She spun. “Andrew—”
“What is it? What’s happened? You’re trembling.”
She took a moment before answering. A part of her wanted to blurt out the truth, but another part—the guarded part—heeded Cole Matheson’s warning. “The breeze is chilly and I forgot my sweater.”
“That doesn’t explain why you look so upset.”
“I’m not upset. I heard a coyote. The sound startled me.”
As if on cue, a series of yips and barks echoed up from the canyon. The eerie sound lifted the hair at Lea’s nape. Animals had a way of sensing danger. So did she at that moment. Her every instinct bristled as her husband gazed down at her.
He moved to the edge of the patio to stare out across the grounds. “I thought I saw someone come out here with you.”
“Mr. Matheson kept me company for a bit, but then he said something about taking a walk.”
“Did he say where he was headed?”
She hesitated and then shrugged. “No, and I didn’t ask. I was just glad to be rid of him.”
Andrew’s voice sharpened. “Why? What did he say to you?”
“Nothing, really. It’s just... I’m still nervous around people. Conversation is so awkward, even with strangers. You were right to bring me here. I’m not ready to face our friends and acquaintances. All those prying eyes, the endless questions...” She shuddered. “Thank you for looking out for me.”
He cast another wary glance around the patio before placing his hands on her shoulders. “You don’t have to thank me for trying to protect you. I told you before... I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Yes, you did say that.”
“Let’s go inside now. You’re still trembling, and anyway, it’ll soon be dinnertime.”
“You go on. I’ll be there in a minute.” She moved away from his touch as she turned back to the grounds. “It’s such a beautiful night. I like watching the stars. And there’s a full moon tonight. You can see it through those trees.”
“Maybe that’s why the coyotes are so excitable.”
“That’s just a myth,” she said. “Strange I can remember that, but not where we live or when we were married or how we met.”
“All in good time.” He took her arm. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes, but I’d like to ask you something, if I may.”
“Of course, Lea. I’m your husband. You can ask me anything.”
“Why did you choose this dress for me?”
“Don’t you like it?”
“It’s beautiful. And it fits me perfectly. I just want to know...why this particular dress?”
“It’s no big mystery. Green happens to be my favorite color.” His voice lowered. “At least when you wear it.”
His response shook her. “What’s my favorite color?”
“No more questions, okay? We’ll have plenty of time to go over everything during our stay here. Tonight, let’s just enjoy a quiet dinner.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“It’s for the best.” He took her elbow and guided her toward the door.
She looked back, searching the shadows until she could just make out a tall form. Andrew went in ahead of her while she wavered at the door, daring Cole Matheson to show himself. He moved out into the moonlight, just far enough so that she could see him mouth Tonight.
Then she turned and followed her husband into the house.
Chapter Four
Someone wants me dead.
The revelation swirled in Lea’s head as she followed her husband into the dining room. It took every measure of her self-control not to recoil from the touch of his hand at her elbow. Every gaze she met seemed threatening to her now. Every smile seemed forced and calculated.
Someone wants me dead.
Her attack hadn’t been a random mugging, as the police had suggested. Her would-be killer may have followed her for days, waiting for the right moment to strike. Or perhaps he—or she—had somehow lured her to that isolated street. Maybe Lea had gone there to meet someone. Cole Matheson? According to him, they’d set up a rendezvous but she never arrived.
Assuming, of course, she could believe his account. She couldn’t imagine why he would concoct such a story, but how could she be sure he had her best interests at heart? For all she knew, he was the one who had attacked her.
“Lea?”
She forced her attention back to her husband. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
He smiled at her across the table. “You seemed so deep in thought just now. Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”
“I’m a little tired. It’s been a long day.”
“As soon as we finish dinner, you can go straight up to bed. A good night’s rest will do wonders. I’ve planned an easy climb for us tomorrow if you feel up to it.”
“That sounds nice,” she murmured, drifting back into her own thoughts.
She was glad that Andrew had chosen a table for two near the windows so that she could look out over the garden. She wasn’t consciously searching for Cole Matheson—at least she told herself she wasn’t—but her gaze strayed across the grounds, probing all the shadows.
Lanterns hung from tree branches and luminaries lined the walkways, creating a fairy-tale landscape against the forbidding backdrop of Bishop’s Rock. The peak of granite glistened in the moonlight as shadows cavorted across the grounds, chilling Lea’s blood.
Contrary to Andrew’s earlier assertion, she wasn’t captivated by the scenery. There was something oppressive about that looming fortress of granite, something unnerving about the odd whispering sound that came from the bubbling springs. She didn’t much care for the accommodations, either. The close quarters with strangers made her feel claustrophobic, but she tried to suppress her foreboding as she glanced around the dining room.
