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Myla leaned back in the tub and closed her eyes. Her morning stretches had been more challenging than normal and the steamy water eased the aches. Apparently, snowshoeing wasn’t the gentle walk she’d imagined.
Not that anything in Bloo Moose was close to what she’d imagined.
Certainly not a guide who was equal parts sexy and crazy.
Running around the woods after a pack of wolves. That was more than crazy. Then he’d almost kissed her.
Maybe. Maybe not.
Her fantasies about the man might be clouding her judgment on that point. She needed someone to help her toss her virginity out the window and Sawyer Banks gave her tingles with more than his sexy looks. His inner strength and grudging gallantry made him attractive. Add in a mysterious past which caused a heavily shielded present and the man was pretty irresistible.
He’d made it clear he thought Myla was failing on the sanity scale and that was good. He wouldn’t want a future with her so she’d never lose her heart to him.
She wasn’t brave enough to broach the subject with him yet. If she was honest, she knew she might never be. If she let the thoughts simmer enough, they might lead to action. Almost two weeks left in her visit gave her plenty of time to find her courage.
For today, she’d focus on something else. She hadn’t planned another excursion with Sawyer until the following day so she had the day free to explore Bloo Moose and get the feel of the town.
Thirty minutes, more exercises, and a homemade cinnamon bun later, Myla opened the door to the parking lot of the B&B. Her courage might not have magically appeared but she was at least formulating a plan. Outside, snow floated from the sky, soft and fluffy, just like in the movies. The air was crisp, invigorating. Perfect.
Myla stepped down one stair but, instead of holding her weight like it normally did, her leg gave out. Her foot slipped forward and up, exactly like a cartoon character. Every achy part of her body banged against a step or the railing until she landed in a heap at the bottom.
All she needed was the stars circling her head and the cartoon image would be complete.
“And that would be why most people wear boots in the winter.”
Myla squeezed her eyes shut. It couldn’t be him. Even her luck couldn’t be that bad.
“Anything broken?”
Or maybe it could.
Myla opened her eyes to find Sawyer watching her with equal parts concern and amusement lurking in his gaze.
Sawyer held out a hand and waited while she tamped down the annoyance of being rescued again. When she let him haul her up, she managed to stay on her feet and not slam into his chest but she still felt the slam in hers. Touching any part of Sawyer Banks was worth the effort. Myla’s imagination zigged to touching him skin to skin, then zagged to how to get him there.
“You okay?”
Her need to be strong and independent wavered in the face of the sexy testosterone waiting for her answer. Independence won. “Yes. A few bruises in places that have lots of padding. Nothing to worry about.”
He didn’t smile but his gaze roved her body like the torches she’d learned to use in a welding shop a couple of years ago. She wondered if his gaze was enough to boil her blood cells.
When his eyes returned to hers, he gave her a simple nod and moved to the side to let her pass before starting up the stairs.
Myla turned, not to check out his ass but to see how he managed the icy stairs. Okay, totally to check out his ass without ski pants.
Well worth a look.
His body froze and Myla whipped around to avoid having him catch her. Her feet slipped sideways, in both direction and she waved her arms like windmills. Instead of falling—again—she somehow got her limbs to cooperate and got herself back in balance.
She didn’t have to turn to feel Sawyer watching. Giggling, she gave a finger wave over her shoulder. “I’m fine.”
His snort was chock-full of disbelief.
Myla giggled her way to the parking lot where she was knocked off her stride again but this time it was an emotional hit.
Eggs covered Freddy’s windshield. At least a dozen shattered shells and gooey yolks had frozen in creepy abstract patterns on the glass. The mess had congealed until poor Freddy looked like something that should be mopped off a diner’s floor.
Her stomach churned and her legs wobbled. She couldn’t imagine anyone doing this to Freddy. To her.
“What the hell happened?”
She jerked at Sawyer’s voice behind her. Unable to answer, she shook her head and fought back the tears. She hadn’t been in town long enough to make enemies.
“Who’d you piss off?”
“Other than you? I have no idea.” She didn’t have a clue. She’d hardly spoken to anyone since arriving in town.
When she didn’t respond, Sawyer stepped away to check out Freddy’s side panel. Whatever he saw had him stopping short and his gaze cut to her.
