Snowbound Targets (HQR Romantic Suspense)

by Karen Whiddon

Behind Groesel, Abby stepped carefully out from the cover of the trees.

  “That’s none of your concern,” Groesel said, smirking. “But I’ll tell you since in a minute you’re about to be dead.”

  “It’s the vice president, isn’t it?” Jason asked, mainly to distract him.

  “Hell no,” Groesel boasted. “Though I’m sure he’s aware. The president wants this little episode shut down. Orders came to me directly from his people.”

  Momentarily stunned, Jason gaped.

  Groesel laughed, clearly enjoying Jason’s reaction. A second later, Abby pressed the cold steel of her pistol into the back of the short man’s head. “Drop your gun,” she snarled. “Now.”

  Groesel complied immediately. Jason grabbed the other man’s gun as well as his own. Shoving the spare pistol into his holster, he trained his own on Groesel.

  “Now,” Jason said. “Don’t make the wrong move or you’ll end up like him. Abby, take my cell phone out of my pocket, grab Colter’s flashlight, and go up the ridge and call the sheriff. Tell him to get up here with some men right away. Even if it is dark. That snowmobile has lights. Tell Jeffords to use them.”

  Groesel laughed, the cold sound letting Jason know he wasn’t worried. “Don’t tell me you honestly think your small-town sheriff is going to arrest me.”

  “I do and he will.”

  “Just wait until I make my one phone call.”

  Jason shrugged. “I guess I don’t have a choice.” If Abby wasn’t able to get enough cell reception to make the call, he wasn’t sure what they’d do. Sure, he could tie Groesel up, but they’d all get hypothermia if they spent the night outside in the cold. He had his Jeep, but they couldn’t get anywhere. Of course, if they stayed as close as possible to the fire burning his house down, the blaze should provide enough warmth to enable them to survive.

  After what seemed like forever, Abby returned. “I got through,” she said. “The sheriff and some of his men are on their way.”

  “Good.”

  Groesel only smiled smugly and gazed at the fire.

  Later, what appeared to be not only most of the sheriff’s department but the entire Cedar Volunteer Fire Department roared up on snowmobiles. They weren’t able to bring a water truck due to the road conditions.

  They took charge of the prisoner, reading him his rights and handcuffing him, before loading him up in the snowmobile cart and taking off. Since there wasn’t anything the fire department guys could do, they all stood and watched while years of Jacob’s family history burned to the ground. Several of them said they planned to stay and make sure nothing else caught on fire. They got started digging a trench between the house and the woods. With all the snow and the lack of trees close to the cabin, that scenario seemed unlikely, though he couldn’t blame them from wanting to make sure.

  “Let me give you a ride into town,” the sheriff said. “A couple of my men will bring Colter’s body down to the morgue. I’ll call and have the coroner come up tomorrow. I’ll need to take statements from both of you. After we’re done, you’re welcome to stay at my place until you figure something out.”

  With one last look at his still-burning cabin, Jason agreed. Though the sense of loss crushed him, he also planned to make a new beginning, hopefully with Abby. He could rebuild on the land, put in a house that would be their home. If she was willing, that is.

  “After we give our statements, I’d like to speak to the reporters,” Abby told him, still holding his hand. “Will you stay with me while I do?”

  “Of course.” He smiled reassuringly at her. Inside, he couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the prelude to her saying goodbye and going off to build her own life. Moving on. Without a doubt, he knew she would if he didn’t tell her how he felt.

  Go big or go home. This had always been his motto and one of the things that got him the good shots and made him an excellent war photojournalist. With that in mind, he planned to go all the way. He wanted to purchase a ring and propose. Since Cedar didn’t have a jewelry store, he’d need to get to a large town like Colorado Springs.

  How and when were the problems. He couldn’t leave Abby alone but he somehow wanted to surprise her. And it appeared time was running out.

  Back in town, the sheriff took Abby back first, promising to make this as brief as possible. Jason nodded, pushing back waves of exhaustion.

  Absently leafing through a magazine on Sheriff Jefford’s coffee table, Jason saw an ad for a jewelry chain. The photo featured a stunning emerald cut diamond in a simple setting. Exactly the type of ring he could picture Abby wearing.

  Without even stopping to think, he quickly tore out the page, folded it neatly and stuck it in his pocket.

  “Hey there,” Abby said, smiling as she walked into the room. As usual, the sight of her had his heart somersaulting in his chest. “What are you doing?”

  Feeling slightly self-conscious, he dropped the magazine back onto the coffee table. “I just left a message for the insurance company. I’ll have to file a claim on the cabin.”

  “True.” She perched on the arm of the couch near him. “I suppose I need to make some phone calls to coworkers back in DC.” Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she grimaced. “I confess, I’ve been putting it off. The explanation is rather lengthy. And they’ll see it on the news anyway.”

  She had a point. “What about friends and family?” he asked.

  “My parents died twelve years ago. As for friends...” Her voice trailed off. “Russell kind of managed to drive a huge wedge between us. There’s no one I really want to call.”

