Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Carter

C arter had been uncomfortable all day. He’d slept last night, deeper than he had in a while, but to know that was because of Ashley was disturbing. He’d gotten too comfortable by allowing himself to go to bed with her.

That sounded bad. They had only slept, her wrapped in his arms, but that was it. The problem was how much more he wanted and his constant need to remind himself that she was a client and anything between them was beyond inappropriate.

His boss’s almost sister-in-law was definitely a no. Remembering that over her body pressed against him was difficult.

They were walking back to the cabin from their daily stroll through the woods when Ashley broke the silence between them. “Have you heard anything about Julian?”

Was she ready to leave already? “Nothing of import. Matt was tracking him for a bit, but he’s gone dark. Must have picked up a new phone somewhere.”

“Okay. How long do you think we’ll be here?”

“I don’t know. I’m aware of the two-week promise to reevaluate this, but if we haven’t found Julian, I don’t know that I’d be comfortable taking you back.”

“I’m not worried about the two weeks. It would just be nice to go to town and explore a little. While I really do love it up here, I’d like some good coffee and just to go see the town.”

“This isn’t a vacation,” he reminded her, a little harsher than he needed to.

Ashley flinched. “That isn’t what I meant at all.”

Carter stopped and turned to her, making her stop along with him. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not what you meant, and I didn’t mean that to come out like it did.”

“Okay,” she said quietly and went to brush past him.

“Ashley, wait.” Carter sighed, realizing he’d offended her but not sure how to fix it. “I really didn’t mean it, I swear. We just have to be careful, and I guess I’m still in the mode of you pushing back on everything so that riled me up a bit. I know better, and you’ve been nothing but great since we got here.”

“It’s okay.” Ashley didn’t look at him, keeping her focus on the trail back to the house. “Let’s just go back.”

Carter stepped completely out of her way and followed her back to the cabin. Once there, Ashley shut herself in the bedroom away from him.

Distance wasn’t a bad thing, he reminded himself. This was probably for the best because it would help keep their relationship professional when he was so close to pushing it way too far.

He checked his phone again before grabbing some chips and taking them to the table. There had been no updates on this Julian guy, and it was starting to wear on him. He understood she wanted to get out of the cabin, but the safety concern was too high for him.

Up until today, he thought she was actually enjoying being here. Every time she talked about the cabin, she said how she’d like to live here someday and always with this imaginary dog that she didn’t have.

He could see her doing it, too. She was suited for the calm life out of the city and was more relaxed than he’d ever seen her. Not that he was an expert after only a few weeks, but the change in her was obvious.

Julian needed to come out of hiding soon. He opened his phone again and sent a message off to Matt and Ryker.

Carter: Any progress?

Ryker: She giving you a hard time?

Carter: Not really. She wants to go to town sometime but hasn’t tried to slip off or created any issues.

Matt: What changed?

Carter: She understands the concern now.

Ryker: And?

Carter: And I promised to keep her informed and let her have input on decisions we make.

Matt: There it is.

Carter: Seriously, any progress on Julian?

Matt: Nothing. He’s gone completely dark. His car was at the airport, but I can’t find a ticket for him on anything. I don’t think he left on a plane.

Ryker: Rental cars?

Matt: Nothing.

Carter: We can’t stay up here forever.

Ryker: Should we draw him out?

Carter: No.

Matt: It’s an option, but I don’t know how we would in a way that would ensure he found her, short of her going home.

Ryker: Even that’s not a guarantee if he doesn’t have someone or something watching her place.

Carter: We are not using her as bait.

Ryker: I doubt Luke would go for it anyway.

Matt: I’m still looking for him and have a few other people involved.

Carter: Keep me posted.

He closed his phone and set it on the table, shoving away all thoughts of using her as bait. He couldn’t think of another way to draw Julian out. Even if she was bait, how would he get the information to Julian to lure him to her?

No. There was no way she would be part of this. That defeated the purpose of him working so hard to keep her safe.

“What’s wrong?” Ashley walked into the kitchen.

“Nothing.” He grunted.

“Is it about Julian?” she continued to press.

“There’s no update on him, still. Any ideas where he might go?”

She paused and thought it over as she took a seat at the table. “I don’t know the guy well. He weirded me out, and I made it a point not to get to know him.”

