Chapter 5 #2
“You said it yourself, it looks like someone is after you. Until we can get you out of here, we have to do something to keep you safe.” He paused.
“I’m not a cop, Maya, but I was in special forces and worked with military police a lot, so I know how an investigation is run.
But mostly, I just know how to fight.” He looked away for a moment.
“Being a soldier was about the only thing I’ve ever been good at.
” Much better than being a businessman, that was for sure.
He shoved that thought aside. “I have no authority with law enforcement, but I think if we tell them everything that’s happened, then they’ll see the wisdom of having someone watch out for you.
It’s not like you can leave to get away from this person, and I really don’t like that.
So, either the guard or I will be camping out on your doorstep.
” Another pause. “Not to guilt trip you or anything, but, just in case you haven’t noticed, it’s cold out here. ”
Another grimace slipped across her features. “Your not guilt trip is kinda mean.”
“I know.”
She offered him a small smile, then nodded. “Okay then. Fine. I’ll go along with a guard if they’ll assign one. For now.”
He’d take the “for now.”
For now.
She disappeared behind a privacy curtain at the back of the room, and he paced from one end of the “lobby” to the other, replaying the break-in.
Had the intruder run because Maya hadn’t been alone?
If she’d been by herself, would he have confronted her?
Killed her? The tampering of the snowmobile should have killed her.
Could have killed her and someone else. He shuddered.
That was something he’d never be able to forget.
And would probably add to his nightmares. But the two questions foremost in his mind were . . . why and who?
Why had the person trashed her place, and who was doing it? Which raised more questions. What had they been looking for, and what did killing Maya gain them?
That might have been four questions, and he still had more.
It didn’t take long for security to arrive, and it was the same officers who’d responded to Maya’s cabin break-in, Ethan and Lila. Gideon filled them in.
“We’ll bring the snowmobile down and see what we can figure out,” Ethan said. He shook his head. “I’m glad she’s all right.”
“That makes two of us.”
“As for the guard,” Lila said, “I can do that. I don’t mind sleeping on her couch if she doesn’t mind me there.”
“I don’t mind,” Maya said, coming from behind the curtain. “I just don’t want to put anyone else in danger. I mean, what if the person after me decides to ramp up his attempts?”
Lila cleared her throat. “I am a trained officer, ma’am.”
“It’s Maya.”
“All right. Maya. I think we’ll be fine.”
“But what about your shifts here? If you’re watching out for me all night, how will you get any rest?”
“I’ll figure it out.”
Maya sighed. “Okay, if you’re sure. I’m supposed to help out at the clinic, but honestly, unless they’re in a state of emergency, I’m going to ask if I have time to catch a few hours of sleep before starting a shift. I have to eat, so I’ll still keep my dinner plans at six, so maybe after that?”
“I’ll be at your place at nine.”
“And she’ll be with me until then,” Gideon said. He wanted to ask if they’d let him carry a weapon but figured that wouldn’t go over too well.
“Okay,” Maya said, “I have some work I’d like to do, so I’m going to grab my laptop and some papers from my room and sit in the café where I’m in full view of everyone until it’s time for dinner. That should keep me safe enough.”
“And I’ll be with you too,” Gideon said.
She nodded. “That would be nice. I’d like that.”
“Come on then,” he said, “we’ll get your laptop and come on back.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lila said. At his raised brow, she shrugged. “Can’t hurt.”
“Maya,” a voice said behind him. “Everything all right?”
Gideon turned to see the man she’d been talking to earlier. This time he had two young boys with him.
Maya smiled. “Hi, Ben, everything’s fine, thank you.” She walked over and crouched in front of the kids, who looked enough alike to be twins except for the older boy’s height to tell them apart. “Hey, you two.” She gave the gentlest tug on the youngest’s ear. “How are you feeling, Mitch?”
“Better.” He slipped away from his father and wrapped his arms around her neck. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Oh, sweetie, you’re very welcome.” She hugged him back with only a slight grimace when she moved her injured arm.
Gideon’s heart crashed against his chest wall at the sight of the child in her arms. She looked so natural.
So right. She would be a wonderful mother.
He swallowed hard. But what kind of father would he be?
If he ever got the chance to be one? One with nightmares and who jumped at loud noises, hated fireworks, and carried a weapon with him when he was in the car in case someone pulled up beside him to open fire?
Overwhelming loss nearly pulled him to his knees. He’d never have children because he’d never get married because he couldn’t share his baggage. Baggage he’d love to lose and never unpack again. But that meant taking the risk, sharing his secrets, and opening up. Being vulnerable. Trusting.
So, yeah, that wasn’t happening. He’d learned the hard way to keep his mouth shut about certain things in his past.
“Gideon?” Maya’s voice jerked him back into the present. She was looking at him with a frown on her lips and concern in her eyes. “You okay?”
He drew in a sharp breath. “Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about something.”
“Let me introduce you all. This is Ben and his boys, Mitch and Owen, my new friends. And that’s Officer Lila.”
Everyone shook hands. Lila’s gaze seemed to linger on Ben, and Gideon almost smiled. Then she gave herself a shake and looked away.
“Ben and the boys have asked if I’d have some hot chocolate with them,” Maya said to Gideon.
“I told them I’d love to if you can join us.
” Now there was something more in her eyes.
Something that said she didn’t really want to have hot chocolate but didn’t want to disappoint the boys—and their father? —either.
He smiled. “I never turn down hot chocolate. Happy to join you.”
She nodded and shot him a relieved look. “Perfect.” She turned to Ben. “I have to run to my cabin real quick, then we’ll find you in the café.”
“Great.” Ben’s smile looked a bit strained. “I’ll go ahead and put the order in, and we’ll see you in a few minutes.”
After Ben and the boys left, Gideon led the way while Lila hung back, giving them some privacy but close enough to intervene if she needed to.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not real excited about this hot chocolate date?” he asked.
“Because I wanted to work and talk to you, not hang out with them, but—” She shrugged.
No sense in pretending her words didn’t thrill him. He cleared his throat. “But you could see how excited little Mitch was at the thought of you joining them.”
“I could.”
“His brother—”
“Owen.”
“Owen didn’t seem too upset about the idea either.”
She cut him a sideways look. “What are you getting at?”
He shrugged. “Ben has his eye on you for their new mom, and I think he’s let them in on the plan.”
“Oh stop.” Her cheeks turned a deep pink, and he laughed.
“I’m not kidding.”
“I’m not either. He’s a nice man and I’m always open to making new friends, but I’m not interested in anything more with him.”
“Is there someone you would be interested in something more with?”
She raised a brow at him, but sadness clouded her gaze. “There hasn’t been anyone on the radar in a very long time.” She sighed. “To be honest, I feel like I have too much baggage, too many nightmares. Asking someone else to take that on doesn’t seem fair to them.”
He stopped in his tracks and she did too, looking up at him, her face a question mark.
“Gideon?”
“I . . . It’s . . . I just . . .” He shook his head, unable to find the words. Finally, he said, “I know what you mean.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.” And he left it at that.
She nodded and they continued the trek toward her cabin in silence. Gideon kicked himself the rest of the way. He was an awkward idiot. Once they were inside, she grabbed her laptop and papers from the safe and shoved them in a bag that she slung over her shoulder. “I’m ready.”
He opened the door, saw Lila standing on the small porch, and told himself to relax the hypervigilance. He had more important things to focus his attention on.
Like making it clear that Ben needed to look elsewhere for a mother for his boys, because while Gideon didn’t have any plans for a romance with Maya, he didn’t like that someone else did.
And yes, he realized how stalker creepy that sounded.
He shut the door on the cabin—and his thoughts.