Backwoods

by Jill Sorenson

  Brooke had described him as “seriously hot.” That was right on the money.

  Abby didn’t know how to welcome him. This was the man Lydia had been married to when she started seeing Ray. Lydia had cheated on Nathan with Abby’s husband. Ray had cheated on Abby with Nathan’s wife.

  His appearance here was unexpected, to say the least.

  Maybe Ray had invited him. Ray was so arrogant and oblivious that he might not anticipate any tension between them. And now they were supposed to spend the week together in this cabin, pretending no one had been caught screwing in the back office?

  The level of awkwardness just ratcheted up ten notches.

  CHAPTER TWO

  IT TOOK NATHAN a moment to place her.

  He’d been anticipating a confrontation with his son, not a blank stare from a pretty stranger. Had Lydia given him the right address? She’d mentioned that Ray’s daughter, Brooke, would be here. Nathan knew at a glance that this woman wasn’t her. She had to be at least thirty, with honey-blond hair and lovely blue eyes. Her clothes were casual, but stylish and feminine. She wore a body-hugging tunic and cropped leggings. Her leather sandals had a studded strap around the ankle.

  The speech he’d planned for Leo faded into the background as he dragged his gaze up her slender body, lingering for a second too long on her breasts. Then his brain kicked into gear. “You’re Abby.”

  “Yes.”

  He was knocked for a loop. She didn’t look old enough to have a daughter in college. And...she was hot. Not flashy, in-your-face hot, like Lydia, but too damned beautiful to be Ray’s ex-wife.

  “Leo took Brooke on a motorcycle ride,” she said.

  Nathan glanced at the deserted road, hoping his son was sober.

  “I’m sure they’ll be back soon.”

  “Can I come in?”

  A pulse fluttered at the base of her pale throat. She must have seen the YouTube video. She didn’t want to let him in.

  “I’ll wait outside,” he said, ignoring the blow to his pride. Not so long ago, women had tripped all over themselves to talk to him. Fans clamored for his autograph. He’d been cheered in public and treated like a rock star.

  Now people recognized him as the guy who’d thrown away his career. He’d been videotaped in a state of extreme intoxication by his own son. The clip of him stumbling out of a taxicab and falling down on his front lawn had gone viral. He’d lost visitation rights with Leo. Their relationship had been strained ever since.

  Nathan didn’t make excuses for the mistakes he’d made in the past. He’d gone to rehab and cleaned up his act. He was no longer a famous baseball player, and he might always be remembered for personal lows, rather than professional highs, but he’d come out okay. He’d gotten his life back on track. Most addicts weren’t so lucky.

  Instead of getting defensive about his bad reputation, he’d learned to shrug off criticism and roll with the punches. Although he’d stopped caring about the opinions of strangers, he didn’t want Abby to be afraid of him. Maybe because of their tenuous, broken-family connection. Maybe because he found her attractive.

  Her cheeks flushed pink. She was embarrassed by her hesitation to let him in. “Is Leo expecting you?”

  “No.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  She was direct. He liked that. “Lydia sprained her ankle this afternoon. She can’t hike or even walk.”

  Her lips parted with disbelief. “What about Ray?”

  “He’s staying with her. They asked me to come instead.”

  “Son of a bitch,” she muttered, propping a hand on her hip. “He does this every time!”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “I’m sure your daughter will be disappointed.”

  “Yes.”

  Leo would also be disappointed. His son had made it clear that he didn’t want to see him, but Nathan hadn’t given up on reconciling.

  Abby stepped aside. “Come on in.”

  “Thanks,” he said, passing by her.

  After she closed the door, they stood there, staring at each other. She was tall and poised. With her careful makeup and chic clothes, she didn’t strike him as an outdoor explorer. He couldn’t picture her hiking into the wilderness. But he couldn’t see Lydia doing it, either. His ex-wife was more of a yoga-and-latte type.

  “I was wondering if Ray had invited you,” she said. “I imagined the four of us around the breakfast table, plus Leo and Brooke.”

  Was she joking? He’d rather eat with wolves.

  She cocked her head to one side. “Do you get along with Ray?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Why do you think?”

  She smiled wryly, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Nathan had forgiven Lydia ages ago, and he no longer wanted to beat Ray to a pulp. He could say hello and be polite, but he’d never be friends with the man who’d fucked his wife while they were still married. He wasn’t that evolved.

  “Have a seat,” she said.

  “I’ll stand.”

  With a shrug, she retreated into the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by an island with a speckled granite surface. “I was going to make a drink. Do you want something?”

  The hair on his nape prickled. “Is this a test?”

  She took a mug off the shelf and held up a square package. Not a glass tumbler or a bottle of hard alcohol. Instant cocoa.

  “Sorry,” he said, rubbing a hand over his mouth. It was an old gesture, back to haunt him. “I’m nervous.”

  “Why?”

  “You must not know Leo.”

  “We just met.”

  “He doesn’t like me very much.”

  She filled her mug with water from the tap, not commenting on his parenting failure. Her daughter was a shining star at Berkeley. She’d been a straight-A student in high school. According to Lydia, the girl excelled in athletics, as well. Brooke was everything Nathan wished Leo would be.

