Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

J agger

Telling a beautiful woman that she was lying was as much a Neanderthal thing as commenting on her weight. Even I knew better than to do something so stupid. However, I’d watched how she’d handled Carlos. She was a damn doctor. I could feel that to my bones.

She’d also suffered some abuse at the hands of an asshole. I’d caught sight of a couple of bruises on her arm. There was no way an accident could have caused them. Right now, it was not my damn place to ask who the jerk was. Nor should I care.

“You didn’t need to carry Cally. She’s still small enough I can do that,” Bella told me as I walked with her to her vehicle.

“It’s fine. You’re exhausted. I need to lead you to the cabin. The map is decent by daylight, but at night it’s shit.”

She chuckled. “I’m a big girl. I’m pretty good with directions.” The woman already had her car keys in her hand. What did she think I was going to do?

“Not if you didn’t know where you were going in coming here in the first place. It was a dangerous thing to do.”

“You’re not a very nice man. Are you?” She pressed a button on her key fob and headlights flashed from only a few car lengths away.

“What makes you think that?”

“I could tell by the way the employees were looking at you and by the actions of the two girls that came up to the table. It appeared they were terrified of how you’d react.”

The lights in the parking lot were damn good. It allowed me to see the make and model of the vehicle she was driving. A Mercedes Visionary SUV. I wasn’t a fan of the brand, but I knew it well enough to realize not only was it less than a year old, but it was also priced over one hundred and thirty k without being loaded.

Why had her credit cards been declined?

More than one mystery enshrouded the beautiful woman.

“I’m not here to make friends,” I told her as I eased Cally into the car seat in the back passenger seat.

A moment of silence fell between us.

“How about trying not to make enemies?” Bella adjusted the straps, finishing by stroking her daughter’s cheek.

“I don’t need anyone to like me.”

She folded her arms out of frustration and a chill from the wind. “Well, then you’re meeting your goals.” Without saying another word, she moved to the driver’s side, climbing in and shutting the door.

My mouth twitched in my own level of frustration. No one challenged me that way. Not a single soul.

Huffing, I headed to my Range Rover, jumping inside and starting the engine with enough ferocity I almost flooded it. Who the hell did she think she was, anyway?

I jerked out of the parking lot, waiting until she figured out where I was. Once she was behind me, I took off, twisting my hands around the steering wheel. Why did she get to me so much? Because she’d called out my bad behavior? Maybe.

I’d felt far too much chemistry between us, which was almost as irritating as her attitude.

Yeah, I’d done the right thing and she’d paid me back by offering her help. With the town’s damn doctor retiring and a snowstorm rolling in, I sure as hell hoped the next few days were quiet.

I forced myself to concentrate on the road instead of thinking about her long legs or the shimmer on her flushed cheeks. Damn, my cock was aching.

There were several cabins surrounding the property, some used for family members like my parents and others meant for larger families. Wyoming was a smaller cabin, but one with pristine views and a massive stone fireplace. They’d all been renovated thanks to my dad. My cabin was also far enough away I wouldn’t run into her without trying.

And I had no plans of doing so.

For however long she was here, it was best to keep my distance. Complications I didn’t need nor want.

The snow had started to fall in small flakes. That would establish the groundwork for the foot plus that I’d heard the lower lying areas were getting, with eighteen inches to two feet in the mountains. It was crazy to think we’d get that much at the start of December in Virginia. I was reminded already why I preferred warmer climates.

The winding roads leading to the various cabins could be treacherous by the morning.

I pulled into the driveway leading to the Wyoming cabin, allowing her to take the better parking location right in front.

Bella seemed hesitant to turn off her engine or climb out. I didn’t know anything about her except that she didn’t like taking handouts and had suffered some kind of attack. Maybe now I knew why. She was on the run from something or someone. That much was clear.

She remained tentative with all her actions, finally cutting the engine and opening her door. I did the same, waiting to see what she’d do. She really didn’t need help from here, but at least my mama had taught me manners and those had stuck. Just about everything else regarding being a nice guy had been beaten, prodded, or tortured out of me.

After checking on her daughter, Bella climbed out, leaving the door open and her headlights shining on the front door while she walked onto the porch. The girl was definitely scared of something, completely untrusting of anyone offering assistance. I stayed where I was, hugging my jacket more tightly around my chest.

Goddamn, I hated this time of year. My leg ached more than usual. It was going to be a rocky night.

I couldn’t believe how long she was taking to open the door. When she was finally inside, it took her an equal amount of time to find a light. Not just one. She turned on at least six, including the outside floodlights. One scared lady.

She had her hands in her pockets as she walked back out, heading toward me after closing the driver’s door.

“The place alright?” I asked.

“It’s beautiful. Too much, but just… amazing.” Her sigh was exaggerated.

“Food. We usually have a welcome basket for guests, but this was different.”

Bella laughed nervously. “Yes, I kinda intruded.”

A very awkward silence settled between us and I had no freaking clue what to say to her.

“Anyway, I was a little rough on you earlier. I don’t know you and it wasn’t fair to act as if I did.”

She was apologizing to me? My normal self, the one that had been called an asshole thousands of times had a retort readily, but I couldn’t say it. Not to her. Not now.

Maybe never.

I shrugged instead like some ah-shucks backwoods mountain man. “No biggie. I’m sure you’re tired from your trip. There’s nothing in the cabin unless you can find a bottle of wine or two, which you’re welcome to have. I’ll have a few things dropped off in the morning for you. Food and beverages. Okay?”

“You don’t need to.”

“Not a problem. Why don’t I at least carry in your bags?”

I didn’t need much light to read her expression. Utter fear.

“You already pointed out a couple of my faults, Bella, but I’m not a serial killer.”

