in the number for the Cedar Sheriff’s Department.

  The regular dispatcher, Wilma, put him right through to Sheriff Jeffords. Once Jason explained what had happened, the sheriff told him he’d leave immediately and would be there in a few minutes.

  Ending the call, Jason relayed this information to Lucy.

  “Wow, that’s quick.”

  He shrugged. “Cedar is a small, peaceful town. We don’t usually get a lot of crime here.”

  “That’s nice.” Was that a touch of wistfulness in her voice?

  “It is,” he agreed, checking his watch. “Since I don’t know how long you’ll have to stay in my room—Sheriff Jeffords likes to talk—why don’t you grab something to drink and a snack before he gets here?”

  “Good idea.” She did exactly that, carrying those items to his bedroom before making a stop in the restroom. When they heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up in front, she lifted her hand in a quick wave before disappearing and closing the door behind her.

  Jason stepped out onto the front porch, greeting the sheriff at his vehicle. Here in the mountains, the two sheriff’s department vehicles were four-wheel drive SUVs instead of squad cars.

  Lifting his hand in greeting, Jason led the other man over to the woodpile area. There, the flames and smoke had made singe marks on the wood.

  “Damn.” Getting out a camera, Sheriff Jeffords began snapping photos. “You’re lucky your place didn’t burn down.”

  “I know.” Jason gestured at the snow. “The wind was blowing pretty hard and swirling around all this snow. I think that’s the only thing that saved us.”

  “‘Us?’” The sheriff looked at him, on
e brow raised in question.

  “Figure of speech,” Jason said, managing a sheepish grin. “Me, myself and I.”

  “Okay.” Back to snapping photos.

  “I could have taken those myself.” Jason felt compelled to add. “I don’t know why I didn’t realize you would need them.”

  “It’s all good. Just doing my job. After all, it’s not like there’s a whole hell of a lot going on back in town.” He chuckled.

  Once he’d finished taking his snapshots, the sheriff stowed the camera back in his bag. “Now I’ll need to take your report. Do you mind if we go inside and get out of the cold?”

  Since he’d been expecting this, Jason gestured toward the door. “Not at all. After you.”

  As he stepped into his living room, he couldn’t help but glance at his closed bedroom door. Luckily, Sheriff Jeffords appeared preoccupied with getting out his pad and pen and didn’t notice.

  “Ready? Go ahead,” the sheriff said.

  Leaving out any mention of Lucy, Jason recounted the events of the previous evening while the other man took notes. When Jason finished, the sheriff closed his notepad and nodded grimly.

  “Are you sure you don’t have any idea why someone might be targeting you?” he asked.

  Jason started to shake his head no, but then he remembered the subpoena. “My military buddy Rick Engles is missing,” he recounted. “I’ve gotten one phone call asking questions, and now I’ve been subpoenaed to testify at a hearing. I’m not sure why. Rick and I were supposed to meet up in Kabul, but there was a terrorist attack and we never did. I headed back to the States and assumed he stayed there, doing his job. I didn’t even know he’d gone missing.”

  If possible, the sheriff’s brow furrowed even more. “I agree, that’s mighty interesting,” he allowed. “But targeting you doesn’t seem to fit with that. Anything else?”

  His pictures. And Lucy, though of course he couldn’t discuss her. Deciding whether or not to mention the photos, Jason figured why not. As he’d mentioned to Lucy earlier, there were many reasons someone could want those. He went ahead and filled in the sheriff, taking care to touch on all angles.