Page 46 of Secret Stalker

Chapter Fourteen

Bex stared through the windshield of Max’s truck as he raced down a gravel road, far faster than she’d have dared but somehow managing to maintain complete control. The truck stayed smoothly on the road, without those scary slides toward the ditch that always happened when she went over thirty on one of these back roads.

“I don’t understand,” she said. “You’ve been trying to get me to go to the station for an interview and the moment I do, you practically kidnap me to shut me up. And then send my bodyguard away.”

“I’m your bodyguard now. I’m protecting you from yourself.”

He slowed the truck, then turned down another gravel road, this one even more narrow than the last. If they came across someone coming the other way, she had no idea how they’d pass each other.

“Max, where are we going?”

In answer, he slowed even more and waved his hand toward the windshield. The trees thinned out and gave way to a wide expanse of cleared land with only an occasional shade tree dotting the rolling hills. Winter grass was coming up new and thick, turning the dried brown summer grass into a gorgeous green swath of color. And on the top of the hill a football-field length away was an impressive-looking log cabin. The front was dominated by a large glass A-frame in the middle and a covered porch that appeared to run all the way around the cabin. The roofline was irregular, pitched sharply in places, hinting at massive open spaces inside.

He pulled his truck up in front of the porch and killed the engine.

“Yours?” she asked.

“Yep. Let’s get inside before this storm breaks.”

She leaned forward, peering up at the dark clouds swirling overhead. Before she’d even managed to open her door, Max was lifting her out. She put her hands on his shoulders until he set her on her feet, then quickly stepped away, trying not to think about how good it had felt to be in his arms again.

“I could have gotten down by myself.” She motioned toward the metal steps on the side of his truck.

“I know.” He directed her up the porch steps and followed behind.

Feeling his gaze on her, her face flamed with heat and she found herself wishing she’d put on something nicer than a pair of jeans and a plain white blouse. And that, in turn, had her angry with herself for caring about her looks, and Max, when that was the last thing she should be thinking about right now.

She stopped at the glass door set into the wall of A-shaped glass that allowed her to see into the expansive two-story foyer and main room. The back wall was A-frame glass, too, with an even more breathtaking view of a gorgeous lake and the rolling hills beyond.

“What an incredible home. And the view is amazing.”

He unlocked the door and shoved it open. “I like it.”

“Like it? This is paradise.” She hurried inside, drinking in the warm golden tones of the log walls, the soaring ceiling with its massive beams. The circular metal chandelier entwined with deer antlers, suspended from a heavy chain in the middle of the room. The furniture was dark brown leather with metal beading. Chunky wooden end tables and a massive coffee table took up the rest of the sitting space in the center, with lots of open floor surrounding them. The whole place was incredibly masculine, elegant in its simplicity, uncluttered.

As he took their jackets and hung them on hooks beside the door, she said, “This place suits you. It looks like you made all your dreams come true—working as a cop, having a gorgeous piece of land away from town. I’m happy for you.”

He cocked his head, studying her. “What about you? Did your dreams come true?”

The only dream she’d ever had was to spend her life with him. She stepped away from him and stood looking out the back wall of glass at the water, beaten into small whitecaps by the wind.

The sound of clinking glass had her glancing over her shoulder. Max stood at one end of the room, pouring drinks at a bar built out of what appeared to be old barn wood, stained honey gold like the rest of the cabin.

He joined her by the windows and handed her a glass. “Something relaxing, like old times. Still like bourbon and Coke?”

She smiled and took it from him. “Still do. Even though I wasn’t even legal drinking age back when we shared a few of these.”

He leaned against the wood frame, facing her. “There were a lot of things we did that we shouldn’t have back then. Our parents would have been furious if they knew.”

She almost choked on her drink, coughed, then gave him a watery smile. “Don’t you know it. My mama would have killed me if she realized half the nights I was supposed to be staying with a friend I was sneaking out to be with you.”

His brows raised. “You really think your mom didn’t suspect what was going on? I practically lived at your house, we spent so much time together. You don’t think she figured out you were sneaking out to be with me the rest of the time?”

She shrugged. “She was a smart lady. I suppose she might have known and turned a blind eye. She loved you like the son she never had. You won her over just like you won...” She stopped and shook her head.

“Just like I won you over?” he said.

She nodded, seeing no point in denying it. How could she? She’d loved him since she was twelve or thirteen.

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