Expecting more eggs, she was shocked when a few steps let her see the door. LIAR had been smeared over the green paint with something white.
Heart pounding, she walked to the other side.
BITCH.
Clamping her lips together, Myla reached out to touch the mess but Sawyer’s hand clamped down on her arm. “Don’t touch it. Evidence. I’m texting the police.”
Myla snorted. “This isn’t TV, Sawyer. No one’s going to care that my car is covered in what should have been someone’s breakfast.” Horrified at the watery wobble in her voice, Myla squeezed her lips together and swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. Poor Freddy.
“Sawyer, what do you mean there’s been vandalism in my parking lot?” Darby flew down the stairs of the B&B—without slipping—and slid to a halt beside her brother. “Oh, no! Who would do this? Why?”
Both good questions.
Darby reached over and pulled Myla into a hug. Her arms wrapped around her and she squeezed tight. Myla stood like a statue, unable to respond. She couldn’t remember being hugged before and she didn’t know how to react. Before she could move her arms, Darby released her and walked around the car, pointing and exclaiming at the mess.
Sawyer watched Myla with those assessing eyes. Today was not going to be the day she pulled off normal.
A police cruiser pulled into the lot and for the next half hour, they all answered Deputy Vi Hart’s questions. Sadly, most of the answers were variations on, “I don’t know.”
Kids playing a prank seemed likely but the words felt personal. Very personal. Except that she’d spoken to a grand total of five people in Bloo Moose, three of them standing with her in the parking lot. Quinn at CharterGear and Mel from Mel’s Garage. None of them likely suspects.
Liar.
Bitch.
Even in her brand new winter jacket, she shivered but the cold started deep in her belly.
Someone hated her. And she didn’t have a clue who it might be.
***
EVEN as he drove, Sawyer wondered how in the hell he’d ended up with a scared and silent Myla in his truck on the way to do another snowshoeing session.
Darby was hell on wheels when she had one of her fabulous ideas and he never could resist the look she’d perfected as a kid. The look that left her older brother completely unable to shut down whatever ridiculous idea she’d come up with. At least he wasn’t stuck in a doll tea party wearing a tiara but he was still stuck.
After Mel had towed the car away, Darby had made them drink hot chocolate and eat brownies. Well, he’d had coffee but the women had apparently required all things chocolate.
Then, Darby had insisted Sawyer take Myla out to a new trail to replace the lesson she claimed he’d ruined because he’d chased after the wolves and left Myla alone.
How any of this was supposed to make Myla feel better about someone defacing her car, he didn’t have a clue. Then again, women were most often complete mysteries to him.
So, now he was stuck spending another afternoon with a woman who appealed to him on many levels. Tough, sassy, smart. A body he wanted to explore and taste.
A woman he would do well to stay away from. And not only because Darby was in matchmaking mode. No, Myla Esperanza was a whole lot of vulnerable beneath that tough exterior and he didn’t do vulnerable.
Her eyes were full of secrets and dreams. He wasn’t in the market for dealing with either.
If she was interested in spending some no-strings-attached naked time, he’d be all in. A bout or three of steamy sex would be more than a great way to relieve some stress, except that Myla pretty much exuded fairy-tale with happy-ever-after vibes along with that vulnerability. Hell, she hadn’t even known how to react to Darby’s hug.
“What branch of the military did you serve?”
“Navy.” The quiet question had Sawyer answering before his brain kicked in. Sneaky. After Jen, he never answered personal questions from women. “Why?”
She shrugged and kept looking out the side window. “Just curious.”
Alarm bells rang. “Why?”
Myla threw him a sardonic glance. “Trying to break the awkward silence?”
That drew a chuckle out of him. It was awkward. “I can take you back.”
Myla shook her head. “I’m too afraid of Darby.”
Well, they had that in common. “Are your muscles up for more snowshoeing today?”
He could almost hear her spine crack as she straightened it. “I’m fine.”
Of course, she was. He doubted she ever admitted to weakness.
“How long were you in the military?”
He hated the questions. After the fiasco with Jen, he didn’t talk to strangers about his time as a SEAL. Hell, he didn’t talk to anyone about it. “Long enough.”
Her head swiveled toward him at the gruff answer. “What does that mean?”
