“Thank you for letting me stay with you.”
“It made the most sense.”
She smiled at his softly spoken words. “I never thought I’d be living in the middle of the woods.”
“Where is your perfect place to live?”
Mallory didn’t have to think too hard about her answer. “Somewhere with an ice rink.”
“That’s all?”
“It’s all I ever wanted. When I’m on the ice, nothing else matters.”
Grant watched her closely. “Do you want to get married and have children one day?”
“A few months after I met Simon, I thought I did. I had my life all planned out. We’d get married in Orlando after the Winter Olympics. We’d buy a house within driving distance of my parents’ home and the ice rink, and eventually have two, maybe three children.”
“You could still have that life with someone else.”
She shook her head. “It was all make-believe. Simon and I weren’t getting along very well before he died. He wouldn’t talk about what the problem was, so I thought it was us. If I’d known about Juan Garcia, it might have been different.”
“He was protecting you.”
“Maybe. Simon was a wonderful person, but his family always came first. I think he was more interested in protecting his parents and their business. What about you? What would your happy-ever-after look like?”
“She’d have long blond hair, blue eyes, and a way of filling a room with her personality.”
Mallory felt herself blush. “I’ve got the blond hair. It’s a shame about my personality.”
“You have an amazing personality.” He wiped his hands along the legs of his jeans. “I don’t…it’s hard for me to talk about how I feel.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“Yes, I do.” He took a deep breath and sat on the floor beside her. “The first time I saw you, you took my breath away. It felt as though I’d been waiting my entire life to meet you.”
Tears filled Mallory’s eyes.
“And now, I can’t imagine my life without you.” Grant brushed his hand along her jaw. “How would you feel if you were my happy-ever-after?”
“Scared.”
“Of me?”
She shook her head and held his hand. “No—of me—us. My life is too complicated. If Juan Garcia didn’t kill Simon, that means someone really wanted me off the ice. I worry enough about my parents. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you, too.”
“I can take care of both of us. If you’re worried about your parents, John will send someone to make sure they’re okay.”
“I can’t ask him to do that—he’s already done too much.”
“Even if Juan Garcia didn’t have anything to do with your car accident, he shouldn’t have evicted an entire village to build the resort. John will do everything he can to make sure he’s held accountable for what he’s done.”
“But that could take years.”
“The police don’t think so and neither does John’s legal team. Let me look after you.”
Grant leaned forward, kissing her with a gentleness that left her breathless. All of the reasons why a relationship with him wouldn’t work disappeared under the pressure of his mouth, and the hands that pulled her close.
She was falling in love with Grant and couldn’t do anything to stop it.
***
The next morning, Mallory pushed off her blankets and reached for her sweater. The cabin wasn’t cold, but she was thankful for the thick woolen socks she’d worn to bed and the extra blanket Grant had given her.
By the time she’d fallen asleep, it had been well past midnight. She didn’t know what today would bring but, hopefully, it wouldn’t be as stressful as yesterday.
She pulled back the curtains and smiled at the view from her bedroom window. The trees surrounding Grant’s property looked as though they’d been dipped in white frosting. The snow covering the top branches glistened in the early morning sunshine, while the lower branches were lush and green.
Grant hadn’t told her what time he usually woke, but it was after six-thirty. If he wasn’t awake, she’d go for a walk, then come back and make them both breakfast.
She took some clothes out of her suitcase and opened her door. As she tiptoed into the living room, she frowned. Flames flickered in the stove and the sleeper sofa was folded away. Grant must have woken early, added more wood to the stove, and gone outside.
She rushed into the bathroom and threw on her clothes. If he was doing something on his property, she didn’t want to miss going with him.
As soon as she stepped onto the porch, she took a deep breath. Cold air stung her face and lungs. It was the kind of morning that made her feel happy to be alive.
“Good morning. I thought you’d still be asleep.” Grant walked toward her with a pile of wood in his arms.
“I’ve already had a sleep-in. Can I help?”
He nodded toward the front door. “If you could open the door, I’ll leave the logs in the basket beside the stove.”
Mallory opened the door and helped Grant stack the wood. “I’ll bring in another load.”
“You don’t need to.”
“I want to help.” She touched the frown on his face. “You’re going to get permanent wrinkles if you keep frowning.”
Grant held her hand and pulled her close. “I’m not used to someone smiling at me this early in the morning.”
Mallory quickly kissed him. “Don’t worry. Once we’re in Bozeman you can go back to frowning.”
“I’ve got a better idea. We could stay here for the next four months and you could teach me how to smile.”
Mallory sighed. “What am I going to do with you?”
Grant’s eyebrows rose. “I can think of at least three things that would make me smile.”
“I’m sure you can, but none of them will fill your basket with wood.”
“True, but it’s only six-thirty in the morning. Most people are still in bed.”
“We’re not most people,” she whispered.
“We could try.”
“I wish it were that simple.” Mallory kissed his cheek and stepped away. “Have you heard from John?”
