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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

W hen Emily emerged from the master bedroom for her morning run, she hurried down to the kitchen hoping Wade would be joining her again. Disappointment left a hollow feeling in her stomach when she saw Gavin at the table reading the paper. “Good morning.”

“Hey. Sorry you’re stuck with me and Ruger this morning. Wade decided to get an early jump on work.”

“I heard him come home last night. It was after midnight. I would’ve thought he would still be here.”

“He thinks he’s nearing a breakthrough.”

“Let’s hope so. Even wannabe superheroes need to sleep from time to time.”

“If you want to run, I can join you.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

A few minutes later, she found a comfortable pace, but she would’ve preferred running alone. If not, she wanted Wade beside her. Gavin was a great guy, but everything about him screamed bodyguard.

She was glad when the run was over. “Thanks for running with me. I imagine you’re not used to going slow.” She was sure of it, since he hadn’t even broken a sweat.

“You might be surprised.”

“I’m not the only girl you’ve gone running with, am I?”

“Nope.”

“I sense a story, but I won’t pry.”

He grinned in response.

“I’m going to grab a shower, but I’ll be down shortly.”

As she trudged up the stairs, she couldn’t help wondering if Wade’s absence had more to do with her than it did the case. Her refusal to agree that he was worth taking a risk for might be the true reason he was staying away.

Emily stood at the lake. She shook off the eerie feeling of being watched. It was Gavin, and he was there for her protection. It irked her more than she wanted to admit that she preferred having Wade act as her bodyguard. She desired far more than protection from him.

Bending down, she searched the ground for a smooth rock. After selecting one, she skipped it across the lake. Five bounces. Not bad. A memory surfaced of her and Wade skipping rocks at Ridley Creek State Park. Nora had tagged along. She could picture the day clearly. The sun filtered through the leaves on the trees and shined patterns on the creek surface. Wade was wearing his favorite Phillies ball cap and a pale blue t-shirt. Nora drew hearts on the ground with a stick. It was one of the last memories she had of her sister.

Her radio came to life with a call. An injured hiker. She jumped into her SUV and drove toward the trailhead for Fourth Run Trail. She noticed the dark SUV following her down Boulder Field Road. Gavin. Having a shadow was going to take some getting used to.

If they had the right guy locked up, she wouldn’t have to get used to it. She could go back to her regular life. Shaking her head, she considered her ‘normal’ life. Did she want to go back to it? A life without Wade. Or did she want the whole package. Husband and children. White picket fence.

What was happening to her? She’d ended things with Austin when he brought up the idea of having kids. She pulled in behind him and rubbed her temples.

She greeted her friend with a smile. “What’s going on?”

“The caller thinks his friend broke his leg,” Austin said.

“How?”

“Lost his footing and fell down a steep bank.”

“How far down the trail?”

“He estimates they’re about a mile in. Pete’s getting a quad, so we can bring him out on it.”

“Shall we?” She gestured toward the path.

“Let’s do this.”

They were a half mile down the trail when Pete reached them with the quad.

“What’s taking you two so long?” Pete smirked and sped past them.

Austin clapped a hand on her back. “Sometimes I wish I could ticket him.”

“I know, right?” She smiled.

They continued to follow the trail navigating over fallen branches and other debris littering the path. They caught up with Pete a quarter mile from where he’d passed them. A fallen tree blocked the trail and there was no easy way for him to navigate around it to get to the injured hiker. He dismounted the ATV and walked toward them. “We’re going to have to carry the guy this far.”

“Unless you want to go back and get a chainsaw?” Austin asked him.

Pete shrugged. “I would, but it’ll take longer than carrying him out would. I imagine he’s in pain and needs urgent medical attention.” Sirens in the distance punctuated his words. Ambulance.

“Let’s do this,” Austin said. The three of them moved down the trail. Sensing someone behind her she glanced back and caught the shadow of someone moving silently through the woods. Probably Gavin again. Maybe he could help them move the hiker.

No. She couldn’t have her fellow rangers think she was incapable of taking care of herself. If they knew she had a personal bodyguard, they’d think less of her. Well, Austin might not, but Pete definitely would.

A man stood on the trail frantically waving his arms and shouting to them. They approached him, and he led them to his friend. She groaned inwardly when she saw the size of the unconscious fellow. She and Pete tended to the man’s injured leg, while Austin assembled the litter. The three rangers and the man’s friend all worked to get him back up to the trail where they then loaded him onto the litter. They hadn’t carried him more than a hundred feet when Gavin approached them carrying a bottle of water and a backpack. “I can give you a hand, if you like?” he offered.

“Sure. That’d be great.” Austin grinned. “Thanks.”

