Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
H e’d slept well, but just not long enough. Park stepped into the shower and dipped his head under the spray.
He’d already packed his duffel bag for heading to Drifter Lake with Jenna.
Jenna .
He could still taste her, still feel her. She’d been in his dreams all night.
He groaned. He didn’t want an attraction like this. He didn’t want to feel so damn much. He didn’t want a woman, especially not one who understood him, who saw right through him.
Park didn’t want anyone seeing his demons.
All his Ghost Ops buddies had fallen in love and married. Hell, even grumpy Shep had taken the fall. Park didn’t need it, didn’t want it. He just wanted to be left alone.
In his head, he pictured Jenna in the bar. That beaming smile, her cleavage and toned arms on display.
But it wasn’t just her looks. She was smart as hell, tough, tenacious.
He slid his hand down his body and circled his cock. Just thinking about her made him hard.
“ Fuck .” His voice echoed off the tiles. He stroked and imagined that kiss in the conference room. Jenna ran hot. She had passion under all the rules and competence.
She wouldn’t be a quiet, passive lover. No, she’d give as good as she got.
He stroked faster. He imagined her there, her hands on him, her mouth on him. He imagined her dropping to her knees in front of him…
He came. Hard .
Park groaned through the rush of pleasure, his release splattering on the tiles before it was quickly washed away. He slapped a hand to the wall and sucked in air.
The last waves of pleasure rippled through him.
“ Shit .” He wasn’t supposed to be jerking off thinking about her.
He flicked the water to cold and made himself stay under the spray. Finally, he turned the water off, got out, and dried off. He forced his brain to move on autopilot and not think about anything. He changed the bandage on his cut. Jenna had done a good job on it. Jenna .
Locking down his thoughts, he ate some toast and drank some coffee standing up in his kitchen, then he left a plate out for Red. He stood out on the deck, searching the trees. There was no sign of the squirrel.
“I might be gone for a few days.”
Hell, he was talking to a squirrel. With a shake of his head, he went back inside and locked up the cabin. Then he was climbing into his truck. He turned the radio on and aimed for Fairbanks.
When he pulled into the Frontier Inn, he was ready. Focused.
He wanted Olson behind bars. Then, Jenna Sheridan would go home. Park’s hand flexed. Lifting his chin, he walked into the hotel.
Unsurprisingly, Jenna was already at the conference table, poring over some files.
“Morning,” he said.
She looked up and sent him a distracted smile. “Hey. I hope you slept well and are ready for a big day.”
He gave her a chin lift. “Yeah.”
She tapped the map on the table. “We have the search quadrants planned out around the Drifter Lake area. We’ll head out in pairs and check in regularly.” She paused. “You’re with me, and we’re heading to the Drifter Lake Lodge, posing as guests.”
Park nodded. Great, he’d be alone with Jenna.
“Good morning.” Owen hustled in, holding three takeout coffee cups. “I finally found a place that makes a decent mocha.”
He set a cup in front of Jenna. “Cappuccino, extra shot.”
“I knew there was a reason I kept you around.”
Owen turned. “Um…” He held up a cup. “I got you a cappuccino, too.”
It looked like the kid had softened toward him. “Thanks.” Park took the coffee.
“It’s a pretty weak thank you for saving my life.”
Park sipped, then held the cup up. “I’ve had worse thank yous.”
Owen nodded.
“And you’re welcome,” Park added.
They all sat at the table.
“Owen is heading out with some of the other marshals and state troopers. They’re forming search teams to search here, here, and here.” Jenna tapped areas surrounding Drifter Lake. “Whatever it takes, we’re going to find Olson. We need to flush him out.” Her mouth flattened. “He’s killed two good men, and I won’t let that stand.”
Owen nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Jenna glanced at Park. “You look serious.”
“Olson won’t make it easy.”
“I know, but we’re up for the challenge. We can’t let him get away.” She glanced at Owen. “You warn the state troopers not to take any chances. I don’t want anyone else hurt.”
Owen nodded.
Then she rose. “I’m going to get my gear.” She stalked out of the conference room.
Park watched her stride away, filled with purpose. She was so damn dedicated. His hand curled into a fist.
Olson wouldn’t go down without a fight. Park would do everything he could to keep Jenna safe.
He wondered just how much this hunt would take out of them all.
Jenna packed the gear in the back of the Tahoe. She had a personal bag, some camping gear, and general supplies.
“Ready?”
Park’s deep voice made her turn. Was she ready to be alone with a man who got to her in so many ways?
She’d spent years forging her career in a man’s world. Years doing her bit to make up for the evil her father had perpetrated. She’d vowed never to let anything, let alone a man, derail her. Vic had been a close call and a lesson. Still, it hadn’t taken her long to realize he’d hurt her pride and not her heart. She’d never been at risk of falling in love.
Yet, looking at Parker Conroy made her feel things.
She pulled in a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
He grabbed her arm. “Don’t worry. We’ll find him.”
She nodded. “I’m just worried who he’ll hurt before we do.”
“Hopefully, he stays well clear of people until we run him down.” Park paused. “You driving?”
She nodded.
Without a reply, he got into the passenger seat. Well, a man who wasn’t going to fight her to drive. Parker was a rare breed.
Soon, they were on the road. She fiddled with the radio. “I suppose you like country or rock.”