The other guests appeared to be absorbed in the meal and their companions, but she had caught Elise Terry openly staring at their table more than once. As Lea’s gaze moved about the room, she became aware of another’s scrutiny. A bearded man in glasses sat alone at a table in the farthest corner of the restaurant. She’d noticed him earlier in the great room. He’d made no effort to interact with the others, but instead had sat reading a book, which he had brought into the dining room with him. Now he set the book aside, his gaze meeting hers as he lifted his wineglass in an almost infinitesimal salute before he downed the contents.
Andrew noticed her focus and looked around. “What is it?”
Lea leaned across the table. “That man seated in the corner... Do we know him?”
Andrew gave a surreptitious glance over his shoulder. “I’ve never seen him before in my life. Why? Did he say something to you?”
“No. He’s had his nose in a book all evening, but just now he seemed to be staring at our table.”
“Staring at you, you mean.” Her husband’s casual glance turned into a frowning glare. “If he continues to bother you, I’ll go over and say something to him.”
“Please don’t. It was nothing. I’m being paranoid.” Lea reached for her wine. “The doctor said it’s normal that I should be anxious for a while. Please. Just forget I said anything. Let’s enjoy our meal.”
Andrew lifted his own glass, observing her over the rim. “If anyone were to bother you, you’d let me know, wouldn’t you?”
“What are you talking about?”
He drank deeply before answering her. Then he set his glass aside with studied nonchalance. “That man earlier. Cole Matheson. He seemed taken with you.”
She stared back at him, startled. “Taken with me? You don’t know how wrong you are.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She managed a quick smile even though her heart thudded in apprehension. Careful, she warned herself. She cou
ldn’t afford to give herself away, even with her own husband. Someone wanted her dead, and a spouse was always the prime suspect. She studied his face for a moment before lowering her gaze. “Nothing. Only now you’re the one who sounds paranoid.”
“Don’t I have a right to be after everything that’s happened? If not paranoid, at least protective.” He watched her over the candle flame. “I didn’t want to say anything, but you had some trouble in the past with an admirer. We finally had to call the police when he became too tenacious.”
A chill slid up her backbone. “An admirer? What are you talking about?”
“It was a long time ago and there’s no reason to worry now. The situation took care of itself.”
“How?”
“He moved on. As I said, it was a long time ago, and I probably shouldn’t have said anything. I have a tendency to be overly suspicious. The last thing I want to do is upset you. I brought you to Whispering Springs so you could heal in peace. And so that we could reconnect away from prying eyes. Maybe I’m being selfish, but I don’t want any distractions. Not from Cole Matheson, not from anyone.” His voice lowered intimately. “You look very beautiful tonight, Lea. Who can blame me for wanting you all to myself?”
The intensity of the moment staggered Lea. His lingering scrutiny didn’t seem like that of a man who wanted to kill her, but rather the concentrated gaze of a husband who had gone too long without his wife. It was covetous and proprietary and the impact unnerved Lea. For some reason, she thought of those coyotes at the bottom of the canyon—hungry and feral.
“This is the same table we shared when we came here before,” Andrew said. “You wore green that night, too.”
“Did I?” She glanced down at her dress. “I wish I could remember.”
“You will in time. But even if your memory never returns, I want you to know that you’ll be well taken care of. You don’t need to worry about money, about us, about anything.” He reached for her hand. “I won’t leave you. Whatever problems we had before...that’s in the past. I’m here for as long as you want and need me.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just try to relax. Enjoy the wine. Enjoy the evening. Maybe you could look at this as a fresh start.”
“Without memories?”
He shrugged. “The past can sometimes be an anvil. I don’t expect you to feel anything for me now. I’m a stranger to you. But you fell in love with me once. Who’s to say you can’t love me again?”
“Andrew—”
“I know, I know. Too soon.” He sounded contrite, but the candlelight intensified his hunger. “I’m a patient man, ordinarily. But here we are together again and I’ve never seen you look lovelier.”
Someone wants me dead.
She pushed back her chair. “Would you excuse me for a moment?”
He looked crestfallen. “I’ve upset you.”
“No, it’s not that. Well, maybe a little,” she conceded. “I just need a moment.”
“Of course, Lea. Take all the time you need.”
She fled the dining room and crossed the foyer. As she headed up the stairs, a woman’s voice called out to her.
“Mrs. Westin?”
She turned to find Elise Terry on the staircase behind her. Lea waited for the woman to catch up to her.
The blue-green eyes glinted in the ambient lighting. “Are you calling it a night already? You’re a brave woman, leaving that handsome husband of yours all alone to fend for himself.”
“I’m coming back down,” Lea said. “Although I’m sure he can manage fine without me.”
Elise smiled knowingly. “No doubt.” She paused two steps down from Lea, but her height in the heels put them at nearly eye level. “You don’t remember me, do you?”
Lea said in surprise, “Should I?”
“Not really. We met some time ago and only briefly. I’ve changed my hair since then. So have you.” She cocked her head. “I knew there was something different about you, but I couldn’t put my finger on it at first. You’ve let your hair grow out and lightened it a bit. Very youthful. We both look different.”