  “Then don’t.” He patted the space next to him, relieved that she didn’t sound too dejected. “It actually doesn’t sound like there’s much tying you to DC.”

  “There’s not. And I wouldn’t feel safe there. Not until Russell is actually doing time for his crimes. He has too many powerful connections.” Her gaze searched his. “What about you? Are you planning to go back to work in the war zones now that you no longer have your cabin?”

  Though she tried to sound casual, he could sense how important that question was. They were still feeling each other out, trying to gauge how important each was to the other.

  “I’m going to rebuild,” he said quietly. Then, deciding he wanted to put an end to the uncertainty, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the magazine ad. Though he really would have preferred to have the real thing, his entire existence up until this point had been about photographs. He honestly felt Abby would understand. Plus, if she said yes, then they could choose the ring together.

  If she said yes. He didn’t want to think about what his life would become if she turned him down.

  Dropping to one knee in front of her, he unfolded the paper, unsurprised to see that his hands were shaking. “Abby, I’d like to rebuild the cabin with you. Redesign it and expand it, making it into more of a home for the two of us to share.” He took a deep breath, swallowing before he continued. “I don’t have a ring, but maybe this will do until we can go together and choose one.” Feeling slightly foolish—and a hell of a lot more vulnerable than he’d expected—he handed her the magazine page.

  “Abby, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life proving to you how much. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Eyes wide, she accepted the paper, laughing out loud as she realized he’d handed her a photograph of an engagement ring. Eyes suspiciously bright, she studied it intently before raising her gaze to meet his.

  “Cedar doesn’t have a jewelry store, and since we couldn’t exactly drive out of the valley, I couldn’t get a ring,” he said, realizing he might be babbling. “Since photographs are such a big part of my life, I figured this would work until we could shop together.”

  Still, she didn’t speak. Finally, she placed the paper on the coffee table and knelt down in front of him, knee to knee
.

  “Yes.” Her simple answer electrified him. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” And then she tackled him, laughing and crying all at the same time. When she kissed him, he tasted the salty sweetness of her tears.

  “Don’t cry,” he begged. “Please don’t cry. I love you.”

  “Tears of joy,” she murmured, her mouth once again claiming his. “Tears of joy.”

  * * *

  Don’t miss out on other great suspenseful reads

  from Karen Whiddon:

  Texas Ranch Justice

  The Texas Soldier’s Son

  Wyoming Undercover

  The Texan’s Return

  Available now wherever

  Harlequin Romantic Suspense books

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from Bodyguard Boyfriend by Lisa Childs.

  WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK FROM

  Danger. Passion. Drama.

  These heart-racing page-turners will keep you guessing to the very end. Experience the thrill of unexpected plot twists and irresistible chemistry.

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  Bodyguard Boyfriend

  by Lisa Childs

  Chapter 1

  Everything was perfect. The music was low enough and the lights high enough that everything and everyone could be heard and seen in the beautifully decorated ballroom. All the important people were in attendance. They were opening their wallets and checkbooks, making significant donations, which made all of Bella Holmes’s hard work to pull off this event worthwhile. Since it was a black-tie affair, everyone was dressed so elegantly. They all looked beautiful—like movie stars.

  Except for him...

  She noticed him the moment he entered the ballroom of the River City Grand Plaza. How had he even gotten into the event? Of course, he was much bigger than the security guys she’d hired to watch the door. Their main duty was just to take tickets and invitations, though. There was no way this man had either of those.

  She had not invited him and she doubted he could have afforded the price of a ticket. Unless he was one of those eccentric millionaires who enjoyed looking so unkempt and...

  She shivered.

  He looked like he didn’t give a damn about anything or anyone. His black hair was long and thick and unruly, and a bushy black beard covered his square jaw and part of his neck. He wore a black jacket, but it wasn’t part of a tuxedo. There was no white shirt or tie beneath the leather jacket, either. And he wore faded jeans with black boots like the ones motorcyclists wore. In fact, she suspected that was what he’d driven to the gala. He carried no helmet, though, so he’d either checked it at the door or chosen to ride without one.

  Other people had noticed him—probably due to his size as well as his appearance. He had to be well over six feet tall, and his shoulders were so broad they strained against that leather jacket. The guests murmured and tittered among themselves.

  He paid them no attention, though, as he looked around the expansive ballroom as if searching for someone. Was that why he was there? For someone in particular?

  Then he turned his head and his gaze locked with hers. He didn’t look away. He stared directly at her as he started walking toward her.

  Bella’s knees began to weaken and shake. He was here for her. Daddy had warned her. He’d told her that some criminal in an upcoming trial over which he was going to preside had threatened her.

  Was this man that criminal?

  Maybe she shouldn’t have shrugged off her father’s concern like she had. But as a criminal judge, Daddy was threatened all the time. Desperate claims by desperate people. This was the first time he’d seemed genuinely worried, though, so worried that he’d been insisting she have a bodyguard.