“I don’t care. I have what you’d call an eclectic taste.”
She settled for a mixed-variety station. “Oh, so you don’t mind some Taylor Swift?”
His lips twitched. “No, I don’t. And I love some Rhianna.”
With a smile, she focused on driving.
The scenery was so different to Virginia. She’d lived there several years, close to the US Marshals Headquarters, though she was on the road a lot. Right now, there was green as far as she could see, with magnificent mountains rising up in the distance. Fields of colorful wildflowers added splashes of brilliant hues.
“I see why you chose to move here. It’s beautiful.”
He was silent for a moment. “I came here to be as far away from people as I could.”
Her heart thumped. Because he’d been locked in a cell and subjected to who knew what. She hurt for him. “I’m sorry.”
He glanced her way. “For what?”
“For those demons that are making you run.”
His mouth flattened. “I’m not running.”
“Okay.”
“I’m not .” He huffed out a breath. “I’ve seen the worst people can do. I’ve earned the right not to deal with them anymore.”
“I would’ve thought you’d seen some of the best people can do too, Park.”
“I have. Some of those men and women—true, honest-to-God heroes—got blown to pieces because I wasn’t fast enough to save them. When I think of them…” He shook his head and looked out the side window.
Her heart squeezed. She heard the guilt tangled up with so many emotions. He was strong, tough, yet he’d seen and done things that had worn him down. He’d been tortured. He’d survived when others hadn’t. All that had left him scarred—inside and out.
“Your ex sounds like a douchebag,” Park said.
She accepted the change of subject. “He is. Of epic proportions.”
Park looked back at her. “What happened?”
“We had a few decent dates, then he cheated. With a twenty-something-year-old college girl. They’re married now.”
“The guy must be an idiot.”
She raised a brow.
“To risk something with a smart, attractive, competent woman like you for a taste of anything else.”
She felt a flush of heat. “I consider it a lucky escape. I don’t give him, or his young wife, much thought at all.”
“But he left his mark.”
Yeah, her experience with Vic had rattled her confidence. She hated that Park saw that. When she’d discovered her smiling, loving father was a killer, her life had imploded. She’d vowed to never let a man fool her like that. Vic had come too damn close.
“Life leaves its mark, Park. For better and worse. We learn and grow, and we can’t let it break us.”
She felt his gaze on her but she didn’t look his way.
Up ahead, she glimpsed something in the distance. She leaned forward, and soon she made out an old truck pulled over on the side of the road. Its hood was up, steam rising from it.
“What’s this?” They hadn’t seen anyone for miles.
Park peered forward. “Looks like someone needs help.”
Jenna flicked on the indicator and pulled over behind them.
Two guys straightened. One waved a hand at them and shot them a friendly smile. They were both late thirties, wearing jeans and flannels. One had short, brown hair, while the other had long, messy blond hair.
She watched them a second longer, her gaze narrowing.
“I don’t think they need help,” Parker said dryly.
No, she’d picked up the vibe, too.
This was a trap.
“Guess it’s their unlucky day,” she said.
Park gave her a half smile. “This might be fun.” He pushed open his door.
They approached the truck. She didn’t see any sign of weapons, but it didn’t mean the men didn’t have any.
“You guys have car trouble?” Jenna asked.
“Yeah.” The one with long hair approached her, a wide, friendly smile pasted on his face.
One that didn’t reach his eyes.
“What’s the problem?” Parker asked.
He was on the other side of the vehicle, and somehow, he’d dialed back that intensity of his. His shoulders were hunched, his eyes low, and he wasn’t setting off their radars.
“Actually, nothing’s wrong.” Short Hair whipped a gun up and aimed it at Park. “Give us your keys, wallet, and cellphones.”
Long Hair grinned. “And I want a few minutes alone with Blondie here.”
“You sure about that?” Jenna asked.
The man frowned at her. She clearly wasn’t reacting the way he expected. She met Park’s gaze. He gave her a small nod.
Then, he exploded into action. He kicked the gun from Short Hair’s hand, then landed a hard punch to the man’s face.
Long Hair lunged and made a grab for Jenna. She bent her legs, gripped his arm, and yanked.
He made a surprised sound and stumbled forward. She rammed her knee up between his legs.
Now, he made a gurgle.
“Get down, you idiot.” She kicked his legs out from under him and pressed a hand to his shoulder. He dropped to his knees in the dirt.
Across the truck, she watched Park slam his guy face first into the hood.
That’s when she saw a flash of movement under the vehicle.
“Park, watch out! There’s a third guy under the truck.” She kneed her guy in the face, and watched as he toppled to the ground, out cold. She rushed to circle around the vehicle.
As she got there, Park shoved Short Hair at her. She grabbed the man, and rammed him against the hood again.
Tattooed arms snaked out from under the truck, trying to grab Park’s ankles.
He dodged, then grabbed the guy and dragged him out.
The man cursed and twisted, but Park pinned him to the ground with one boot in the center of his back. Leaning down, he yanked the man’s arms together.
“Park.” She tossed him a set of handcuffs.
He caught them, then cuffed the man.
“Gentlemen,” Jenna said. “You’re under arrest by the authority of the US Marshals.”
Short Hair lifted his head and looked back over his shoulder. “ Fuck .”
She met Park’s gold-brown gaze, and he smiled at her. The first real one she’d seen.
They made a good team.