Long enough to watch his buddies die. Long enough to screw himself up beyond repair. Sawyer tightened his grip on the wheel and shook his head slightly. He wasn’t getting dragged into that conversation.
“Tell me again why you suddenly have the urge to snowshoe at the age of,” he paused and sent a look over her, “twenty-six?”
Her smile lit up her face. “Nice redirect. Obviously you don’t want to discuss your time in the military. Noted. And you’re two off. I’m twenty-eight. You?”
“Thirty. And nice redirect of your own. Is there an aversion to snowshoeing in your family and you have to keep your trip secret?”
He’d expected her to laugh but when he slanted her a look, her eyes darkened and their light faded.
“Nope. Just wanted to try something different.”
There was obviously more to that story but Sawyer wasn’t about to dig. Not when it meant she’d have every right to dig back at his story.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, he slowed to take the turn into the parking lot near the trailhead. It hadn’t been plowed, probably because Sawyer was the one who usually used and plowed it, so he shoved the truck into four-wheel drive and sped through the bank.
Snow flew in all directions and Myla let out a squeal as it covered the windshield. The wipers cleared it almost instantly but he couldn’t stop the chuckle. “Guess I should have warned you. Sorry.”
Myla’s hands gripped the front dash and her mouth opened and closed a few times before she got the words out. “What are you doing? Are we driving in a field? Are you crazy?”
“Parking. No. Maybe.”
“What?” Her pitch was high enough to call the dogs who were miles away.
“I’m parking. It’s not a field, it’s a parking lot, although it hasn’t been plowed in a while. And maybe to the crazy question.”
Myla shook her head sharply and let out a deep breath but didn’t let go of the dash until he put the truck into park.
“We’re here.”
“Here, where?”
“Darby’s appointed destination. If you’re still up for it, let’s go.”
He moved to the back of the truck. It took her a few moments, probably ungluing her hands from the dash but she joined him as he slid on his backpack.
“Where’s the view Darby talked about?”
Sawyer waved at the woods. “Through the woods, about a half-hour in. You should stretch before we go.”
Her spine stiffened again and he rolled his eyes. “It’s a suggestion, not an insult. Taking care of your body is smart.” He turned his back on her and moved to the side of the truck to give her some space. He pulled out his phone and checked the weather app. They were on the fringe of cell coverage so it was now or never.
As he already knew, light snow was expected, no wind chill to worry about. A perfect winter day. He closed the app and checked his email. Nothing new.
“I’m ready to go.” He heard the pout in her voice before he turned to see it on her face.
Sawyer dragged the snowshoes to the edge of the downed tailgate. He checked its height and the length of Myla’s leg. “Hang on.” He picked her up and sat her on the tailgate before she could protest.
“Hey. I could have hopped up myself.”
Sawyer didn’t bother answering that. It would have put stress on her already tender muscles before they even started the hike. He lifted one of her legs and strapped on the snowshoe.
“These are the modern ones you showed me yesterday.”
He nodded. “These are the ones most people use. They’re lighter, smaller and you can even jog in them if you want to.”
Myla snorted out a laugh. “Pretty sure that’s not going to happen any time soon.”
Once her snowshoes were laced on, Sawyer put on his own and turned to help Myla down. When he moved toward her she shot up a hand and hopped down herself. She took most of her weight on her right foot automatically, confirming his suspicion that her condition wasn’t a recent injury.
Sawyer headed down the trail without bothering to see if she followed. The stubborn woman wouldn’t let herself do anything but.
Ma Nature did her thing and it wasn’t long before Sawyer felt his shoulders relax. He was still pissed about Myla’s car, annoyed at being forced on this hike, attracted to a woman he had no intention of pursuing, and a little ticked that Darby’s plan to give Myla some peace was having the same effect on him but he could cope with it.
Sawyer didn’t bother to turn to check on Myla’s progress. All he had to do was keep his ears open. As she had yesterday, Myla kept up a running commentary. She exclaimed about the beauty around her, complained about the almost non-existent wind and grumbled about not being able to walk as smoothly as Sir Winter-Smarty-Pants.
Grinning, Sawyer kept the pace steady but slow enough not to tax Myla. The ground was mostly level, so he didn’t have to worry about her going up and down slopes. Her leg made him damn curious but she froze up every time it even looked like the conversation was going near it.