  And now she understood why—if this was the man who’d made those threats. But that man had been denied bail; so he was in jail. That was why she’d told her father she didn’t need a bodyguard and, more important, that she didn’t want one. Had he sent one anyway?

  This man was very focused on her. As he drew closer, she noticed that his eyes were brown but a very light, very golden brown, like topaz. And more alarming than that, she also noticed the bulge beneath his jacket. It wasn’t from his muscles, though they strained the leather, as well. The bulge was from a gun.

  With a gasp of outrage, she turned—breaking their visual connection. Then she began to move through the crowd, heading for the other end of the ballroom. Years of practice in social situations had her smiling brightly at the people who tried to stop her to speak. She just shook her head regretfully and promised she would be right back.

  And she would be, once she handled this. Privately. She could feel him behind her, moving through the crowd, too, which parted for him as it compressed around her. She should probably head in the other direction, toward the entrance and the security guards positioned there. But they had let him pass—without an invitation or a ticket. Obviously they would not be able to stop him from doing whatever he intended to do to her. Did he intend to protect her? Was he her bodyguard?

  She was about to find out. Because as she neared the end of the room, a strong hand wrapped around her arm.

  A lot of other people had touched her as she’d passed them. But she instinctively knew the hand on her arm was his. It was so big and so strong—just like him. And even though other people had reached out to her, all of them had been too polite to just grab her.

  No. She knew it was him. That he was the one who’d grabbed her. And he’d jerked her to a stop so abruptly that she teetered on her stiletto heels and began to fall.

  * * *

  Tyce caught her before she fell. As she stumbled and swayed, he wrapped an arm around her small waist and jerked her up against his body. He tensed as he felt a jolt as if she’d stabbed him.

  But she only stared up at him, her green eyes wide with shock as if she’d felt that same jolt. She recovered quickly, though. Faster than he had. Pressing her palms against his chest, she pushed away from him. But with his arm locked around her waist, she couldn’t put much distance between their bodies—not enough that he still didn’t feel the heat of hers. Or the tension...

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, her full red lips pursed in disapproval. She apparently didn’t think he belonged at such a fancy event.

  She wasn’t wrong. Tyce was uncomfortable, the kind of uncomfortable he would be if he’d inadvertently volunteered to model naked for an art class and everybody was staring at him, studying his every pore. Like they were staring at him now, studying him. At least he had his clothes on, though, and they were his own damn clothes. He didn’t care that he wasn’t dressed like everybody else. They looked even more uncomfortable than he was, like they were wearing straitjackets instead of monkey suits. Even she had nearly tripped in her heels and long, golden-colored dress. But that was because she’d been trying to get away from him.

  “I work for the Payne Protection Agency,” he said, “which has been hired to guard you.”

  She shook her head. “I told him no.”

  Tyce had tried saying no, too. Why had he, of everybody on his team, been assigned to protect the princess? Tyce Jackson was nobody’s idea of a prince.

  She pushed harder against his chest. “You need to leave.”

  He’d been warned that she didn’t want protection. She clearly didn’t want him there. Probably didn’t want to be seen with him. He’d dated women like her—in high school, college and after—ones who’d wanted to walk on the wild side with a bad boy. But they hadn’t wanted anyone to see them taking that walk. “I’m not leaving without you.”

  Her green eyes narrowed as she stared up at him, as if doubting what he’d said. He’d heard she was an airhead who’d dropped out of college to spend her life going from party to party.

  But then,
with the trust fund she’d inherited from her dead mother and the one she would receive as her wealthy father’s only heir, she didn’t have to worry about her future. Financially at least.

  Nevertheless, with notorious drug dealer Luther Mills making threats against everyone involved in his prosecution for murder of a police informant, her future wasn’t secure physically. To get to her father—the judge for his trial—Luther Mills was threatening her.

  “I told my father I didn’t need a bodyguard,” she said. “He’s overreacting. If I feel like I’m in danger, I will call the police.”

  Her father had said he’d talked to her about Luther’s threats, but apparently she hadn’t listened. She didn’t seem to be aware that there was a leak within the River City police department. With the exception of the chief, nobody within the department could really be trusted. Neither could anyone within the district attorney’s office; there was a leak there, too.

  “I’m here tonight to take you to a meeting,” he said, glancing at the clock on the ballroom wall.

  She shook her head again. Her blond hair, which had been piled high on top of her head, didn’t move, the pins holding tightly.

  Like he continued to hold her. But he had a feeling that if he released her, she would try to get away from him again. And he couldn’t risk that. “We need to leave now,” he said. “So we’re not late.”

  She tensed even more than she’d been, drawing herself up as if trying to look down on him. She was tall, but still the top of her head just came to his chin, he was that much taller than she was. At six foot eight, he was taller than most people, though.

  “I am not going anywhere with you,” she said.

  Of course not—if the situation was anything but what it was. “I’m not asking you out,” he said. “I’m making sure you get to the meeting.”

  “Meeting?” she asked, arching a blond brow in skepticism. “I have no interest in any meeting.”