“I’ll call him soon.” He ran his finger along her jaw. “It’s going to be okay. No one except John, Rachel, and the helicopter pilot know we’re here.”
“If Juan Garcia found me in Bozeman, he’ll find me in Saddle Butte.”
Grant held her hand as they walked outside. “He’ll have to get past me and my dad’s bunker first. Even for a seasoned hit man, it wouldn’t be easy.”
“Are you trying to make me feel better or worse?”
“Neither. I’m being honest.” He stopped in front of the woodshed. “I hope you’ve got plenty of muscles—we need to take at least another three loads of wood inside.”
Mallory held her arms in the air and flexed her biceps. “Superwoman at your service.”
Grant smiled. “After we’ve finished, I’ll make you a bowl of my world-famous oatmeal. It’s Bella’s favorite breakfast.”
“You cook and perform superhero duties? I’m impressed.”
“Not as impressed as you’re going to be. Someone once told me I’ve got hidden talents. It’s time I showed her what they are.”
She picked up two blocks of wood. “I’d better be careful. You might want to share them with everyone.”
“I guess we’ll have to see how it goes.” He reached into the woodpile. “This might sound like a strange thing to say, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“So am I,” she said. “Especially since some of your hidden talents involve food.”
Grant’s lopsided smile made her laugh. Discovering the other things he’d hidden from the world would be interesting.
***
Two days later, Grant drove his four-wheeler along the southern boundary of his property, checking his motion detection cameras.
He’d instal
led fifteen cameras more than a year ago, determined to provide a minimum level of security around his cabin. So far, the only alerts he’d received had been when wild animals or his neighbors’ dogs had activated the sensors.
The cameras were positioned at obvious access points. The more remote areas were still open to anyone wandering onto his land. His only consolation was that very few people knew about his cabin. Even if they did break in, it was extremely unlikely that they would find the bunker.
Although there was nothing of value in the cabin, his barn was a different story. It contained the kind of vehicles that any self-respecting burglar would take without a second thought.
To make any potential burglar think twice, he’d positioned a ton of solar-powered cameras inside and around the barn. If anyone took a vehicle, he’d be sent a picture of them within seconds.
Most of the exterior units were okay. The winter storms hadn’t affected their transmission or damaged their waterproof casing. They were so well hidden that even he was having trouble locating a couple of them.
He checked his map and drove toward another camera. After making sure it was working, he headed to the next one.
Mallory had been with him yesterday. He’d shown her some of his property and checked a few cameras. After spending two hours on the back of his four-wheeler, she’d decided to stay at the cabin today. She was determined to master the art of cooking in his oven.
He glanced at his watch. He had one last camera to check before he went home. Once he was there, he’d show Mallory how to use his spare satellite phone. She needed to know how to access the motion detection system in case someone triggered the cameras.
The cameras weren’t the only way they could protect themselves.
He didn’t know if Mallory knew any self-defense moves or how to shoot a gun, but she was a fast learner. While she was with him, he’d teach her as much as he could. He just hoped she never had to use any of it.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mallory stepped over a fallen log. She looked at her watch and kept walking along the wide track she’d found.
For most of the morning, she’d been in the kitchen, making sure the quiche, muffins, and cookies she’d baked hadn’t burned to a crisp. When they were cooked, she hid them inside the pantry. If the local animal population smelled the bacon and chocolate wafting through the cabin, she was sure she’d have unexpected visitors for lunch.
By eleven o’clock, Grant still hadn’t returned, so she’d decided to go for a walk.
The last few days had been so different to her normal life. She still got out of bed at five-thirty, but instead of skating for an hour, she stretched and tried to remember some of the yoga moves her mom had taught her.
She helped Grant as much as she could, but she didn’t want him to get tired of her company. He was a lot quieter than she was. He enjoyed the solitude of the forest, the silence that was driving her crazy.
Apart from Grant, she didn’t have anyone to talk to. Instead of pestering him with a million and one questions, she’d listened to the music on her cell phone, read books, and tried really hard to fit into a new way of living.
It wasn’t easy.
He’d told her to stay close to the cabin but, after three days of going nowhere without him, she wanted to see more of his property. She’d promised herself she’d turn around and walk back after twenty minutes.
Her footsteps were muffled as she walked across a carpet of pine needles. For two days, the sun had shone and there hadn’t been a drop of rain. Most of the snow that had sat on the ground when they arrived was beginning to thaw. In places, it had disappeared.
She checked her watch again and sighed. With one last glance at the towering trees in front of her, she turned around and headed back to the cabin. As she quickened her pace, another song started playing on her phone. She adjusted the volume and moved her earbuds into a more comfortable position.
Out of nowhere, two streaks of yellow bounded toward her. She lost her footing, threw her arms in the air, and landed on the ground.
Her breath caught in her throat as two pink, slobbery tongues licked her face and treated her like they’d known her for years.