Lea tried to say casually, “What was the circumstance of our meeting? How long ago was it?”
“Just before Christmas. You’d come downtown for a board meeting at Global Alliances. It was during all that unpleasantness with the ousted CFO. There was a lot of bickering among the board. No one could agree on a course of action. You stepped up and cast the deciding vote for my advancement, and I’ve always been grateful for that. Now I finally get the chance to thank you in person.”
Lea was completely at a loss. She had no recollection of the meeting, of Elise Terry or of a company called Global Alliances. But she smiled and murmured what she hoped was an appropriate response.
“Your husband tells me that the two of you are here for a quiet getaway. He mentioned that you’re recovering from an accident.”
“It was no accident,” Lea blurted.
Something flared in the woman’s eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. He didn’t give me the details. I just assumed—”
“I was attacked and left for dead,” Lea said. “The police think it was a mugging.”
“My God.” Elise splayed a hand across her chest. “I had no idea. Are you all right?”
“I’m recovering. It’s...been difficult.”
“I can only imagine. If there’s ever anything I can do—”
“Thank you.”
“If I may offer a bit of advice?”
“Of course.”
“I would be careful going out alone around here. The trails can be tricky. It’s easy to get turned around and become hopelessly lost if you’re unfamiliar with the terrain. And Bishop’s Rock can be deceptively treacherous. Andrew mentioned you’re a seasoned climber, but accidents can happen to the best of us.” Lea’s fingers were curled around the banister, and Elise Terry touched the back of her hand briefly. “My advice is to watch your step.”
A subtle edge had crept into the woman’s voice and Lea slid her hand away. Had she just been threatened?
“I won’t keep you. Have a good night, Mrs. Westin.”
Lea watched her descend the stairs, but instead of returning to the dining room, Elise strode into the great room, and a moment later, Lea felt a cool draft from the open patio doors. She wondered if Elise was going out to meet someone, and the image of Cole Matheson lurking in the shadows came back to her. Lea didn’t want to think about him anymore tonight. She didn’t want to dwell on the terrifying notion that someone wanted her dead. But she couldn’t bury her head in the sand and hope for the best. She had to take care of herself.
Hurrying down the stairs, she crossed the foyer into the great room. The space was deserted, but through the French doors, she saw someone running across the grounds toward the woods. She stepped out on the patio, shivering in the chilly breeze. The moon cast the landscape in a silvery glow. She could just make out Elise Terry as she moved toward the woods. The woman paused to glance back at the house before plunging into the deeper shadows at the tree line.
Lea contemplated following her. Elise was obviously on a mission. She was headed in the same direction from which Cole Matheson had come earlier. What if the two of them were in league? A far-fetched notion maybe, but Lea couldn’t afford to trust anyone. She couldn’t let down her guard, even with her own husband.
I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of everything.
My advice is to watch your step.
I’m the man you hired to find out who wants you dead.
The voices droned in her head as the coyotes went crazy in the canyon. The incessant howls raised goose bumps along Lea’s bare arms as she huddled on the patio, resisting the urge to run, to simply disappear into the night. But where would she go? How would she live? She had no identity, no accessi
ble money, no friends, family or allies. No knowledge of any skills or education. How could she possibly survive on her own?
As she stood there quaking in the dark, it hit her anew how alone she was and how at the mercy of her husband she had become since he’d found her at the rehab center.
She took a last longing glance at the sky and then turned to go back inside, only to stop short with a gasp. On the other side of the French doors, someone watched her.
Lea recognized the bearded man in the glasses. His face was partially obscured by shadows, giving him a sinister appearance that she hadn’t noticed earlier in the dining room. She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but his presence wasn’t a coincidence, she felt certain. He was keeping tabs on her.
She told herself to say something, to demand to know his intentions, but her instincts warned not to provoke a confrontation. No one else was around. For all she knew the man could be armed and dangerous.
Wait him out. Don’t let him see your fear.
He watched her for what seemed an eternity before he turned and walked away without a word.
Chapter Five
Lea lay fully dressed on top of the bedcovers, staring up at the ceiling. Even through the closed balcony doors, she could hear the coyotes. The primal sound bristled the hair at her nape and tripped along her nerve endings. She thought about the man she’d caught staring at her earlier and resisted the urge to get up and check the deadbolt. It’s locked. You’re safe. Just relax.
Easier said than done. She glanced at the time on her phone. It was just after eleven. The night seemed interminable.
She’d begged off after-dinner drinks, pleading exhaustion and a lingering headache. She’d come up to her room alone, leaving Andrew to be entertained by Elise Terry and the other guests that had assembled in the great room. She imagined them down there now, sipping cordials and coffee, but the idea of a beautiful woman cozying up to her husband elicited not even a twinge of jealousy. Hardly surprising, she supposed. She had no memory of her time with Andrew. She had no idea how close they’d once been or what had driven them apart. Money? Infidelity?
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