Page 59 of Storm Warning

And Remi had just been too devastated when Mom had died of a heart attack at forty-eight. She thought about that cold, rainy day when she signed the papers after selling the bed-and-breakfast, then walked into the Army recruiter’s office there on the corner of Main and Chestnut. Maybe she regretted that decision—just a little. She’d grown as a person. Learned so much. But if she hadn’t sold the bed-and-breakfast, she wouldn’t be here now, running from an assassin.

Lord, I know we’re not supposed to think back to the past and wish we’d made different decisions. It doesn’t do any good. But please help me find my way now.

She had no idea what time it was and didn’t want to know. Remi would have preferred to go back to sleep, but her mind was awake now. She hoped to remember everything, but until then, could she piece together what she knew? What did it all mean? At least it was coming back to her, though slowly. And if she figured it out, what would she do with that information?

She had to reach out to someone who could help her, but at the moment, she had no idea who to trust. And she’d really like to know much more about Hawk before she told himeverything. Just like Dr. Holcomb had been used as a spy to help her remember, or at least inform them if she did, Hawk could also be a plant.

She hated to consider it, but he’d shown up at a weird time. Could everything that had happened been to gain hertrust? How could she truly know? She got out of bed and searched the dresser drawers.

She found nothing interesting in the drawers. Slipping out of the bedroom, she crept down the short hallway to find Hawk sleeping on the sofa, his gun in his hand and resting on his stomach. Well, that was comforting. Not. A digital clock on the kitchen counter told her it was two in the morning. She tiptoed over to the bookshelf and found only a few books. No pictures. Tugging out one of the books on the shelf, she looked at the title.Fatal Traps.She flipped through the pages, forgetting that she intended to remain quiet, and saw that it was about helicopters. No surprise there.

“Why aren’t you in bed, asleep?” He half mumbled the question.

She snapped the book shut.I was snooping.“Couldn’t sleep.”

“Interesting reading, don’t you think?”

After returningFatal Trapsto the shelf, she moved around to the sofa. He was still lying down, an arm across his eyes. He looked relaxed and yet on high alert, all at the same time. How did he do that? She wanted to know more about him for all kinds of reasons, but she couldn’t deny that she wanted to know Hawk the man. What would it feel like to have his arms around her, not to protect her but to hold and cherish her? To kiss her?

And with the unbidden thoughts, her cheeks flared. She was glad his arm covered his eyes so he couldn’t see.

She had a vague memory of him walking her to bed. Had he kissed her on the forehead? Nope. She must have dreamed it.

“I’m going back to bed now.”

“Try to sleep. We have no idea what happens next.”

She rushed back down the hallway into the bedroom andclosed the door behind her. Once back in bed, she struggled to shut down her thoughts about Hawk. For what seemed like several more hours, she tossed and turned, growing more anxious and agitated. Then finally ... sleep, sweet sleep.

Until she sensed someone in the room with her.

24

Hawk flipped on the bedroom light. “We need to leave.”

“What? Why? You wanted me to go back to sleep and I finally did.” Remi sat up and rubbed her eyes.

“I got an alert. Someone entered through the gate. I’ve been watching them drive around and case out the place. They’ll figure out where we are soon enough.”

“You’re sure they are looking for us? Who are they?”

“It’s Cole.”

“Why leave? If we stay, you can face off with him like you wanted. We can find out what’s going on and get answers. Why would you want to run from him?”

“I’ll face him when the time is right. When it’s just me and him.” He couldn’t risk Remi getting hurt. Keeping her as far away from Cole as possible was for the best.

“But don’t you see? We could find out what he wants.” In sweats and a T-shirt, Remi climbed from the bed and finger-combed her hair.

His too-big items hung off her form and he couldn’t help but grin—inside. He wouldn’t let her see. Her tousled hair and sleepy eyes made him want to pull her into hisarms and cocoon her. Protect her. Let her rest as long as she needed. He reined in his thoughts before he stepped closer.

Once he was close, he dragged in a hard breath. “Remi, trust me. Now is not the time.”

Her lips shifted into a flat line. Then her eyes widened. Those beautiful big eyes. And utter determination to win, to beat the odds.

Remi glanced down. “I can’t wear this.”

Her words surprised him, and he almost laughed. He gestured to the dresser. She spotted her folded clothes.

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