Mountain Hideaway. Christy Barritt

to make sure you don’t die.”

      “Stop playing games—”

      Before she could argue anymore, he grabbed her arm with both of his hands and heaved her onto the ledge. She landed beside him, and they both sprawled backward onto the hard rock beneath them. Silence fell between them as they each sucked in air.

      That had been close. Too close.

      Trent willed his heart to slow, but his adrenaline was still pumping at the close call. With one more deep breath, he propped himself up on one elbow and turned toward Tessa. “Why would you think I’m working for Leo?”

      She cringed as if in pain but still managed to scowl. She pushed herself up also, rubbing her wrist as if it was sore. “One of the paintings from his gallery is hanging in that cabin.”

      “If I understand correctly, the paintings from his galleries are sold all over the world. Prints of them are sold all over the world. I do know that much.”

      “It’s too big of a coincidence.”

      “There is such thing in life as a coincidence, darling. That’s what this is. I’m not working for Leo or his family. I take it that would be a bad thing if I were?”

      She stared into the distance, resting her arms on her knees. “I’ve already said too much.”

      “What’s it going to take for you to trust me?” He peered at her, trying to get a better look at her face in the deep blackness of the forest.

      “The only person I can rely on is myself.”

      “Your mom is Florence. She loves lilacs, makes the world’s best chicken Parmesan and she has your eyes. Your sister looks more like your dad, who died of cancer five years ago. He was a good man. Quiet, a hard worker and he could build anything out of wood.”

      Tears glistened in her eyes. Finally, some of her walls were coming down. He was able to see beyond her facade, and the woman lurking there was broken, scared and alone.

      A fierce surge of protectiveness rose in him.

      He had to keep pushing. The mention of Leo had caused a reaction in her; it was his best lead. “Your family trusts Leo.”

      Suddenly, she straightened. “What do you mean?”

      “I mean that Leo has been working with your mom to find you. He seems very concerned.”

      She let out a moan and ran a hand over her face. “But Leo didn’t hire you? That’s what you’re saying?”

      He shook his head. “No. Your family hired me.”

      “Does Leo know where you are?” Fear crackled in her voice.

      “No one knows where I am. I update your mom weekly. Last she heard, I was in the DC area. Coming here was a last-minute hunch. I wanted to be certain before I gave her any hope.” If Leo really was the bad guy here, just as Tessa seemed to be claiming, had he used his supposed concern for Tessa as a ruse for following Trent here and locating her himself? It was a possibility he had to consider.

      Tessa’s head dropped into her hands, and for the first time since he’d met her, she looked defeated, ready to give up. At least, ready to cry.

      He needed to do something to relinquish her defeat. Sitting here wouldn’t help, and he didn’t know her well enough to give her a hug.

      Finally, he stood. They couldn’t sit here all night. It wasn’t safe. “Let’s go back to the cabin. Please. We can talk there, make sure you’re okay and figure out what happens next.”

      With hesitation, she put her hands into his. It wasn’t a romantic gesture, though she was certainly beautiful enough that the idea could be entertaining. No, it was a matter of survival, of the two of them sticking together in the middle of this bleak wilderness.

      He glanced her over, looking for a sign of broken bones, of deep cuts. “Are you hurt?”

      She shook her head, her expression still listless. “Only my ego.”

      “Stay close to me. Understand? Next time you might not be so lucky.”

      She nodded. Without saying anything else, he led her up the mountain, taking it slow this time. His thoughts turned over what she’d said. Whether she’d meant to or not, she’d given him insight into her past. She’d all but admitted that she really was Theresa Davidson. She did know Leo. Yet, all of that noted, she seemed terrified.

      He needed to get to the bottom of her story, but now wasn’t the time to do so. He needed to take her somewhere safe. He hated to see a woman look this frightened, to see someone this shaken. If there’d been a different way to do things, he would have changed his plan of action. If he’d known earlier what he knew now, his approach would have been different. But what was done was done.

      As they neared his cabin, he pulled Tessa behind a tree, his muscles tightening as instinct kicked in. That instinct told him that something indiscernible was wrong.

      “What it is?” Her eyes were as wide as the full moon overhead.

      He put a finger over his lips and nodded toward the distance. “Listen.”

      Silence stretched—the only sounds were that of dry leaves clicking together and rustling in the breeze. Occasionally, an owl hooted or a squirrel scampered past.

      Then he heard it again. A crackle. He exchanged a glance with Tessa. She’d heard it, also.

      A roar sounded. A burst. An explosion.

      “What is that?” Tessa whispered.

      “That was my cabin. It just went up in flames.”