Wilderness Reunion. Elizabeth Goddard
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ago.
* * *
Rubbing her arms, Alice stared out the front window of her home.
You’re fortunate to be alive...
Sheriff Kruse’s words echoed through her. Once she and Marie had made it to a lodge where they could use the emergency radio, she’d immediately called the sheriff’s department. Alice had left her pack with the SAT phone behind on her frantic run from deadly bullets. Stupid, stupid. Then someone had driven her and Marie back to Gideon and Marie left to fly home to Missouri, where she would be safe from all this mess Alice had stumbled into.
As a trained wilderness guide, she knew the signs, knew what to look for and avoid, and yet she’d walked right into it, endangering herself and Marie. Her brothers, Cooper and Gray, would be more than furious when they found out. She didn’t even want to think about Dad’s reaction. She could almost be glad they were all out of town, but at the same time, she was terrified to be on her own.
The man in the woods claimed he knew her. Did he also know where she lived? Did her pack contain any identifying information? Then again, it probably wouldn’t be so hard to find out who she was or where she lived if he didn’t already know.
The sheriff wouldn’t arrive until the morning. Unfortunately, he had a large county and not enough deputies to go around. Alice had a long night ahead of her. She doubted she would do more than hold her weapon, stare at the ceiling and out the windows until dawn. Might as well get out of the house while there was a little light left in the day.
Grabbing a light jacket, she left the house and headed to Ricky’s Rogue Bar-B-Q. The place had practically burned down in the winter, but they’d built it back and put in a new and bigger kitchen. You could hardly tell anything had happened. At least she didn’t have to spend the first part of her evening alone.
Hiking the short distance to Gideon proper took her through the woods and brought back the trauma of the last few days of running, hiking, barely sleeping as they made their way out of the wilderness to civilization.
A shiver ran through her, and she picked up her pace.
On the street, she took comfort in the still-busy small town, the familiar faces, and headed to the restaurant.
And...sensed someone following her. Or was she being paranoid?
A chilly evening breeze swept past and Alice tugged the jacket tighter.
Footsteps.
She heard footsteps behind her. She again increased her pace.
The footfalls increased as well, keeping in rhythm with her.
Then she slowed, almost stopping. The person behind her did the same.
Heart hammering, Alice wanted to look over her shoulder to see who followed her, but she knew if she saw him—the man she’d seen in the wilderness—fear would paralyze her.
I do know you...
Who was he? His face had been familiar somehow, but living in a tourist town and running a tourist business, she couldn’t remember the name behind every face. She should turn and confront whoever followed her now. She palmed the weapon at her side, but residual fear from her narrow escape in the woods squashed her courage.
A few yards from her up the street, a figure dressed in leather stood next to a big blue motorcycle and tugged off his helmet, revealing a thick head of mussed hair. He turned and walked across the street toward her, filling her with a rush of relief. She didn’t know who he was, but maybe his sturdy presence would scare her stalker away.
Bolstered, she risked a glance over her shoulder and spotted someone ten yards back watching her, his face hidden by his hoodie. Goose bumps crawled over her, and she’d learned long ago never to ignore that sensation.
She turned her attention back to hurrying across the street toward the stranger.
Though...wait. Something about his cadence seemed familiar.
No. It couldn’t be.
But...it was.
Griffin Slater?
Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. She took in the broad shoulders, the trim, athletic physique. It was definitely him.
She rushed forward, putting more distance between her and the person behind her. As she hurried toward Griffin, emotions accosted her.
Anger and resentment along with a million questions.
She could still hear the footfalls, growing closer even as she practically jogged into the street toward Griffin. She hoped to leave her shadow behind. There was safety in numbers, after all.
She stopped just short of throwing herself into Griffin’s arms to find protection and comfort there. Breathing hard, she swiped a hand over her brow and stared at him. He took her in, too, and his appreciative gaze sent heat through her.
His slate-gray eyes always seemed to capture everything, just like his camera, only Griffin could see right through people, read them. Her heart pounded from her fear or from Griffin’s nearness, she wasn’t sure, but Alice hoped he couldn’t read her right now. She wouldn’t want him to know that he affected her one iota. That he’d caused an eruption of emotions, both good and bad.
“It’s really you. You’re not some figment of my imagination.” Had she really just said those words out loud? So much for hiding her emotions.
Her knees wanted to buckle. Was that from seeing Griffin or from yet another narrow escape from danger? She was such a coward not to face and challenge whoever had followed her, instead practically running into this man’s arms.
“Yes, it’s really me. Nice to see you again, Alice.” His gaze briefly flicked to the town behind her.
Had he spotted the man following her? She wanted to gauge his reaction but instead she blurted out, “So you just appear out of nowhere, after two years? Why are you here?” Alice wanted to kick herself, but she couldn’t help it. She wanted answers.
She risked a glance over her shoulder. The man slipped into the shadows between the buildings.
Griffin gazed into Alice’s dark blue eyes. “I’ll fill you in on the details, soon enough.”
The wildness in her gaze had always reminded him of the way the Rogue River churned and twisted. Her eyes could always stir him up inside, like the dangerous rapids. She’d secured her light brown hair in her usual ponytail, and a few sun-kissed strands had come loose and framed her face. The smattering of freckles across her pretty nose weren’t hidden beneath makeup. None of that for Alice. Another thing he’d always liked about her.
She hadn’t changed a bit since the last time he saw her, except there was something different in her eyes, and he wasn’t sure he liked what he saw.
This was the moment he’d dreaded and the reason he’d come to Gideon ahead of his uncle, but it was upon him much quicker than he would have liked. He’d had no time to catch his breath at the Gideon Lodge like he’d planned.
He hadn’t been sure how he would feel when he faced her again, and seeing her now could bowl him over, except for the turmoil written all over her face that brought his focus back.
“What happened, Alice? What’s wrong?”
She glanced over her shoulder again. So he’d read her right. There was more happening here than the anger he assumed was directed at him. Griffin fought the need to tug her to him, push her behind him, protect her. He didn’t think Alice wanted that from him. And he sure didn’t want the rush of unbidden feelings, but he should have expected the shock of seeing her that rolled through him.
Alice hesitated, then replied, “I think someone followed me.”
“The