by Kat Martin
“Mornin’,” Wolfe said as he leaned back in a wooden deck chair with his bare feet extended and crossed at the ankles, the dog snoring at his side. The soldier had dressed in a black T-shirt and ripped jeans, and in the daylight looked even deadlier than he had coming out of the darkened forest the night before.
“Morning.” She self-consciously moved to the adjacent chair and sat, looking out at the river. “Pretty place.”
“It really is.” Wolfe dropped a hand to the dog’s head and petted him gently. “Is Kat still sleeping?”
“Yeah. He’s in my bed. I hope that’s okay.” She took a drink of the coffee and nearly spit it out before swallowing. “What’s in this?”
Wolfe glanced over. “Oh. After I brewed it, I sweetened it a little. There was only syrup and sugar in the cupboard. No whipped cream or sprinkles, I’m sorry to say. Real tragedy, if you ask me.”
Was he serious? She studied him, noting both intelligence and humor in his light brown eyes. “All right.”
Wolfe looked back at the river. “I can go to town later and get better supplies.”
“Speaking of which, you came from the direction of the river last night. Do you have a car somewhere?” The guy moved like a ghost.
He nodded. “Yeah. I went for a run last night and drove it back here. It’s the rental in front of the house.” He sipped his coffee with a happy hum.
Her face warmed. Hopefully Wolfe had been gone a long time on his run. She’d been pretty loud last night. Had he heard them? The idea of the burly soldier hearing her have sex burned her cheeks hotter.
He glanced over. “You okay?”
“Um, yeah. Sorry. Speaking of Kat, I was thinking of getting a kitten.” Okay. She had to find a new excuse for her mind wandering.
“You really should.” Wolfe stretched his neck. “I was telling you about my rental car. It’s an SUV. I like states where you can rent an SUV instead of some tiny compact. Washington State seems okay, but didn’t they legalize pot here?”
“Um, I think so?” She hadn’t kept up with Washington State politics. “You like pot?”
“No. I have enough brain issues. They’re finding daily pot intake leads to increased instances of schizophrenia. I have enough problems.” He took another big gulp of his coffee, apparently well read-up on the brain.
She took another swallow, letting the warmth and sugar awaken her completely. “You ever make coffee for Raider? He likes it strong and dark with no sweets.”
Wolfe chuckled. “His tastes have changed, then. He really likes sprinkles and extra caramel in his lattes now.”
She doubted that, but arguing with the huge soldier seemed like a bad idea. “I haven’t seen him for a while. How is my big brother?” Or the closest thing she had to one, anyway.
“Good. Undercover with the Irish Mob right now,” Wolfe said.
She twisted toward him and her body chilled. “Are you joking?”
Wolfe turned her way. “Ah. Oh. That probably is a secret. Don’t say anything, okay?”
She opened her mouth, but no words emerged. Raider was dealing with the mob? That couldn’t be good. “Is he in danger?”
Wolfe rubbed his chin. “It’s the mob.”
Great. “He didn’t say he was doing anything dangerous.” She shook her head.
Wolfe grimaced. “Well, maybe when Evan joins the team, he can go undercover instead.”
Michelle grew still and then turned to more fully face him. “Evan is joining Raider’s federal team? The one dealing with the Irish Mob right now?”
Wolfe grimaced. “We defused a bunch of bombs last month. It’s a good gig.”
Oh, Evan had forgotten to mention that little fact. “I knew he wouldn’t be happy in this small town.” For a moment, just a moment, she’d allowed herself to dream.
Wolfe shrugged. “I don’t know. Seems like a nice place. Beyond that, if you love somebody, you take them as is.”
Love? Who had said anything about love? Michelle took a deep drink and coughed. “Some people don’t want uncertainty all the time.”
Wolfe chuckled, a low rumbling sound that had the dog’s ears perking up. “All of life is uncertain. Doesn’t matter what you do or choose, you have no clue what’s around the corner. None of us do.” His eyes twinkled. “Though if you’re mad at Evan, we could make him jealous. Wanna go back inside?”