  “Is he a good driver?” she asked.

  Nathan doubted it. The only activity Leo put effort into was getting stoned. “He’s never been in an accident.”

  “You don’t want cocoa, I take it.”

  “No.”

  “Club soda?”

  “All right.”

  She put her mug in the microwave and filled a pale green cup with ice, pouring the clear soda on top.

  “Thank you,” he said, giving her another once-over as she stirred the cocoa. Her legs were shapely, with smooth, suntanned calves. The leather straps around her ankles resembled Roman slave cuffs. Surely they weren’t meant to inspire bondage fantasies. He tore his gaze away, sipping his club soda.

  Looking at her like that was a bad idea. If he wasn’t careful, he’d start entertaining thoughts about wife-swapping and poetic justice. Not that Lydia cared who he slept with nowadays. Nathan felt no particular urge to try to make her jealous, either. Hooking up with Abby wouldn’t close the circle of betrayal or right any wrongs. He felt dirty for considering it, which of course made the notion all the more appealing.

  “Do you still drink?” she asked.

  “No. I’ve been sober three years now.”

  “Congratulations.”

  He acknowledged her with a curt nod.

  Silence stretched between them. “My sister just got engaged,” she said, showing him a photo on her cell phone.

  He glanced at the image to be polite. “Is that a gray diamond?”

  “Musgravite,” she said. “It’s very rare. She’s a geophysicist.”

  That was impressive. “Are you a scientist, as well?”

  “I’m a wellness director at a nursing home.”

>   “What does that mean?”

  “I plan activities and interact with the residents.”

  “Do you play pinochle?”

  Her lips twitched at the question. “We play strip poker.”

  The comment sounded suggestive, like an invitation to picture her naked. Somehow he resisted the urge. “You must see a lot of sock suspenders.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “What do you do?”

  “You don’t know?”

  “I know you used to play baseball.”

  “I manage a college team now.”

  “Is that like coaching?”

  “Sort of. I handle recruiting and business decisions.”

  “Where at?”

  “San Diego State.”

  The season had just ended and Nathan was happy with their performance. The Toros had done well in the play-offs. Maybe next summer they’d go all the way. He felt good about their future prospects—and his own.

  Professionally, he had few complaints. Managing a talented young team was lucrative and rewarding. His love life was nonexistent and his son refused to speak to him. But hey, nobody said sobriety would be easy.

  The sound of a motorcycle engine made his heart jump into his throat.

  “That’s them,” Abby said.

  Nathan set his cup on the countertop and proceeded outside with her. Leo parked what appeared to be a vintage dirt bike on the sidewalk by the driveway. It was an old Honda with a single headlight. The seat didn’t appear large enough for two, but they’d managed. Brooke clung to Leo like a second skin, her slender arms wrapped around his midsection. She was wearing a black helmet, obviously his.

  She hopped off the bike and removed the helmet, pale blond hair spilling down her shoulders. She was tall and leggy, like her mother. Her jeans and tank top were tight enough to rev up any teenage boy’s hormones.

  Leo grinned at her as he stomped down the kickstand and cut the engine. He took the helmet she offered, seeming a little dazed by her beauty.

  Nathan could relate to the feeling.

  Leo didn’t notice Nathan’s car in the driveway or even see him standing there. Nathan stepped forward, clearing his throat. Leo startled at the sound. His smile faded and all of the joy drained from his face.

  “Is that thing street legal?” Nathan asked.

  Leo ignored his question. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  Brooke gaped at his rudeness. She probably never spoke that way to her parents.

  “This is Leo’s dad,” Abby said, putting her arm around Brooke’s shoulders.

  The girl recovered from her shock and greeted him politely. “I’m Brooke.”

  “Nathan,” he said, shaking her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

  Abby guided her inside, aware that Nathan and Leo needed some privacy.

  Nathan didn’t know where to begin. He hadn’t talked to Leo since Christmas. Now that Leo was an adult, Nathan couldn’t force him to accept his calls or allow visits. Ray and Lydia supported him financially.

  Nathan had no say in his life. No rights. No relationship.

  He’d lost his son in the divorce, as well as his wife. Although he took responsibility for the problems he’d created, he still resented being out of the parental loop. Lydia never consulted with him about important issues, like vehicle ownership and college enrollment. Ray gave Leo free rein to fuck up and footed all the bills.

  Leo had grown several inches since last summer, when Nathan had stopped by to see him after a game at UCLA. Between semesters, he lived with Ray and Lydia in Beverly Hills. They’d converted the pool house into a small studio apartment where he could jam loud music and hang out with his hoodlum friends.

  His hair was longer. His shoulders were a little broader. Though he refused to play sports, he was a natural athlete. He had quick reflexes and a quick mind—when he wasn’t under the influence. Someday his dissolute lifestyle would catch up with him. For now he was lean and strong and brimming with health.

  “You need a haircut,” Nathan said.

  Leo lodged his helmet under one arm, feigning boredom. “What do you want?”

  “Your mom and Ray couldn’t make it.”

