Last Summer(45)

She has so many questions, but his answer isn’t the right one for her question.

“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”

Nathan finishes his drink and sets the cup on the dash. He shifts in his seat, angling his body so that one arm is draped over the steering wheel. “We hiked for five days. You spent another nine at my place.”

Nine days at his place. Two weeks total. Fourteen days. Half a month. However she spins it, it was quite a bit of time.

Where was Damien during all this?

London. He told her she joined him there after the ten days she spent on assignment.

She lied to him and Davie about the amount of time she spent on the assignment. Same with Rebecca. She’d told them ten days, Rebecca five. Why?

Despite the self-disgust, she can’t ignore one thing: blocked memories or not, she’s still very attracted to Nathan.

“We got to be very close,” Nathan quietly acknowledges.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

He takes a beat before he does. “I got an email from Rebecca’s assistant a couple of months ago. Late January, I think. She was feeling me out about my interest in pursuing the exclusive again. I wasn’t going to call, and it took me a long time before I did, but . . . ” He sighs. “You’re here now because I wanted to see you.”

“Hell, Nathan. My being here better be about more than you missing me. And don’t even think about pulling the exclusive again. You do and I might lose my job.”

“I won’t.” He raises a hand. She gives him a hard look. “Swear. I’m not expecting anything out of this. What happened between us before just happened. I didn’t plan on it. For Christ’s sake, my son died and my wife wanted to divorce me. She still wants a divorce. The last thing on my mind last summer was—” He stalls, his attention pulled elsewhere. He points at the windshield. A green truck approaches.

“It’s Ted,” Nathan says when he can make out the driver. He eases down his window when Ted stops his truck alongside Nathan’s. “Afternoon, Ted.”

Ella’s gaze darts to the dashboard clock: 12:06 p.m. The morning has flown by.

“Good to see you, Nathan.” Ted’s hazel eyes land on Ella. “Afternoon.”

Nathan gestures at Ella. “This is my friend Ella. Ella, Ranger Ted Berringer.”

She waves. “Hello.”

“How’s Sue?” Nathan asks.

“She’s good. She’s home with Alex. He’s been fighting the flu.”

“Tell her hi for me. Hope your son gets better soon. What brings you out here?”

Ted glances beyond the barrier gate. “The department received reports of gunfire. My guess is some jackass illegally hunting. Hear anything?”

“Nope.” Nathan looks at Ella. “You?”

She shakes her head.

“We were just leaving.”

Ella narrows her eyes at him. No, they weren’t. They were in the middle of a conversation and she wants to finish it.

“I’ll just check the gate.” Ted gets out of his truck. “You know, Sue’s going to ask if I invited you to dinner when I tell her I ran into you.”

“Don’t tell her.” Nathan smirks.

“Yeah, that won’t fly. What do you say? Dinner at our place after Alex recoups? Or are you still playing the crazy recluse in the woods?” Ted’s tone is teasing, but he’s right—Nathan needs to be around other people.

Before she can think otherwise, Ella nudges his shoulder. “You should go.”

“Listen to the lady. Come on over. Scotch is on me.”

“I guess I’ll be there. Call when you’ve got a date.” His voice is slightly irritated.

If Ted noticed, he doesn’t comment on it. He grins. “Will do. By the way, it’s good to see you finally shaved. That mountain man beard was scaring the tourists.”

“It was a disguise,” Nathan grumbles. “I had to buy groceries.”

“Worst disguise ever. Nice to meet you, Ella.”

“You too, Ted.”

Nathan shifts the truck into drive.

“You shaved for me.” She grins.

Nathan doesn’t comment. They drive back to his place in silence and Ella wonders if she stepped over the line. It isn’t her place to interfere in his personal life. It’s not right of her to force him into public when he’s not emotionally ready.

As Nathan pulls up his driveway, Ella turns to him, an apology on her tongue. But Nathan is glaring out the windshield. Ella looks in the same direction.

A Toyota Corolla takes up the space beside Ella’s Range Rover, and the owner of the car is sitting on the porch. He stands and waves. Ella recognizes him immediately, and she doubts this is a social visit.

“Why is Miles Jorgenson at your house?”

Nathan shoots her a look. “You know him?”

“Of him. We met once at a media awards banquet.”

Miles Jorgenson and Ella run in the same circles. He’s a seasoned contributor to numerous magazines, mainly Outside. Known for his provocative stories about engaging, outdoor-oriented personalities, Miles is relentless, with a paparazzi-style persistence when in pursuit of a story. It appears he’s after Nathan’s.