She studied him, amusement tickling her. “That’s the most half-hearted attempt at seduction I’ve ever heard.”
His grin made his intimidating face almost charming. “Yeah, I figured I should at least make an effort, but truth be told, I think you and Evan look good together. Like two parts to a tactical knife.”
Interesting. “Is that all?”
He rocked in the chair. “Yeah.”
Oh, he was lying. She could tell. “You have a girl back in DC, Clarence Wolfe?”
“Nope.” He rocked more, scratching the dog between the ears. “I have a friend, who happens to be a woman, who’s driving me batshit right now because she takes too many chances as a journalist without decent backup. Dana and I are just friends, though, and that’s all we can be.”
Right. Man, people were clueless sometimes. She really needed to talk to Evan so they could figure themselves out. For now, at least she had something to concentrate on. “I think you like this Dana.”
“I do,” Wolfe agreed.
“Why can’t you be more than friends? Is she married?”
“No. I’m on a mission, and it’s not going to end well.” He stopped rocking, his chest settling. “Plus, I’m not quite right, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. Been through a lot, including a head injury. I wasn’t like most folks before that, anyway.”
The way he stroked the dog showed gentleness and affection. “Don’t sell yourself short. You have a dog and a cat that love you,” she said, finishing the coffee and feeling an instant rush. There was no way Raider had taken to drinking anything this sweet.
Wolfe nodded. “The dog is actually owned by the leader of our unit, but the pooch is more like one of the gang, you know? Kat just adopted me for now because he likes my pocket. I’m sure he’ll switch his allegiance to a pretty lady at some point.”
Michelle’s phone dinged, and she tugged it out of her back pocket, wincing at the number on the screen. She put it to her ear. “Um, hi, George. How is it going?”
“Well, your estranged mother has agreed to lower the amount to fifty thousand. The twit thinks I have a private plane I can show up in and then let her borrow.” George’s British accent had thickened and become more high pitched than usual. “I’m sympathetic to your plight, I mean, family is a disaster for everyone. However, if she uploads my work before release date, we’re both screwed.”
“I know.” Michelle’s temples started to pound. “Do you have the number she called you from?”
“I do.” George rattled off the number, which was no doubt from a burner phone. “Better yet, I agreed to meet her at some private landing strip she found in Idaho, where they probably ship organic potatoes or whatever. Here are the coordinates. She’ll be there tomorrow morning, supposedly.” He rattled them off. “Take care of this, Peach. Thanks.” He disconnected the call.
Evan strode out of the house, coffee in his hand and a grimace on his face.
She set her phone down. “So. Anybody feel like going to Idaho?”
Wolfe nodded. “I’ve never been, and it’s just across the border, right? Sounds like fun.”
Evan’s frown deepened. “Who made this coffee, and what in the world is in it?”
Wolfe snorted. “Love and sunshine, man.”
Michelle chuckled. “I like you, Wolfe.”
His eyebrows rose.
“Not like that,” she hastened to add.
His grin coincided with Evan’s low growl. “I like you, too,” Wolfe drawled.
Chapter Ten
Evan kept his hands loose on the steering wheel of his truck and let the springtime breeze wash throu
gh the open windows. He really wanted to talk to Michelle, but he’d like some privacy to do so. He glanced in the rearview mirror, where Wolfe smiled at him, the dog sprawled across his lap and the kitten in his pocket.
Life had gotten too weird too quickly.
Michelle had been giving him the silent treatment through breakfast and then all during the drive, which had taken a couple of hours. His fingers itched to take her hand, but he gave her space instead. He checked his GPS again, frowning. “Are you sure these coordinates are right?”
She shrugged. “That’s what George said. It’s totally possible that Jayleen got them wrong, depending on whether she was drunk or high. Hopefully the other day was just a wine fest and she hasn’t started using drugs again.” There wasn’t much hope in Michelle’s voice.
Wolfe leaned forward. “Why would she go to Idaho? Is there any connection for her there?”
Michelle partially turned to face him. “I doubt it. She started driving in Washington and probably just kept on I-90 until she landed somewhere she could call George from. Obviously she isn’t thinking straight if she truly believes he can jump on a plane and go wherever. He’s in England, for Pete’s sake.”
