Close To Danger (Westen #4)(80)

She laughed, even as a little heat filled her cheeks at his compliment. He thought she was gorgeous. Given the situation she should think it an odd comment, as well as her reaction to it. She’d had many a man try flattery to get her attention over the years. Usually she let it slide like water off a wet balloon. Coming from this man—the one who had been a straight-shooter with her since the moment they met all those weeks ago—the admission of attraction thrilled her.

Giving herself a mental slap up the side of the head, she sobered. Whatever was going on between them would have wait for inspection later, if they survived this.

Quiet stretched between them as she gave W?den small bits of the jerky.

“Do you trust me, Chloe?” Wes finally asked.

She raised her face to stare at his, all humor gone from his features, the intense blue gaze back once more. The one that said, I will always tell you the truth.

“Yes, I do.” And she realized she truly did. She trusted this man with her body, her mind, her fears, and her safety.

“One of us is going to have to get her attention, while the other goes for help.”

“I can’t shoot.”

“I figured as much,” he said, his gaze never wavering from hers.

“So, you want me to go out there and run for help. I don’t think I can find my way back to your cabin, much less town.”

“You can’t go that direction anyways. You’d run right into her. You’ll head north.”

“And where am I going?”

“To Harriett’s place. She lives up the road about a quarter of a mile.”

“Harriett. The woman you said the town believes worked for the CIA? The story you never told me? That Harriett?”

“Yep. That one.”

He set down the binoculars and dug around in the bottom box of his supplies, pulling out a flashlight and a compass. Then he took her hand, moving them to the opposite door they came in and pointed out the door.

“That’s due west.” He held up the compass in the flashlight. The north arrow pointed at ninety degrees from the door. “You’re going to go out about twenty feet or so. To that huge evergreen,” he said, pointing to the tree. “Get on the other side of it and turn right. Keep the compass with you and walk northwesterly. The river is to your left and meanders in and out towards Harriett’s place. You’ll know it when you get there. Have her get in contact with Gage.”

“You think her phone will work better than yours?”

“If I know Harriett she’s got forms of communication no matter the weather.”

“Because rumor has it, she’s ex-CIA.”

A shrug was all he gave her.

With a look at the wounded animal at her feet she nodded. “Ok. I’ll go, but only because there’s no other choice.” She pulled her gloves back on, stuffed a bottle of water and some jerky in her coat pockets then took the flashlight and compass from Wes. He caught her forearm and pulled her forward. Tilting her head, she stared up into his eyes.

“Keep close to the trees so your dark silhouette doesn’t stand out against the snow.”

“I will.”

“If I thought there was any other choice…” The anguish in his voice touched her heart. This big, strong man was scared. Scared for her safety.

She cupped his face with her free hand. “I understand.”

Pushing up on her toes, she captured his lips with hers in a deep hard kiss. One that spoke of her need for him. That he had to survive this. Then she broke away and hurried out into the woods due west, just like he’d instructed, blinking back the tears suddenly burning her eyes.

She did understand. There was no other option for them. One of them had to try to find help, the other had to confront the danger. All his experience told him what the outcome was going to be. One of them might die. He’d made his decision. He wasn’t going to let something happen to her. He’d rather sacrifice himself than be the survivor. That very thing spoke of his honor, his courage, and the reason she’d fallen in love with him.

Ducking behind the low-hanging branches of the huge fir tree, she paused to look back at the deer blind. Wes was just stepping back inside. He’d been watching her the entire way.

My protector.

Turning northwest, she started through the forest, keeping as close to the trees like he’d instructed. As close as the snow-hidden terrain beneath her feet would let her.

Dammit. Now was a stupid time to realize her heart belonged to Wes. If she wanted to test the waters with him, maybe have a future, it was up to her to save him. She just hoped she found this mysterious Harriett.



*



“Where are you?” Wes whispered, searching the forest in the direction of his cabin. “Show me just a glimpse.”

Knowing it was Isaac’s sister hunting him, he wanted to have some sympathy for her. She’d lost her brother, a man Wes had considered not only a good soldier, but a friend. If it was just him she was targeting, he’d give into those feelings and try to help her through them. He owed Isaac that much. But the moment she went after Chloe and W?den—two innocents—she’d changed the rules.

Guilt ate at him.

It was his fault Chloe was in Hannah’s cross-hairs. He’d been so sure that the threat to her was in Cincinnati and bringing her to his cabin would keep her safe. After the wedding, his attention had been split. Half of it on filling in for Gage as sheriff, the other half watching and worrying about Chloe and her stalker. Because he hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings, he’d placed her in danger.