followed
the GPS’s instructions through winding back roads he only half remembered from high
school. What the hell was Bri doing all the way out here? He took the prescribed turn
off the main road and cursed when the SUV jostled dangerously. A fucking dirt road ? There had better be a good goddamn explanation, or he was going to be wicked pissed.
Oh, hell, who was he kidding? He was already wicked pissed.
The deep rutted tracks drew him in much the same way it drew in his wheels, so he
kept going, because as far as he could tell, Bri hadn’t driven back here by herself.
Those tracks sure as hell hadn’t come from the Prius he’d seen in her driveway. Who
was she with?
He tried to beat back the jealousy and banish the images of her huddled up with another
man and making good use of their time while they waited for rescue. His suspicion
turned to confusion when he caught sight of Avery’s lifted Jeep on massive tires.
What the hell? No way could that thing get stuck and, judging by its perfectly stable
location in front of this cabin, it never had been.
Ryan shut off his Suburban and headed for the front door, following the dainty footprints
that could only have been made by a woman. One set, not two. So either Drew had gotten
his wires crossed and he was actually here for Avery, or Bri was driving the Beast.
He shoved open the front door and slammed it behind him. A squeak sounded from somewhere
down the hall, so he marched in that direction, determined to get some answers. The
kitchen he passed was stocked with enough food to feed his entire flight crew for
a week, and the living room full of comfy couches was free of dust.
What. The. Fuck.
He pushed open the closed door at the end of the hallway with more force than necessary
and barely had time to register a wild-eyed Bri before she swung a chair at him.
Or tried to.
Instead of hitting him in the chest like she’d obviously planned, the weight of the
heavy oak dragged her down until the chair rammed into his shins. “Jesus Christ!”
Ryan jumped back and cursed again as she tried to lift the damn thing a second time.
“Get away from me! I’m not alone out here, and my friends will kill you if you touch
me!”
He held up his hands. “Bri, relax. It’s me.”
“Ryan?” She pushed her glasses higher on her nose and frowned. “Where’s Drew? I thought
Avery must have gotten the address wrong because his truck wasn’t here, but I couldn’t
make my cell phone work and so I went to knock on the door to see if they had a landline,
but no one was here, and—”
Holy shit. She was talking so fast her words tumbled over themselves. He cautiously
put his hands on her shoulders and nearly jumped back again when she threw her arms
around his waist and buried her face in his neck. “I thought you were some backwoods
hunter who was going to kill me!”
“Honey, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you live in central Pennsylvania.
There are a lot of backwoods hunters out here, and less than the average percentage
of serial killers. I think you’re safe.”
She seemed to realize she was clinging to him because she abruptly shoved him away.
“I’m entitled to be frightened. And stop being so negative about the people who live
here. They’re perfectly lovely.”
“Except for the backwoods hunters?” He smiled in spite of himself. Not that she wasn’t
allowed to be afraid, but her intelligence might be in question if she made a habit
of wandering into strange houses just because the doors were unlocked. Now probably
wasn’t the best time to call attention to that, though.
She peered around him to look down the hall. “Where’s Drew? And his truck? Did you
walk here?”
The sinking feeling in his chest got worse. “What are you talking about? I got a text
saying you’d gotten into a car accident and needed me.”
“Well, that’s just ridiculous. Why would I be out here
the GPS’s instructions through winding back roads he only half remembered from high
school. What the hell was Bri doing all the way out here? He took the prescribed turn
off the main road and cursed when the SUV jostled dangerously. A fucking dirt road ? There had better be a good goddamn explanation, or he was going to be wicked pissed.
Oh, hell, who was he kidding? He was already wicked pissed.
The deep rutted tracks drew him in much the same way it drew in his wheels, so he
kept going, because as far as he could tell, Bri hadn’t driven back here by herself.
Those tracks sure as hell hadn’t come from the Prius he’d seen in her driveway. Who
was she with?
He tried to beat back the jealousy and banish the images of her huddled up with another
man and making good use of their time while they waited for rescue. His suspicion
turned to confusion when he caught sight of Avery’s lifted Jeep on massive tires.
What the hell? No way could that thing get stuck and, judging by its perfectly stable
location in front of this cabin, it never had been.
Ryan shut off his Suburban and headed for the front door, following the dainty footprints
that could only have been made by a woman. One set, not two. So either Drew had gotten
his wires crossed and he was actually here for Avery, or Bri was driving the Beast.
He shoved open the front door and slammed it behind him. A squeak sounded from somewhere
down the hall, so he marched in that direction, determined to get some answers. The
kitchen he passed was stocked with enough food to feed his entire flight crew for
a week, and the living room full of comfy couches was free of dust.
What. The. Fuck.
He pushed open the closed door at the end of the hallway with more force than necessary
and barely had time to register a wild-eyed Bri before she swung a chair at him.
Or tried to.
Instead of hitting him in the chest like she’d obviously planned, the weight of the
heavy oak dragged her down until the chair rammed into his shins. “Jesus Christ!”
Ryan jumped back and cursed again as she tried to lift the damn thing a second time.
“Get away from me! I’m not alone out here, and my friends will kill you if you touch
me!”
He held up his hands. “Bri, relax. It’s me.”
“Ryan?” She pushed her glasses higher on her nose and frowned. “Where’s Drew? I thought
Avery must have gotten the address wrong because his truck wasn’t here, but I couldn’t
make my cell phone work and so I went to knock on the door to see if they had a landline,
but no one was here, and—”
Holy shit. She was talking so fast her words tumbled over themselves. He cautiously
put his hands on her shoulders and nearly jumped back again when she threw her arms
around his waist and buried her face in his neck. “I thought you were some backwoods
hunter who was going to kill me!”
“Honey, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you live in central Pennsylvania.
There are a lot of backwoods hunters out here, and less than the average percentage
of serial killers. I think you’re safe.”
She seemed to realize she was clinging to him because she abruptly shoved him away.
“I’m entitled to be frightened. And stop being so negative about the people who live
here. They’re perfectly lovely.”
“Except for the backwoods hunters?” He smiled in spite of himself. Not that she wasn’t
allowed to be afraid, but her intelligence might be in question if she made a habit
of wandering into strange houses just because the doors were unlocked. Now probably
wasn’t the best time to call attention to that, though.
She peered around him to look down the hall. “Where’s Drew? And his truck? Did you
walk here?”
The sinking feeling in his chest got worse. “What are you talking about? I got a text
saying you’d gotten into a car accident and needed me.”
“Well, that’s just ridiculous. Why would I be out here
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