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But he wouldn’t give up. He’d hang on, kicking and screaming if necessary.

Colt’s phone dinged, then dinged again. The texts from Camille came in, and he opened the photos. He stepped to Remi’s side, showing her the images. He scanned the words, searching for any defense.

“I didn’t send any of this.” On the third photo, one word jumped out at him.

Princess.

Panic was a living, growing thing, pressing against the walls of his veins.

“Remi, I swear I didn’t write that. You’re the only woman I’ve ever called princess.” He wrapped his hand around her arm, begging her to listen. Why were his words dying as soon as they hit the air? Why wasn’t she hearing him?

She was as still as stone as she stared at the screen. That one word was enough to convict him, despite his innocence. How could Tasha have known about his nickname for Remi? She’d been planning this. Could she have found them already? Was she spying? How else could she have known?

Remi looked up at him, and any hope he might have held on to was gone, snuffed out like a campfire doused with water. She looked at him like he was a complete stranger. No love, no gentleness, no kindness.

He released her arm and linked his fingers over his head. Think. Think. What could he say to prove his innocence?

He turned around and tried, “Remi, I–”

She bolted for the door, flinging it open and running toward the truck.

“Remi, stop!” He darted after her, but he wasn’t quick enough to grab the door before she closed it behind her. He fumbled with the knob before throwing it open, leaving a wood-splitting thud behind him as he raced after her.

The hem of his jacket flared behind her like a cape as she leapt over the porch steps and into the parking area. He grabbed the porch railing and jumped over, landing hard and tucking into a roll in the snow-covered gravel. He was on his feet again without breaking momentum, but Remi had already made it to his truck.

“Remi, please.” The rasp was desperate–a crippling plea. If she was having a level-ten freak-out, he couldn’t let her sink too far into her own head.

She’d never had anyone in her life who loved her the way he did, and the same was true for him. No one in this world knew him the way Remi did, and if she doubted him, the whole world would crumble.

The truck door slammed the second before he crashed into it. He grappled for the door handle and jerked, but nothing moved.

“Remi, please. I swear it’s not true.” He pounded the side of his fist against the window. “Remi!”

Her auburn hair fell in a sheet beside her face, hiding her from his assessing stare. The screams burned his throat as she started the engine and shifted into reverse.

He held onto the door handle as the truck backed up. Remi jerked the vehicle in a hard left, and he lost the grip he had on the handle. She flipped into gear, sending the tires spinning as she headed down the trail. He ran beside the truck, but she easily left him behind. Panting, he looked around, searching for a way to follow her.

Vera stepped out of the dining hall, wiping her hands on her apron. “What’s going on?”

He ran toward her. “Can I borrow your car?”

Vera shook her head, eyes wide and frightened. “I didn’t drive today. Stella dropped me off this morning.”

Colt pushed past her and burst through the double doors of the dining hall. Stella and the kids sat at a table closest to the door.

Her signature smile faded the moment she saw him. “What’s going on? Where’s Remi?”

“Can I borrow your car? She left, and I need to go after her.”

“Remi left?” Abby asked.

Colt held out his hand. “Hurry. I need to go.”

Stella snapped out of her shock and fumbled in her small bag. After what seemed like ten long minutes, she held up a key fob covered in purple sparkles and rhinestones.

“Where did she go?” Stella asked as she handed over the keys.

“I don’t know. Can you watch the kids until I get back?”