Page 18 of Wild River

My lips press together, because IknowJake’s biting back a growl at that description. Even if he privately agrees with that assessment, he’d never be such a jerk as to say it out loud. My mountain man is a gentleman, down to his bones.

Somewhat pretty.

I can’t believe this is the man my parents chose for me. Thelifethey chose for me. Being tethered to a man who calls me ‘somewhat pretty’ to complete strangers, like he’s describing an old bike he accidentally left outside a coffee shop.

Beside the cabin, a twig snaps. A shadow passes over the floorboards by the window, just visible by my spot crouchingdown behind the bed. Someone’s wandering around the cabin, peering in all the windows, making sure I’m not hiding here.

Breath held, I watch that shadow move past the bedroom window. It pauses to stare inside, then moves along, pace casual.

They didn’t see me. Did they?

Oh, god.

It feels like hours that I’m crouched down, palms sweating and thighs burning from the awkward position. Voices rumble out in the main cabin, and I strain to listen, but my own pulse is thudding so loud in my ears that I only catch shreds of the conversation.

Tristan asks Jake to keep an eye out for me, and Jake agrees calmly. He promises to call a number if he spots any sign of me in the wilderness.

Tristan mentions a reward being offered by my family. Thousands of dollars for my ‘safe return’.

Jake grunts at that, but doesn’t mention the terrified woman huddled in his bedroom.

I bite my lip hard at that point, because up until today, there’s never been anyone in my life who wouldn’t sell me out in a hot second. No one who didn’t look at me and see only my family name and dollar signs. And after saving my life this morning, after everything he’s already done for me, Jake doesn’t owe me shit.

My eyes go damp and my nose starts to run, but I’m being too quiet to sniffle. I just crouch there and get sticky.

When they finally, finally leave, the front door thumping closed, I keep squatting, ears straining for signs that they’re coming back. Meanwhile footsteps cross the floorboards, and the bedroom door swings outward.

I squeak, grabbing the door frame for balance.

Jake stares down at me, his face cast in shadow, so freaking tall while I’m huddled down here. Then he looks up at thewindow, a scowl settling over his features, and strides around the bed to yank the curtains closed. The second the window is covered, my shoulders relax an inch, and I lurch up to my feet.

“Have they gone?”

“Yes.” Jake’s voice is taut with anger, but it’s not aimed at me. He’s glaring blindly at the bedroom wall, like he can see them through the wood and turn them to ash with his stare alone. “They’ve got a fancy truck a little ways down the path. I watched until they drove away.”

“Both of them?”

Jake nods slowly then turns to look at me. “All three.”

An involuntary shudder rolls down my arms. There was another one? I didn’t even realize.

God, I’d be so screwed if Jake hadn’t found me in the river. I’d be out there all alone and vulnerable, soaked to my skin, trying not to get eaten by bears and wolves. Hunted by those men. Doomed.

My chin wobbles.

“Hey, hey.” Jake crosses the room quickly, rounding the bed. Before I know it, I’m swept into his arms, cradled against his strong chest. He presses his cheek to the top of my head, holding me like I’m precious. “They didn’t find you, Becca. They’re never gonna find you.”

I sniffle, surreptitiously wiping my nose on his shirt. Hey, I’ll offer to do laundry tomorrow before I leave.

“Even with the reward?”

Jake snorts, holding me tighter. “No one around these parts would fall for that shit, Becca. We look after ourselves, and we look after each other. We don’t need some snobby banker to give us handouts.”

Relief makes my knees extra wobbly, and I cling to Jake’s shirt for balance. Thank god.

“Although,” he says. “If he threw that truck into the bargain…”

Um. What?

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