“She doesn’t know that,” Evan countered. “Comic-Con is coming up. She probably thinks he’s in California.” If the woman was thinking at all, which was doubtful.
He turned down another road, scouting the pine trees on either side of the truck. They were in the middle of nowhere. Finally, a barely there landing strip became visible. “You have got to be kidding me.” He parked the truck, looking around.
Wolfe snorted. “A plane couldn’t land there. Maybe a helicopter, but the wind would have to be just right.”
If they didn’t find Jayleen, the people hunting Michelle would find her. Evan sighed. “Let’s look around and make sure she’s not in a tent around here somewhere. Then we can head into the nearest town and check out the motels.”
“Good plan.” Wolfe leaped out of the car with the dog. “Roscoe will find her if she’s here.”
Michelle sighed and exited the vehicle. “I’m really sorry about this, you guys.”
“Not your fault,” Evan muttered. He really needed to get her alone so they could talk. He shut his door and went on full alert as Roscoe stared at a cluster of trees to the west, emitting an angry growl.
Evan moved at the same time as Wolfe, both blocking Michelle from the trees.
“You armed?” Evan asked.
“Of course,” Wolfe said, all business for the first time that day.
Two men strolled out of the forest, one with reflective sunglasses and the other with green eyes that were almost luminous. Both wore cowboy boots and black cowboy hats.
Evan conducted a quick scan. No weapons, but they both were muscled and in fighting shape and moved like they could cause serious damage. They exuded a casual grace and confidence another soldier could easily recognize.
“This ain’t gonna be easy,” Wolfe muttered under his breath.
Evan nodded. “Michelle? Get back in the truck in my seat. If things go south, get out of here.”
Michelle didn’t move, frozen in place.
The duo reached them, stopping about two yards away.
“Hi. You’re trespassing,” the man with the glasses said easily. “Why?”
Evan studied them. “Do you know a Jayleen Peach?”
“Nope,” the green-eyed guy said. He had to be in his mid or late twenties, and a world of experience, probably not good ones, glimmered in his eyes. “Should we?”
Evan lifted a shoulder. “She said to meet her here with a plane.”
The green-eyed guy’s black eyebrows rose. “You can’t land a plane here. Helicopter, maybe.” He tilted his head and looked at Roscoe, who was rumbling with displeasure. “It’s okay, puppy. You’re safe.”
Roscoe yipped once, snorted, and dropped to his haunches, now panting happily. He even seemed to grin.
Weird. So weird. Evan flashed his badge quickly. “Sheriff Boldon. Who are you?”
“Garrett Kayrs and Logan Kyllwood,” the guy with the glasses said easily. “You’re out of your jurisdiction, Sheriff.”
How did he catch such a good glimpse? “The GPS shows this land as being owned by a couple of corporations. I take it you work for them?” He wanted to figure this anomaly out, but he had other worries.
“You could say that,” Logan agreed.
Evan’s instincts sparked, but he couldn’t put a finger on why. “What are you gentlemen doing out in the woods?”
Logan grinned. “Truth be told, we were headed into town because there’s a new band playing at Louise’s who now is into country music, and we, ah, heard you arrive and thought we’d check you out.”
That explained the cowboy hats and boots, which just seemed off on these two. “Yet you are guarding your territory?” Wolfe muttered.
Garrett shook his head. “Nope. Walking into town and wondered who was trespassing. In fact, we’re going to meet—”
The roar of a motorcycle engine pierced the day from deep in the woods.
Garrett sighed, looking more resigned than irritated at this point. “I thought Mercy was meeting us in town.”
“When does Mercy stick to a plan?” Somehow, Logan looked larger than he had moments before as he turned back to Evan. “Time to go, buddy.”
Not a chance. Evan put on his best sheriff’s face. “Tell me about your corporations.”
“No,” Garrett said easily. “Please leave.”
Evan didn’t have a right to stay, and he knew it. “Our friend might be around here somewhere, and we’d like to scout the area for her.”
