Chapter 14
SCARLETT
“Ugh,” I groaned as a bump in the road slammed my knees into the raft’s bench.
Hiding was getting old. Fast.
I was curled into a ball on the floor of the boat, bumping and jostling between the seats and the bags stuffed around me. With the air open above me, I stared at the blue sky and the clouds as Luke drove away from the loading dock.
I missed the river already. I missed the tent we’d packed away this morning. I missed campfire meals and starry nights.
We’d been gone for all of fifteen minutes and all I wanted was to repeat this past week again on loop.
Today was June second—I’d asked Luke this morning before we’d reached the unloading zone.
I’d arrived in Montana exactly one year and two days ago. Presley would have been married for a year if I hadn’t arrived. Jeremiah would be alive.
This past year had been filled with mistakes. Regrets. But there were happy moments too, and each was thanks to Luke. Those moments, I wouldn’t trade for anything.
I was not the same woman who’d ridden a bus to Montana. She’d been na?ve. Scared. Lost.
My life was still a mess, but I was confident I’d found my path. I was confident that I could right my wrongs.
I was confident.
The feeling was heady and new. Maybe that confidence had been lurking under the surface my entire life, but I was embracing it, clutching it to my chest and not letting go without a fight.
I wasn’t sure how tomorrow would go. Or the next day.
But I was certain that with Luke’s help, we could figure it out.
Together.
It was time to take my life in my own hands and face the world. Well, not at this moment. Right now, I was hiding.
The truck slowed and dust from the gravel road flew overhead before disappearing into the ether. Luke’s door opened and I sat up, shoving myself off the floor to meet him at the edge of the raft.
“You okay?” he asked, helping me down.
“All set.”
He kissed me on the cheek, then I hurried around the boat to climb into the passenger seat.
“I want to come back someday,” I said as he resumed our journey down the road.
Behind us, the river had disappeared behind green hills and leafy trees. There were no other vehicles around, but it was different to be out in the open again, unprotected and unshielded from the cliffs and hillsides that had bordered the river during our week-long float.
“I’ll bring you back.” Luke reached across the cab and took my hand. “Promise.”
“Maybe we’ll catch more fish next time.”
He grinned. “Definitely.”
Though we’d caught three, fishing hadn’t been the primary objective of the trip. Luke had taught me how to cast my line from the front of the raft. He’d helped me reel in one trout and I’d ridden the high of my first catch and release for hours.
Luke had done hardly any fishing, instead being a steady rock at the oars. But two nights ago, he’d stood on the shore of our campsite and cast his line into a slower pool, bringing in two fish. We’d eaten them for dinner, baked over the fire with lemon slices and some campfire potatoes.
It had been delicious, as had breakfast this morning, but my stomach churned.
“I’m nervous,” I confessed.
“Me too.”
“When will you talk to Dash?”
“This week. Let’s get home. Get settled in. Then I’ll make an appointment to get the oil changed in my truck and head to the garage.”
“Okay.” I blew out a shaking breath, my fingers gripping Luke’s as he drove one-handed.
The trip to Clifton Forge went by in a flash. As we approached town, I didn’t wait for Luke to give me a signal. I gripped his hand, gave it one last squeeze, then wiggled free of his hold to crawl into the backseat, crouching down low.
We didn’t speak as Luke navigated the town’s streets.
When we arrived at the house, he opened the garage door, got out without a word and went about unhooking the raft.
When the garage door thunked closed behind the truck, I pushed my way out, my legs and back stiff from the uncomfortable position, then darted inside.
Luke would back the raft into the garage and then we could get to work unloading. Until then, I’d stay out of sight.
The scent in the kitchen welcomed me first, the air infused with Luke’s rich and woodsy smell. It was slightly stale from our week away, but I drew in a deep breath anyway.
Home.
Luke’s house had become home, and it had nothing to do with the place. Home was the man himself. Whether we were here or in his truck or on the river, wherever Luke went was where I belonged.
Luke was home.
I kicked off my flip-flops in the laundry room, then padded into the kitchen. The hickory floors were cool on the soles of my feet. The sleek countertop on the island was smooth beneath my palms.
Luke was home, but that didn’t mean I was ready to give up this house yet.
Please, let this work.
I closed my eyes and sent my prayer to the heavens once more. Then three times. Please. Please.