  He swore at them both under his breath, which set Nathan’s nerves further on edge. Leo didn’t appreciate the easy life he’d been given.

  “Don’t disrespect your mother,” Nathan said.

  “Only you can?”

  Nathan hadn’t badmouthed Lydia since he quit drinking, but he’d called her some unflattering names over the years. They’d argued and exchanged scathing insults. Once, Leo had gotten between them, shoving and kicking. Tears streaming down his face, he’d yelled at Nathan to leave his mother alone.

  “She called me from the E.R.,” Nathan said.

  Leo tensed at the news. Still protective. “What happened?”

  “She sprained her ankle. She can’t walk, so she asked me to fill in. She thought we could go hiking together.”

  “I hate hiking.”

  “Then why did you come?”

  Leo fell silent, glowering into the dark shadows beyond the cabin. Nathan already knew the answer. Leo was driving an old motorcycle for a reason. Ray had taken away his car after finding a joint in the ashtray. Lydia was planning to confront him about his drug use this week. His attendance wasn’t optional.

  Maybe Lydia’s injury was real and maybe it wasn’t. Nathan wondered if she’d delegated this responsibility because she couldn’t deal with it. She had a certain sense of fatalism, a belief that people followed a set course in life. No one could change their destiny and everything was meant to be.

  The upside was that she had a loving, accepting personality. The downside was that she gave Leo very little guidance. He needed boundaries and discipline—tough love. Ray wasn’t a pushover, but he served his own interests and avoided conflict. It was up to Nathan to reach Leo. Nathan hoped he could get through to him before it was too late.

  “Your mother wants us to spend time together,” he said, his throat tight. “I want us to spend time together.”

  With a scowl, Leo fished his cell phone out of his pocket and stepped away from Nathan to call Lydia. They began a rapid conversation in Portuguese. She was from Brazil, so she’d taught Leo her native tongue and a fair amount of Spanish. Leo could tell Nathan to fuck off in three different languages.

  Nathan was proud of that. Sort of.

  Apparently Lydia held her ground. She wasn’t going to give his car back unless he stayed at the cabin with Nathan. Leo mumbled goodbye and pocketed his phone.

  “Are we clear?” Nathan asked.

  Leo strode toward the front door, not bothering to respond. Nathan followed him inside. Brooke was sitting on the couch, her eyes wet with tears. Either she’d spoken to Ray or her mother had broken the bad news. Nathan felt sorry for her. Brooke exchanged a glance with Leo, who glared at Nathan as if he’d made her cry.

  Lydia had told him that this trip had been Brooke’s idea. Brooke was the intrepid explorer who loved communing with nature. Abby handed her daughter a mug of cocoa. Brooke sipped the drink, studying Nathan.

  “Would you like some cocoa?” Abby asked Leo.

  He sat down on the couch next to Brooke. “No, thanks.”

  Abby leaned her hip against the side of the couch. She reached out, as if to smooth her daughter’s hair. But instead of following through on the motion, she drew back a curled fist. “We can still go hiking.”

  Brooke shrugged, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

  Abby’s presence at the cabin was both a relief and a complication. With her here, Nathan didn’t have to look after Brooke. He’d figured that she would stay with him and Leo or go home. The idea of hiking as a foursome hadn’t occurred to him.

  Unt
il now.

  “Where were you planning to hike?” Nathan asked.

  Brooke had a map open on the surface of the coffee table. “There are a bunch of cool places around here,” she said, sniffling. “I wanted to go to Echo Lake.” She pointed to a round blue spot on the map. “The trail splits off from there. It’s a steep climb to Miracle Hot Springs or a gentle slope to Lupine Meadow.”

  Nathan settled into a nearby armchair.

  “My dad and Lydia would have picked the easier route,” Brooke said.

  That was all Nathan needed to hear. He’d endured grueling training sessions throughout his baseball career, and he still exercised every day. Physically, Ray was no match for him. Not that they were in competition or anything. “Then let’s take the hard way.”

  Brooke met his gaze. “Really?”

  “Sure. There’s no reason to cancel your plans.”

  Her face lit up with excitement. “Can we, Mom?”

  “We don’t want to impose,” Abby said.

  “Not at all,” Nathan said. “If anyone’s imposing, it’s me.”

  “You got that right,” Leo muttered.

  Brooke slapped his shoulder. “Leo!”

  “What?”

  “Be nice to your dad.”

  Abby went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. She came back, passing it to Leo. Although he hadn’t asked for it, he untwisted the cap and took a drink. “Brooke and I can hike on our own,” Abby said.

  “That’s no fun,” Brooke said, as if hanging out with Abby was a chore.

  Leo smirked at her plaintive response. He wasn’t keen on camping with his old man, either, but he might enjoy following Brooke up a mountain. Leo would probably be on his best behavior around her. He also couldn’t take off on his motorcycle if he got angry with Nathan, which was bound to happen.

  This was perfect.

  “Hiking as a group is safer, especially in remote wilderness areas,” Nathan said. “Lydia told me there was a murder just a few miles from here last summer. They found a guy with an arrow in his chest.”