Well, at least she had good instincts. “There’s talk from Ryker and Matt about drawing him out somehow.” Carter watched her as he spoke, looking for any reaction.

“How? With me?” Her eyes were wide with shock.

Carter nodded. “But it’s just talk, and there’s no plan. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Plus, how would we let him know if we don’t know where he is?”

“You told them no?” She didn’t sound annoyed, just curious.

“I did.” She could be mad if she wanted. “It’s a risk, a really big one, and I don’t think we need to make it.”

Ashley scoffed. “You want out of here too.”

“That’s not my problem. I like here better than the apartment, but I know you’re getting a little stir crazy.”

“Let’s think on it. There’s no reason to think that he’s here in the area. How would he track me? I don’t have anything from my apartment, not even the clothes I was wearing when we left. I borrowed some from Catherine to get here.”

He knew that. “I’m sorry you don’t have any of your stuff.”

“That’s not a problem. The point I’m trying to make is there’s no reason to think he’s nearby.”

“But we don’t know where he is, and that’s the problem.”

She reached for the chips he had facing him and turned them to her, pulling out a few. “Right, but what are we proving by hiding?”

“That he can’t have you.” And it really was that simple.

“Who’s to say that Julian is even after me?”

“All the facts.” He wasn’t going to list them out for her again.

“Well, eventually I need to job hunt and get back to my apartment.”

“Why?” Carter didn’t mean to ask out loud, but since he had, he pressed on. “You don’t even like it there.”

“I do like it there.”

He arched one eyebrow at her, daring her to lie to him again.

“Fine. I don’t hate it, but it’s not my favorite place. That changes nothing. I still need to get a job and get home.”

“Why do you live there if you don’t like it?”

“Because that’s what I’m supposed to do. I need to get a career, take care of myself, and not be dependent on anyone.”

That made about as much sense as her wanting to go back ever did. “But, why?”

“My mother was dependent on men my whole life. I won’t be her and let everything fall to shit because some man left me. I won’t be that person.” Her voice was heated and passionate in her decisions.

“You always have your family for support, though. Don’t forget them.” She opened her mouth to talk, but he rushed on. “There is nothing wrong with wanting to support yourself. I’m not saying don’t do that. Just maybe calm down for a minute to try to find something you actually want to do.”

“I want to get a job and stop using my brother’s money.”

“Right, a noble pursuit, no doubt. All I’m saying is that you have more than most people by way of opportunities and a family who loves you. Do what you love to do so you can be happy with your job.”

“I got a degree in business to make finding a job easier and more lucrative. I did think it through.”

“So what do you want to do then?” he countered, knowing she didn’t have an answer. “What will you apply to?”

Ashley didn’t speak. She reached for more chips, and he pulled the bag away from her so she would look at him.

“What would you do if you could do anything?” He set the chips back on the table and stood up, stretching his back. “I’m going to do a perimeter sweep, stay inside.”

“And don’t open the door for anyone. I know.”

He didn’t need her to answer his question about what she would want to do; his plan was to leave that with her to think about. She likely didn’t have an answer to give him, but now the idea was there and she’d think about it whether she wanted to or not.

Carter didn’t walk far from the cabin, and while he did scan for anything out of place, his goal wasn’t a perimeter sweep. He’d just needed a break. It shouldn’t matter to him if she went to some corporate job and wasn’t happy.

He wandered for less than an hour before letting himself back in the cabin, not wanting to leave her alone for too long.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Ashley said immediately.

Confused, he blinked a few times before responding. “What?”

“About pressing to go to town. I realize we aren’t on vacation and shouldn’t have pushed.”

Needing to make things right, he did the only thing he could think of and went to her, pulling her to him in a hug.

“I know you don’t. I didn’t mean to snap at you. You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

“If I need to do something to draw Julian out so this can be over, let me know. Tell Matt and Ryker I’m in.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, okay?” He wasn’t willing to put her in danger, even if he’d be by her side to stop it no matter what.

He felt his shirt getting damp and pushed her arms’ length away by her shoulders. “Are you crying?”

She sniffed and shook her head.

“Ash.” He sighed. “This will be over before you know it.” He pulled her back to him, and they stood there in the doorway of the bedroom as she let go of everything she’d been holding in.

Her arms wrapped around his back as she let it all out. What started as silent, slow tears were now a full cry, and he didn’t know what to do except hold her.