“Patch and Gypsy! Come back here.”
The two dogs leapt off Mallory and raced toward the voice coming from further down the track.
She sat up and wiped her face.
“Are you all right?”
Mallory looked at the woman jogging toward her. She wore a bright orange jacket and her long black hair bounced against her back.
“Let me help you.”
“I’ll be okay.” Mallory clambered to her feet, more embarrassed than sore. She picked up her phone and earbuds and slid them into her pocket.
The woman held out her hand. “I’m Susan Hennessey. Sorry about Patch and Gypsy. We’re not used to seeing anyone on our walk.”
The dogs sat beside their owner with goofy grins on their faces.
Mallory patted one of them. “They didn’t hurt me. If I hadn’t slipped on the track I wouldn’t have fallen over. I’m Mallory. I’m staying with Grant for a few days.”
“Grant Byers?”
Mallory nodded.
“That will explain the smoke I saw this morning. I thought I’d walk this way to see if everything was okay. You never know who could be on a property.”
“I’m sure he appreciates your thoughtfulness.” Susan seemed like a nice person, but Mallory knew how deceptive first impressions could be.
“Have you been staying at his cabin for long?”
Mallory wiped her hands on her jeans, stalling for time. “A few days.”
“If you ever need anything or want to join me for coffee, David and I are about twenty minutes further down this firebreak. You can’t miss us—our home has a bright red roof.”
“Thanks. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be here, but it’s been nice meeting you.”
“You, too, Mallory. Enjoy your stay. Say hi to Grant from us.” Susan clicked her fingers and Patch and Gypsy tore across the track. With a final wave, Susan smiled and followed them.
Mallory checked the time and quickly walked along the track. This time, she didn’t turn on her music. If two dogs had managed to flatten her, she didn’t want to imagine what someone else could have done.
***
Grant drove his SUV along the dirt track behind his home, cursing stubborn women who thought they knew how to protect themselves. He slowed to a crawl when he saw Mallory jogging toward him.
She was wearing jeans and a jacket. With her blond ponytail flicking out behind her, she could have been anyone enjoying a midday walk. But Mallory wasn’t anyone.
She was wanted by one of the most notorious businessmen in Mexico. Remembering what her boyfriend had said before he died had tossed her into a snake pit. They needed to work together, not against each other if she was going to make it out alive.
He jammed on his brakes and jumped out of his vehicle. “What the heck do you think you’re doing?”
The smile on Mallory’s face disappeared. “I went for a walk.”
He pulled the note she’d left him out of his pocket. “This doesn’t make it all right. If someone knows where we are, you could have been kidnapped or killed. I can’t keep you safe if you don’t do what I tell you.”
“You were gone for more than two hours. I didn’t go any further than we did the other day.”
“You can’t leave when the mood suits you. I heard from John—the CIA has found evidence that Juan Garcia is the person who sent you the threatening letters. The ones you received before Simon died were supposed to scare your boyfriend more than you.”
“But Simon didn’t know anything about them. I thought they were a hoax. He had a lot of things on his mind and I didn’t want him more stressed.”
“Juan Garcia didn’t know that. He told Simon he would hurt the people closest to him if he didn’t back off. Skating was your life—he must have thought that if he could take
that away from you, Simon wouldn’t publish what he’d found.”
Mallory’s eyes filled with tears. “Was he responsible for Simon’s death?”
Grant took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“I thought it was my fault.” Mallory’s bottom lip trembled. “I thought he died because I didn’t stop skating.”
“Simon pushed him too far and he retaliated.”
Mallory blew her nose and wiped her eyes. “Why did he keep sending me letters after Simon died?”
“He didn’t know how much you knew about the resort. If you thought Simon died because of you, you wouldn’t connect Juan Garcia to the accident.”
“Do you think he’ll find us?”
Grant wanted to say they were safe, but he couldn’t. “I hope not, but we have to be even more careful. No one knows where Juan Garcia has gone.”
“I thought the FBI and CIA knew everything.”
“Only sometimes.” He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
“I’m sorry I left the cabin.”
“I thought something had happened to you. I ran downstairs, but you weren’t in the bunker. I searched the sheds and ran to the lake. It wasn’t until I returned to the cabin that I saw your note on the refrigerator.”
“I needed to get away for a few minutes.”
“We’ve only been here for three days.”
Mallory didn’t say anything.
He drove back to the cabin and parked the SUV in his barn. “Until John tells us where Juan Garcia has gone, it’s too dangerous to travel into Havre. We have to stay here.”
“What about fresh milk and bread?”
“I’ve got powdered milk. Bread will have to wait.” He pushed the barn doors closed, pocketing the keys for his SUV in case she decided to drive into town.
“I made quiche for lunch.”
“You did?” He looked at her and wished he hadn’t been so angry. It was a stressful time for both of them—more so for Mallory. Getting upset wasn’t going to make their time together any better. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
Always (The Protectors Book 3) Page 16
