Page 8

“Into the Woods”

Didi

I woke to sunlight streaming through the cabin's thin curtains, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar ceiling above me. The events of the previous night rushed back—the crackling bonfire, the sweet stickiness of s'mores, and most of all, that moment with Noah at my doorstep.

My fingers traced my lips, remembering how close they'd come to meeting his.

The memory sent a flutter through my stomach that had nothing to do with hunger.

The way his blue eyes had darkened as they dropped to my mouth, the almost imperceptible lean of his body toward mine—all signs pointing to a kiss that never happened.

I stretched, feeling oddly rested despite the late night. Hope Peak was working its magic on me, the clean mountain air and distance from Chicago like a balm to my frayed nerves. Even the persistent heat seemed more tolerable this morning, a soft breeze stirring the curtains.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, Jamie's name flashing on the screen. I smiled, grabbing it.

"Good morning, sunshine," I answered, my voice still husky with sleep.

"Didi." Something in Jamie's tone immediately set off alarm bells. "Are you alone? Can you talk?"

I sat up straight, wide awake. "What's wrong?"

"ChicagoNightOwl posted something on the fan forums last night." She paused, and I could hear her taking a deep breath. "He wrote that he's 'getting closer to finding his night star' and that 'distance won't keep us apart for long.'"

My blood ran cold. "That could mean anything," I said, but my voice lacked conviction.

"Maybe, but there's more. He mentioned mountains and lakes—said something about how 'even the highest peaks can't hide true love.' I know it's vague, but Didi, I'm worried he might have figured out you're somewhere in Montana."

I swallowed hard, my momentary peace shattered. "How could he possibly know that? Only you and the station manager know I'm here."

"I don't know. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but..." Jamie trailed off.

"But you don't believe in coincidences," I finished for her. We'd been friends long enough for me to know her thinking.

"The Chicago PD still can't identify him from the security footage. Too grainy, and he always keeps his face hidden. Officer Vincetti says they're trying to trace his IP address from the forum posts, but this guy is careful."

I forced myself to breathe deeply, fighting back the familiar tide of anxiety. "I'm in the middle of nowhere, Jamie. Even if he somehow narrowed it down to Montana, there are thousands of lakes here."

"I know. Just... be careful, okay? Don't post anything online, don't use credit cards if you can avoid it. And maybe let someone there know what's going on?"

Noah's face immediately flashed in my mind. A detective would know exactly how to handle this situation. But telling him would mean revealing everything—my real job, the stalker, my reasons for hiding at Hope Peak. The thought of opening up to anyone—making myself vulnerable—afterRyan’s betrayal made my stomach clench.

"I'll think about it," I said noncommittally. "Meanwhile, keep me posted if anything else happens."

After hanging up, I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to recenter myself. Montana was nearly a thousand miles from Chicago. ChicagoNightOwl was just fishing, trying to spook me into revealing my location. The odds of him finding me here were astronomical.

A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts.

"Who is it?" I called, heart suddenly racing.

"Noah," came the deep voice from the other side. "Just checking if you survived the s'mores challenge last night."

Relief washed over me as I quickly pulled on shorts beneath my sleep shirt and padded to the door. I opened it to find Noah standing on my porch, looking unfairly good in hiking boots, worn jeans, and a forest green t-shirt that made his blue eyes even more striking against his tanned skin.

"I survived," I said, trying to appear casual despite my racing thoughts. "Though I may have dreams about chocolate and graham crackers for weeks."

His gaze swept over me, taking in my disheveled hair and sleep attire with an appreciative glance that sent warmth blooming across my skin. "Sorry if I woke you."

"You didn't. I was just..." I gestured vaguely behind me, not wanting to mention Jamie's call.

Noah's expression shifted, those instincts of his clearly sensing something off in my demeanor. "Everything okay?"

"Fine," I said, too quickly. "Just morning brain fog. Not fully caffeinated yet."

He studied me for a moment longer before thankfully dropping it. "Well, I was wondering if you had plans for today?"

"Plans? I was thinking of achieving a record-breaking level of absolutely nothing. Why?"

His mouth quirked up at one corner. "How would you feel about experiencing a real Montana adventure instead?"

"Define 'adventure,'" I said cautiously, thinking of my boating disaster.