She avoided eye contact with Gavin fearing she’d give too much away if she engaged with him.

“Out for a hike?” Pete asked.

“It’s a beautiful day for it. Don’t you think?” He skillfully circumvented the question. She was grateful for his help and admired the ease with which he conversed with her fellow rangers.

Austin nodded. Gavin took one corner, and the man’s friend moved to take some of the weight from the middle. They made short work of getting him to the quad. As they loaded him on the ATV, the man groaned. If he regained consciousness, his pain would be excruciating.

Emily settled down at the desk to complete her report on the injured hiker they’d rescued earlier in the day. Gavin would be taking her back to Wade’s house. Her belly tightened in anticipation of seeing Wade, and she knew there was no hope for her. Her world was once again wrapped up with his, and if he chose to walk away again, he’d leave devastation in his wake. She printed a copy of her report and placed it in the bin. Glancing at the clock, she hoped she’d be able to make her exit before her co-workers returned. If they saw her getting into Gavin’s SUV, there would be questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.

As she exited the building, he drove up to the door. She slipped inside the vehicle, and he pulled away.

He grinned. “Don’t worry. Tinted windows. Nobody will see you with me.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I didn’t feel like explaining your presence.”

“Wade called. He’s going to be late tonight,” Gavin said.

“Oh?” She tried not to let her voice give away her disappointment.

“He’s following up on a lead.”

“That’s good, I suppose.”

“It is.” He patted her shoulder. “If the case didn’t involve you, it would probably wait until tomorrow. Wade’s worried about you. He tries to hide it, but I can see it.”

She attempted a smile but was unsuccessful. A tear slipped past her defenses, and she swiped it away.

“Thanks for dinner. It was good.” Emily loaded the plates into the dishwasher. Wade leaned against the counter.

“Jamie sent it.” He smiled. “She knows I can’t cook.”

“Her husband doesn’t mind her cooking for another man?”

“I get their leftovers.”

“Still. I can’t imagine him liking that.”

“He knows he’s the only guy for her. I’m not a threat.”

“That’s hard to believe.”

“Oh, is it? Why is that? Am I irresistible?” he asked.

Avoiding the question, she changed the subject. “It was lonely here last night.” Emily spoke the words she’d planned to keep to herself.

“Gavin was here.”

“Not the same.”

“I’m sorry. I wanted to be here with you, but I needed to work the case.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I understand.”

“Do you?” he asked.

“Of course. You were doing your job.”

“I looked into that guy you mentioned from maintenance. He’s clean. I don’t think he’s behind any of this, but I’ll keep him on my radar in case I’m mistaken.”

“Thanks for checking him out. I’m grateful.”

“Now I need to know where we go from here, darling?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said.

He moved from the counter and approached her. “We can’t stay in the same house together while you keep me at arms’ length. I have no desire to be a mere friend to you, Em.” He placed a hand on either side of the sink pinning her up against it. Their lips were nearly touching. Her eyes closed, and she inched closer to him.

Her breath stuck in her chest for a moment. “I don’t want to be your friend, either.”

“Sometimes I look at you, and it’s like the years melt away and we’re still the same Wade and Emily who were voted most likely to get married right after graduation.” He tangled his hands in her hair. “But other times I see you as the alluring woman you’ve become. The woman I want more than I’ve ever wanted anything or anyone else.”

“If I weren’t so scared…” She let her words trail off.

“Please don’t be afraid of me. I know I let you down when we were young, but it won’t happen again. I’d do anything to make it up to you. To make us work this time.”

“Then why haven’t you kissed me?” she asked.

“You know you’re playing with fire, right?”

She nodded. She’d never wanted a kiss more than she did in that moment.

His lips captured hers, and she savored the contact. She’d been hoping for his kiss for days, but she knew she was in dangerous territory. Trusting Wade was a huge leap of faith. She hoped she wouldn’t regret it. She ran her fingers through his hair and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

His hands came to rest on her hips. “Does this mean you’re my girl?”

She answered him with another kiss.

“I’m going to take a cold shower before we take this further than is prudent.” He held her tightly against him with one arm.

She smiled up at him.

His lips met hers again, this time more demanding. “I’m going upstairs before we both lose control.”

When he stepped away, an ache settled heavy over her heart. It was time she made up her mind and stopped toying with Wade’s emotions. Otherwise, they’d both be burned by her reckless behavior. After she heard his steps disappear down the upstairs hallway, she made her way to her room. In reality, it wasn’t her room at all. It was his. She stared at his bed where she would spend another night surrounded by his masculine scent. If she didn’t get home soon, she’d lose more than her self-control. She’d lose her sanity.