Maybe a mercy killer, definitely an assassin, but there’d been reasons behind the men I’d killed.

Her laugh was as nervous as a kitty cat. “I know that. I would appreciate your help.” She unlocked the back so I could grab her things.

“You’ll find, I think, three bedrooms upstairs. Pick any one you want.”

She nodded before gathering Cally into her arms. I waited until she was inside before opening the hatch, standing back for a few seconds before grabbing anything. There were only four suitcases, none of them I’d considered large enough to hold enough clothes. There was a single stuffed animal and unless some were buried in one of the bags, there were no toys.

Even more startling was the long duffle bag positioned on the side. I recognized the look of it. After looking up toward the house and seeing no one, I allowed my curiosity to kill the cat. Snooping wasn’t in my job description, but I had to know what I might have brought into the resort. Assassins came in all shapes, sizes, and genres.

My brothers would tell me I was still living in my past, but there was no way to avoid it. Not after everything I’d been through. I tugged the bag closer, immediately pulling the zipper. The contents weren’t what I thought; no assault rifles or handguns and correlating ammunition. But the weapon was just as deadly when used by a skilled marksman.

A crossbow.

What in God’s name was she doing with a crossbow?

“Whew,” I whispered, lifting it from the bag for a few seconds. The damn thing was a professional model. Now I knew Miss Bella Winters wasn’t who she said she was. I couldn’t take any longer for fear of discovery. I hurriedly returned the weapon, zipping and grabbing all the bags. I couldn’t pick and choose, or she’d become suspicious.

I placed them just inside, closing the door behind me. While I’d been in all the cabins at least once, it struck me all over again how much money my parents had invested. My father was many things, including an ex-Marine. He was also hiding more secrets than he’d wanted his kids to learn. I’d learned a long time ago how to recognize when someone was hiding behind a lie.

The three of us had stopped pressing our dad for how he’d gotten so much money, none of us believing he’d squirreled away money from a now dead and once corrupt organization. But the man was dying and the three of us had made a determination to let our questions drop.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t still curious, occasionally surfing the internet for any clues.

I headed for the fireplace, happy to see leftover wood. After opening the flue, I spent my time starting a fire. No matter how well insulated the house, the brisk wind could still cause a chill. It was funny that I didn’t care about that at my own place.

Her approach minutes later was nearly silent, but I sensed her before she cleared her throat.

“You didn’t need to do that,” she said. The animosity was gone from her tone.

“Yeah, I felt like I did. It’ll be cold.” With the fire roaring, I stood.

“Thanks again for bringing in my bags.”

“You don’t have much.” I walked closer.

She backed away. “I don’t know how long I’ll be away from… home.”

The word was tough for her to say as if she didn’t have a home. “Well, since you’re on vacation, if you need anything, the town isn’t too far away. You’ll find most things there. Just beware of the weather. I think there’s a weather station in the kitchen. They were installed in every cabin.”

“Oh, okay. I got it.” Bella wasn’t going to be but so forthcoming. “You’re limping. Is there anything I can do?”

“It’s nothing. An old injury.” Injury, my ass. I was lucky I had use of the one leg.

“Don’t forget a heating pad will help and since I guess there are sporting goods shops around here, the cheap gel hand warmers work really well.” She laughed. “I don’t mean to intrude.”

“Nah. It’s fine. Good thoughts.”

She nodded, but remained silent.

I took a step toward her again and she tensed. “Okay. It’s time for me to leave you alone.”

“Thank you for everything.”

“No problem.” There was something to be said for a pregnant pause in business, but not in this case. I found myself walking even closer, trying to corral my raging libido.

Bella was more nervous than before, still unable to look me fully in the eyes. “I just need a good night’s rest.”

When I was standing only a few inches from her, I expected her to bolt away like a terrified filly.

She didn’t.

She finally locked eyes with mine and I sensed so much of her life had been painful. Well, I wasn’t the man who could comfort her. “Thank you again. I really do appreciate all you’ve done.”

Her repetitiveness indicated continued trepidation.

I’d been a man who hadn’t been able to express any emotion but anger for so long that when I brushed my knuckles across her face, I was more shocked than she was. She didn’t flee, didn’t strike me with her hand. She looked hopeful, but not for a night of romance. One of peace instead.

I knew I needed to get the hell out before lines were crossed and something occurred we’d both regret. Sadly, being around her meant a loss of my control and a need that furrowed so deeply inside I was completely and utterly lost in the heat of the moment.

The moment I lowered my head, we both stiffened, but without thinking about it too much, I pressed my lips against hers. The electricity we’d already experienced was definitely still there, but the hesitation coming from two people who didn’t know each other clawed at the surface. The taste of her was sweet, her slight moan jerking at the man inside of me.

Only a few seconds later, Bella pushed one hand against my chest. Not angrily. Certainly not because she was repulsed at my actions. Just because she was hurting from something that had nothing to do with me.

My gut told me that.

I didn’t apologize although I took a step away. Her incredible scent lingered and would for some time.

The warm glow of the firelight highlighted a slight blush on her cheeks and that was the moment I felt like a shit. “I should go.”

“Yes, you should.”

Sighing, I headed for the door, stopping the moment I wrapped my fingers around the handle. “I think you’re in some kind of trouble. I’m no hero, but if I can help with anything, just let me know.”

“I’m in no trouble, Jagger. If you don’t mind, stop butting in. I can take care of myself. I have for a very long time.”

That was a kiss-off if I ever heard one. “Fine, lady. No problem. I’ll try not to bother you. Enjoy your stay.” Maybe my male ego was crushed or maybe I was just in a pissy mood, but I closed the door on my way out a little too hard.