If the Warriors wouldn’t give up their hunt for me, my only other option was the FBI. Part of me wanted them to have that video. If it meant that evil men would get their just punishment, that was what I wanted.
Luke hadn’t said as much, but I suspected he felt the same. He was noble. His honor and duty ran marrow deep. Was Luke really okay letting the Warriors off the hook for murder?
The churning in my stomach intensified because I knew the answer. Luke couldn’t feel right about this, but he’d go along with it.
Just because I’d asked him to.
The garage door closed and I made my way back through the laundry room, opening the door.
Luke had his arms loaded with our dry bags. “I can unload, beautiful. You can relax.”
“No, I want to help.” I smiled and took a bag from his arm, dropping it by the washing machine. Everything we’d taken was dirty and I’d spend the next day doing laundry.
I was grateful for the upcoming task. It was going to be hard returning to normal life—if sitting around doing nothing could be considered normal. The next two or three days would be restless as I waited for Luke to get in touch with the guys from the garage.
Luke brought the coolers to the kitchen next, leaving me to unload the little food that remained. But there was next to nothing because we’d feasted on the river. On food. On the scenery. On each other.
“I’ll clean up the raft later,” he said after hauling in one last load of our things. Then he kicked off his boots in the laundry room, tugged off his socks and joined me in the kitchen, surveying the fridge as I put away a bottle of ketchup. “How about pizza for dinner later?”
“Sounds good.” I hadn’t had pizza since we’d come here. My vow to never eat it again at the safe house had been a bit premature. I cooked every night and besides the one night of burgers, Luke hadn’t brought home delivery. “Do you eat out much? When you’re not harboring a murder witness?”
He chuckled and closed the fridge, pulling me into his arms. “Yeah. There are some good spots in town and I like to support the local businesses. But I try to limit it.” He let me go and patted his stomach. “Gotta keep up my figure for the ladies.”
“Watch yourself, Chief.” I laughed and poked him in a rib. “There’d better be no ladies.”
“Just one.” He tugged on the end of the braid I’d done this morning in the tent.
“This one needs a shower.” I wanted shampoo and conditioner and a razor.
I patted his washboard abs, marveling at this man’s muscles and hard lines, then headed for the stairs. When I reached the bottom one, I paused and looked over my shoulder. Luke’s gaze was waiting. “Are you coming or not?”
A wicked grin spread across his face. He stalked my way, those long, strong legs of his moving with purpose and stealth. The hunger in his gaze intensified with every step.
My pulse spiked as I stood frozen, waiting. He stopped before me and even with the step beneath my feet, Luke towered over me. It put his chest exactly in front of my gaze.
There was a chance—a big one if I was being honest with myself—that our time together would end soon, and if that was the case, I wanted every one of his minutes. I wanted his body. His attention.
His heart.
My lashes lifted to meet his heated stare.
Luke jerked his chin, a silent command for me to lead the way.
I moved in slow steps, savoring the feel of his heat at my back and his appreciative gaze. He didn’t touch, but the whisper of his breath skittered across my neck as he crowded close.
At the top of our erotic stair climb, before I could saunter to his bedroom, Luke swept me into his arms, spinning me and slamming his mouth onto mine.
I gasped, my arms winding around his neck as I opened my mouth and let his tongue slip inside. He did the flutter that drove me wild and stole my breath, so I wrapped my legs around his waist, pressing my center to his growing arousal.
Luke repeated the tongue flutter, then nipped at my bottom lip as he walked us to the bathroom. His hand snaked under the hem of my denim shorts, sliding right to my center. He dipped inside quickly, then brought his wet finger to my rear entrance, circling it slowly.
His tongue fluttered against mine and I jerked, my eyes popping open. Once more, his were waiting with a hint of mischief behind the lust.
I tore my lips away, already panting for breath. “What was that?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Like it?”
“Yes,” I admitted. It felt forbidden. Naughty. I wasn’t ready for that but maybe someday.
“Good.” Luke stopped so abruptly that I nearly fell, but his grip on me was firm. He set me on my feet, then stripped me of my shorts and tank top.
I went to open the walk-in shower’s door and turn on the spray but his hand caught my wrist before I could even touch the handle. “We need showers.”
Luke dropped his mouth to my neck and traced the line of my neck to my ear with his soft lips. “What if I wanted you right here on the counter?”
“I won’t complain,” I whispered. We both knew he was in control here.