When the trees grew sparser, Sawyer knew they were close to the ridge and the view that Darby wanted Myla to see. He slowed his pace and waited for her to draw alongside him. “Almost there.”
His words had her stutter-stepping but she checked her balance almost immediately. Her grin had him smiling in return, which didn’t feel as weird as it had a few days ago.
Sawyer stepped ahead and led the way for the last few yards. When they broke through the trees, Myla’s gasp was probably audible back in town.
In front of them, the ridge dropped sharply into a valley. Ledges jutted out and created amazing shapes. Boulders tumbled down the slopes, some covered in snow, others shoving through it. Trees grew in places trees had no business growing.
“This is incredible. I’ve never imagined anything so beautiful existed. It’s paradise. A perfect fairy-tale paradise.”
Myla slipped off her mitts and dropped them to the ground to slide her camera out of a pocket. She shuffled around the clearing snapping photo after photo, whispering the whole while about the fairyland she’d discovered.
Without putting down the camera, she called over her shoulder. “Is there an easy way down the slope? I’d love to take some pictures from a lower angle.”
“Sure is. It’s called falling.”
A laugh burst out of her. “That’s too bad. The shadows would be spectacular from down there.” When she shuffled closer to the edge, Sawyer moved and put his hand around her upper arm.
“Back up.” Her sigh was all about how hard life was treating her because he wouldn’t let her bounce down a ravine. “This ditch wouldn’t be as easy to rescue you from.”
“That was an anomaly. I’m not typically in need of rescuing.”
No shit. Even in her brand-new winter gear with a scarf covering half of her face, she radiated determination. He doubted he’d met many people more independent than Myla.
Maybe she’d be more agreeable to a few rounds of naked fun than he thought. Never hurt to ask. Although he’d wait until they were back in the truck and he was sure she wouldn’t stomp away and get lost. Better yet, he’d wait until they were back in town.
A gunshot ringing out had his body reacting before his brain had even registered the sound. Sawyer hauled Myla into his chest and slammed her to the ground before covering her with his body.
The breath whooshed out of Myla and she lay stunned. He reached for his weapon reflexively even as he realized he wasn’t carrying it.
Myla gasped in a huge breath and another. Before she could speak he covered her mouth with his hand and hushed her. He needed to get her to safety, needed to figure out the direction of the shot.
It only took seconds to check the area and map out the fastest way to get Myla under cover. Her leg would be tired from the trek and her body would be stiff.
Sawyer counted off thirty seconds from the initial shot before he spoke directly into Myla’s ear. “Don’t speak. I’m getting us under cover. Don’t fight me. I won’t let you get hurt.”
Myla opened her mouth but shut it again when he shook his head. Satisfied she would cooperate and desperate to get her to safety, Sawyer bounded to a crouch, scooped her into his arms and hunched over her as he dashed to the trees.
No other shots followed and he moved until they were under cover. He stood behind a thick pine and listened. Myna squirmed but he shook his head again and she stilled. Without knowing the direction of the shooter, he couldn’t be sure he’d placed the tree between them. His instincts were stale and he hoped his best guess was good enough.
No other shots. Only a few sounds at all as the forest reawakened after the silence caused by the blast.
When the noise level reached normal, Sawyer lowered Myla to her feet but motioned her to remain quiet while he decided next steps.
Run, walk, or hide.
Run and hide worked if someone was shooting at them.
Walk was perfectly fine if it was simply a hunter and no one was after them. The longer the silence went on and the forest reacted normally, the more likely that option appeared.
Meaning he’d overreacted.
He ran his hands over his face and breathed out a sigh. “I think we’re good.”
“Was that a gunshot?” Her eyes were wide and her voice trembled.
He nodded. “Probably a hunter.”
“Probably? But not definitely.”
“I didn’t see the shooter, so I don’t know. There’s no other sign anyone is after us.”
“Why would anyone be after us? Is this related to Freddy? What is with this crazy town? Is this how you treat tourists?”
Her voice had risen with each question until her shrillness rivaled any of the birds in the trees. “Well, if someone is shooting at us, great job of pinpointing our location.”
Myla’s eyes widened and her head whipped around to check their surroundings. As if a sniper would have to get that close to take them out.