“Your friend isn’t here,” Logan said, no longer appearing as the friendlier of the two men. “Nobody is around for miles. We have excellent security, and there’s no reason for us to lie to you.”
They had found Evan rather quickly, now hadn’t they? Evan looked around for cameras, seeing none.
A dirt bike flew between two spruce trees and skidded to a stop exactly between the two men. The petite rider yanked off a helmet, and a mass of curly red hair cascaded down. “Howdy.”
Wow. “You must be Mercy,” Wolfe mumbled, stepping closer.
“I must be.” Mercy had one blue eye and one green, and looked like danger on a tiny stick. “What’s happening?”
“Nothing,” Logan said, his body moving toward the redhead in a way that pretty much bellowed “mine.”
Ah. Alrighty then. Evan eyed Wolfe. He had to get the guy out of there before fists started getting thrown. Logan’s good nature had completely disappeared with the appearance of the stunning redhead. “We should get going.”
“You really should. We haven’t had trespassers for a couple of months,” Garrett offered helpfully. “Your friend hasn’t been here, and if she shows up, we’ll tell her you were looking.”
Good enough. “What’s the closest motel?” Michelle asked.
Logan lifted a shoulder. “There are several in Coeur d’Alene, which is the closest town. The ones right outside of town take cash, if that’s what you need.”
Helpful, weren’t they?
“Thanks,” Wolfe said, not really sounding thankful, his gaze not leaving Mercy.
“Any time,” Garrett replied. “Please do pay attention to the now-shut gate and trespassing signs on your way out.” He smiled, looking like a hungry panther. “Rather, I should say the locked gate.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t have it locked earlier,” Evan drawled.
Garrett nodded, his obvious charm barely masking the fighter beneath his taut skin. “Good point. Some of the kids rode four-wheelers the other day and apparently forgot to relock the gate. With us heading into town today, it hadn’t seemed like a big deal. It won’t happen again.”
“You have kids working for your corporation?” Evan asked. He’d checked out the satellite map of the area and hadn’t even seen buildings. Maybe the map wasn’t updated.
“Of c
ourse not,” Garrett said, angling a little closer to flank the woman on the bike. “We have a nice subdivision over on the lake.”
“A private one,” Logan added.
Mercy waved at Roscoe. “Aren’t you a beautiful puppy.”
The dog happily wagged his tail, his ears perking right up.
Garrett’s gaze reached Michelle and softened. “It was nice to meet you all, and I hope you find your friend.”
If that wasn’t a dismissal, Evan wasn’t sure what was. “You too. I’m sure we’ll see each other again,” he said.
“Doubtful,” Logan said. “Have a nice day, now.”
* * *
“That was so weird,” Michelle said, her voice hushed as Evan drove back down the long road. “What was up with those guys?” Besides being impossibly good-looking, a fact she saw no reason to share with Evan and Wolfe. The two strangers were like super soldiers, calm and masculine. Kind of like the two men in the truck but somehow different in a way she couldn’t quite pinpoint.
Wolfe shrugged. “There’s a private subdivision over on the lake, and apparently rich folks like privacy, which I totally understand. That Mercy was something, though. Right?”
Yeah, she was. Michelle nodded. “How do you think Jayleen even knew about that landing strip?”
Evan drove through the gate, eyeing the no-trespassing signs on both sides of the road. “She probably just asked locals, and they obviously didn’t know about the security. I feel like Kayrs and Kyllwood were telling the truth about her not being around.”
“They found us fast enough,” Wolfe agreed from the back seat. “Still, I wouldn’t have minded going a round or two, if Michelle wasn’t here. No offense.”
“None taken,” Michelle said. Now that would’ve been a contest. “I’m glad nobody fought.” The last thing she wanted to see was violence. “You guys have dangerous enough lives.”
Evan eyed her. “You have something to say?”
She’d been banking her temper all day, and after the adrenaline rush back at the landing strip, holding on to it was too much. “Yeah. I’m surprised you failed to mention you were joining Raider’s bomb-defusing, mob-infiltrating unit in DC.”
