Chapter 17

Chapter

Seventeen

Cassie panted for air against Baxter’s hand. He carried her through the snow, seeming oblivious to her kicking, hitting, and scratching at him. She was freezing in her thin dress and the cold sweat pricking her skin made her shake uncontrollably.

“My therapist said I have to get you out of my head,” he muttered as he plowed through the deep snow. “I don’t know how to do that with you alive and happy and raising my daughter. He kept trying to make me do all these stupid mind exercises and wanted me to promise to stay away from you. So I killed him.”

Cassie screamed against his hand.

He stopped moving. “And now I’m going to get you out of my head, my way. I’m going to cut your heart out and take it with me. That cowboy boyfriend of yours will regret messing with me. When you’re gone, Presley and I can finally be happy. You poisoned her against me.”

Cassie fought more ferociously. He had completely lost touch with reality. When they were married, he’d told her about his awful relationship with his demanding grandmother and how his first wife had broken his heart. Now she knew he’d killed both of them, her own mother, and his therapist. She had little hope of surviving, but at least Easton would never let this monster hurt Presley.

Baxter released his hand over her mouth and shoved her down into the snow. The Montana cold was intense, even in early winter. The snow heightened the cold, yanking her down into its icy depth with a relentless grip.

But Cassie had too much to fight for to just give up. She screamed, flailing.

He pushed harder, burying her face in the snow.

She screamed and thrashed, trying to free herself from his grip.

“Stop moving so I can get my knife,” he yelled at her.

Cassie struggled harder and prayed even more fervently. She lifted her face, breathed in some stinging cold air, and screamed as loud as she could.

“Shut up!” Baxter hollered, shoving her down again. “No one can hear you through this forest. I killed the security guard. You didn’t know I’m an expert marksman.” He barked a laugh. “Now you’re going to die. But I don’t want to make it as easy as a bullet. You ripped my heart out by leaving me and stealing my girl. Now I’m going to?—”

Baxter was ripped off of her.

Cassie struggled to sit up, pulling in gasps of air, and whirled to see who had come. “Easton,” she breathed.

The relentless cold was working on her, clouding her mind as it attempted to drag her away from consciousness. She was back in the ballroom, during that first dance with Baxter. Easton had come looking for her, to save her this time.

Easton’s fist drew back. Baxter saw, and there was nothing he could do. With the inevitable momentum of fate itself, Easton’s fist smashed forward into the center of Baxter’s face.

Easton. He’d saved her.

Just like last time, Baxter crumpled to the ground.

It was now. Not an upscale New York ballroom. She was in a winter forest in Montana, and her hero was here.

Cassie sank back into the cold snow, wet and shivering and saved.

Grabbing Baxter, Easton ripped the man to his feet, wrenched his arm behind his back, and growled, “You ever try to touch my girl again and I’ll rip you to pieces.”

Baxter whimpered and tried to wrench his arm free.

Easton lifted the pinned arm higher, then glanced at her with concern. “Are you all right, Cass?”

She struggled to her feet in the deep snow, her fingers and toes numb and stinging. “Yes. You found me.”

“Of course I did. You know your ultimate alpha male would never let you down.”

“I n-never doubted,” she tried to tease back, but her teeth were chattering and her entire body shook with a combination of the fear settling, the cold penetrating, and the joy of him coming.

He smiled, but she could read the angst in his blue eyes and tight posture. He was concerned for her.

“You can’t have her!” Baxter screamed. With his free hand, he yanked a knife out of his pocket and jabbed it back toward Easton.

“Easton!” Cassie screamed, pushing forward to try to reach them and help.

Easton released Baxter’s arm and dodged backward to avoid the knife. Baxter sliced at him again. Easton kneed Baxter’s hand and the knife flew into the snow.

Baxter cried out. Easton darted in and used Baxter’s face as a punching bag, driving him to the ground. Baxter crumpled and covered his face. “Stop!”

Footsteps pounded toward them. Aiden Porter and two of his men raced up.

“Good work, Easton, my friend,” Aiden praised. “Why don’t we take this scum from you so you can attend to your sweetheart?”

“Much obliged.” Easton yanked Baxter to his feet and handed him off to Aiden and his men.

They dragged him back through the forest as Baxter yelled, “This isn’t over. I’ll get you, Cassie.”

His voice faded.

Easton hurried to her and wrapped her up. She shivered and cuddled into his warmth and strength. He tilted her chin up with his forefinger and looked her over. “Did he hurt you?”

“I’m okay. Did he hurt you?”

“That wuss, hurting me?” Easton gave her a cocky grin. “Not possible.”

“Oh, Easton.” She leaned heavily into him. “How did you find me?”

He steadied her with one hand, shrugging out of his suit coat and wrapping it around her. She slid gratefully into the too-long sleeves and then cuddled in against him. Easton thankfully obliged her and wrapped her up.

“I had an uneasy feeling and came looking for you. I found one of Aiden’s guards dead. I backtracked and found your footprints and then I heard you scream.” He shuddered and held her tighter. “I thought I’d lost you, Cass.”

“We’re together. Nothing’s going to take you away from me again.” She arched up and kissed him.

He returned it, warming her all the way through and lighting up the cold, dark night.

When they pulled apart, he let out a breath and swept her off her feet. Her hands were warming buried in his coat and now her feet were out of the ice. “Never wander off on your own again. I thought my magnetism was enough to keep you close.”

“You might have to keep me tied to your side.”

He arched an eyebrow. “It was your idea if you ever want to complain.”

“I won’t.” She burrowed into him, relishing his strength, his warmth, his protection, and his love. Being tied to his side sounded wonderful right now.

“Let’s get you warm,” he said, carrying her back through the snow.

Her toes could use some thick socks, but Easton’s warmth was more than enough for the rest of her body.

“‘And now that I’ve found you, I’m never gonna let you go,’” he sang.

“I love your songs,” she murmured, content to be close to him.

They reached the edge of the woods. People were milling about out front by the garage.

He looked her over. “Now I have to know before we go back in and face all the questions. My kisses can heal all the pain. Can I kiss anything better?”

“My neck hurts,” she whispered.

Easton bent low and kissed the skin tenderly. He glanced up at her and her breath caught. He was a beautiful man, but he was so much more than that to her.

Easton’s warm lips brought tingles to the sensitive skin of her neck. He slowly trailed kisses up her neck and to her jawline. She trembled.

“How about your lips?” he asked softly, his lips moving to the edge of hers. Anticipation filled her. “How are they?”

“He clamped his hand over my mouth. It hurt,” she admitted.

“I should’ve thrashed him worse.”

“Kiss me better instead.”

Easton smiled and then he complied, fusing their lips together.

It was true that his kiss could heal any pain. His kiss also gave her visions for the future she never thought could come true.

Cassie clung to him and kissed him deeply. With Easton, every good dream could come true.