When she started to run, he tugged her back to a halt. “We’re going to be careful and it would help if we went in the right direction. Follow in my footsteps and let me know if you need anything. Otherwise, we’ll try to keep talking to a minimum.”
He waited for her nod and saw the questions forming. Before she could start asking, he turned and moved through the trees. It took her a few moments to start walking but she did it silently. Keeping in the questions had to be killing her and the thought almost made him smile. Almost.
When they reached the trailhead leading directly to the parking lot, Sawyer slowed to a halt. Myla almost bumped into him but stopped before he needed to warn her. Her breathing was elevated but she wasn’t nearing distress yet.
The parking lot would be wide open and they’d be clear targets. Except this was Bloo Moose and not Afghanistan. Sure someone had vandalized her car but that didn’t mean that someone had shot at them or that anyone was watching them.
It might mean he was losing his damn mind.
Birds chatted comfortably in the trees and the wind was still enough for Sawyer to hear any disturbances. Nothing.
Itchy with the tiny possibility that there was a sniper waiting, Sawyer checked out the best spots and then turned to Myla. Her eyes showed that fierce determination he’d come to expect. “We’ll take off the snowshoes here. Walk on my left and get straight in the truck. Keep low once you’re in.”
“What—”
“Let’s get out of here first.” That would leave him another couple of minutes before she realized he might be a complete lunatic.
He slipped his pack off and strapped his snowshoes to it, then helped Myla off with hers. He tucked them under his arm. She reached for them and started to protest but sighed and let him carry them.
“If anything gets weird, do exactly as I say. No questions.”
She rolled her eyes and gave him a salute. Smartass. He turned toward the lot and did another survey before telling her to move.
When they reached the truck, he shoved her inside, hurried around to his side, threw his pack and snowshoes into the backseat, and started the truck.
Nothing had moved. No shots. No noises. Not taking any chances, Sawyer spun around in the lot and plowed back through the bank and onto the road. Nothing appeared out of place.
He drove in a couple of directions to ensure no one followed, then turned into a parking lot for a scenic lookout. A family sat outside their car making snowmen in the lot. Couldn’t get much safer.
He turned off the truck and turned to face Myla. She deserved an explanation.
“Do you think someone was shooting at us? Could it have been a random shot? Is someone trying to drive me out of town? Is someone after you?”
Sawyer shoved off his cap and ran his hands through his hair. “I assume it’s a hunter who didn’t see us.” That sounded better than he’d reacted like a five year old.
Myla stared back at him, her expression giving nothing away.
“There was no way to tell, so I took precautions in case it was something different but there were no signs to indicate it was anything other than a random shot.”
A short nod showed she’d heard him but she didn’t say anything which was not like the woman he’d come to know. “There’s nothing to make me think someone’s after you. You’re safe.”
Another nod.
“How long have you been out of the Navy? Were you a SEAL?”
Shit. Where did those questions come from? Myla Esperanza was too sharp by far.
His body’s reaction to being on top of her tight little body gave him the perfect way to distract her. He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. He caught her breath of surprise before she leaned in and touched her lips to his. Three gentle touches before she leaned up and locked their mouths together. Her tiny hand wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer while she kissed any remaining sense out of his brain.
When Sawyer’s hands itched to yank her out of her seatbelt and onto his lap, she eased back. Slowly.
They remained only an inch or two apart for several heartbeats, staring into each other’s eyes.
It took mere seconds before he watched her brain kick in past the lust and he let his do the same. Not without regrets. The woman kissed like she was starving for his touch. His body was on fire and he worried she might be the only one who could douse the flames.
He leaned back into his seat, wondering if he should apologize or ignore it. This proved he was smart not to get involved with anyone. Indecisiveness got you killed on the teams. And made you lame in the real world.
“So, you don’t think I’m bringing danger to Darby’s door? If I am, I’ll leave. Be honest, Sawyer.”
He brought his thoughts back under control. “I think this was a random shot by a hunter. Don’t know about the car but that was probably kids being idiots.” His gut screamed differently but it wasn’t reliable.
“Okay. Can you drop me back at the B&B then? I think I’ve had enough excitement for the day. I see a glass of wine and a bubble bath in my future.”
Well, hell.