"Hiking," he replied. "There's a trail about twenty minutes from here that leads to a waterfall only the locals know about. Perfect spot for a picnic lunch."

The invitation caught me off guard. A remote hike with Noah Sterling meant hours alone together in the wilderness. After Jamie's warning, maybe I should stay close to the resort where there were people around.

But something in the way he looked at me—hopeful but not pushing—made my resistance crumble. What better distraction from stalker fears than exploring the mountains with a man who made my heart race for entirely different reasons?

"I'm not exactly REI's best customer," I warned. "My hiking experience is limited to the stairs at the L station when the elevator's broken."

He laughed, the sound warming me from the inside out. "It's an easy trail. And I promise not to leave you behind if you need to catch your breath."

My mind flashed to Jamie's warning, then to the almost-kiss last night. One was a reason to stay, the other a reason to go.

"Give me fifteen minutes to shower and change," I said, making my decision. "And fair warning—I don't own hiking boots."

Noah's smile was worth whatever blisters awaited me. "Sneakers will work. I'll pack lunch."

As I closed the door, I leaned against it, questioning my sanity. I'd fled Chicago to escape one man's attention, yet here I was, eagerly seeking another's. But something about Noah made me feel safe rather than hunted. Protected rather than pursued.

Maybe that was the most dangerous feeling of all.

***

"You didn't mention the elevation gain," I panted, pausing to take another swig from my water bottle.

Noah turned back, not even slightly winded despite the steep trail we'd been climbing for the past forty minutes. "If I had, would you have come?"

"Probably not," I admitted, taking in the breathtaking vista that had opened up behind us. The lake sparkled like a massive sapphire below, surrounding mountains creating a perfect natural bowl. "But I would have missed this view."

"Worth the burning calves?"

"Ask me again when we reach this mythical waterfall of yours."

We'd left the resort in Noah's Jeep, driving along winding forest roads until reaching a trailhead unmarked by any official signage. Just as promised, the path seemed known only to locals—we hadn't encountered another soul since starting our hike.

I'd dressed in my most outdoor-appropriate clothing: yoga pants, a lightweight tank top under a long-sleeved shirt (which I'd already tied around my waist), and my most supportive sneakers.

Noah carried a backpack with our lunch and water, moving with the easy confidence of someone who'd hiked these mountains his entire life.

"We're about halfway there," he said, reaching down to offer his hand as we approached a rocky section of the trail.

I took it, trying to ignore the now-familiar spark when our skin connected. His hand was warm and calloused, enveloping mine completely. When I nearly slipped on loose gravel, his grip tightened, steadying me effortlessly.

"Thanks," I mumbled, embarrassingly breathless from both the altitude and his proximity.

"City girl," he teased, but his tone held admiration rather than mockery.

The trail wound through alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers, stands of fragrant pines, and rocky outcroppings that offered increasingly spectacular views. Noah pointed out local landmarks and wildlife with the expertise of a born naturalist.

"Red-tailed hawk," he said, pausing to point at a large bird circling above. "They mate for life. That one's probably hunting to feed its family."

"How do you know all this?" I asked, genuinely impressed.

He shrugged, seeming almost embarrassed by my admiration. "My grandfather. He taught me everything about these mountains—the plants, the animals, where to find the best fishing spots. Said understanding nature was the first step to respecting it."

"He sounds like a wise man."

"He was." A shadow crossed Noah's face. "This was his favorite hike. He brought me here for the first time when I was eight. I fell in the creek and came home soaking wet with a pocket full of interesting rocks."

The image of a small, freckled Noah splashing in a mountain stream made me smile. "Some things never change, Detective. You rescued me when I was metaphorically drowning just two days ago."

His answering smile reached his eyes, crinkling the corners in that way that made my stomach flip. "Occupational hazard."

After another twenty minutes of hiking, we reached a clearing with a fallen log perfectly situated for resting. Noah slipped off his backpack and gestured for me to sit.

"Break time," he announced, retrieving a small container of trail mix and offering me some. "How are those city feet holding up?"

"Surprisingly well," I admitted, accepting a handful of nuts and dried fruit. "Though I might need to invest in actual hiking boots if I plan to do this again."

"Planning to stick around for a while, then?" he asked, his tone deliberately casual.