Page 17 of Fierce Hope
The question hit harder than he expected. Because no, he wasn’t sure. What if digging revealed something that changed how he saw her? What if?—
He shut down that line of thinking. Besides, the woman spent a fair amount of time with his son. Any concerned parent with secret database access would do the same, right? “Just ... check her out. Let me know if anything feels off.”
The others nodded, already splitting off to begin their assigned tasks. Deke remained by the tactical table, staring at Jade’s pristine background check.
Trust your instincts,his SEAL training whispered. And his instincts said Jade Villanueva was more than she appeared.
He moved toward his office, the quiet hum of the building settling around him like a familiar weight. Through his window, the snow continued to fall, each flake carrying a secret before dissolving into nothing.
She might not want his help. Might not trust him enough to let him in.
No way he’d stand by and watch while something—or someone—threatened her.
I’ll find another way,he promised silently.Whether you like it or not.
10
The next Saturday morning,the crunch of snowshoes against the frost-rimmed crust of snow matched Jade’s heartbeat—steady, rhythmic, alive. Morning sunlight sparkled off the snow, turning the mountain trail into a sea of diamonds. Pine branches swayed overhead, occasionally releasing small puffs of snow that drifted down like fairy dust.
For the first time in days, she felt almost normal.
“Earth to Jade!” Lindsay’s laugh cut through her reverie. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?” Jade adjusted her grip on her poles, careful to maintain her balance on the slight incline.
“That dreamy look.” Becca waggled her eyebrows. “Thinking about a certain tall, dark, and dangerous visitor to the office?”
Heat crept into Jade’s cheeks that had nothing to do with exertion. “I’m thinking about my tax prep schedule, actually.”
“Sure you are.” Lindsay grinned. “That’s why you nearly walked into that tree branch when I mentioned how good Deke Williams looked in his tactical gear at the church fundraiser.”
“I did not!” But Jade found herself laughing, the sound carrying across the pristine landscape. When was the last time she’d laughed like this?
Her careful audit of the church books had revealed nothing but the expected minor errors of volunteer bookkeepers. Even her discreet inquiries about potentially angry clients had turned up empty. And she absolutely wasn’t going to risk reaching out to any contacts from her past. No way she wanted to alert anyone to her presence.
Thankfully, the past few days had been quiet. No new notes. No mysterious sounds in the night.
Maybe she really had been paranoid. Maybe?—
“Seriously though,” Becca panted slightly as they crested a small rise, “is that SEAL still sniffing around your spreadsheets? Because if you’re not interested ...”
“He’s DJ’s father,” Jade said firmly. “That’s all.”
And someone I can never let get too close,she added silently. Getting involved with anyone meant questions. Background checks. The kind of scrutiny that could unravel everything she’d built here.
Still, she couldn’t help remembering the warmth of his hand on her arm, the genuine concern in his eyes. For just a moment, she’d been tempted to lean into that strength, to let someone else carry her burden.
Lindsay waved a mittened hand in front of her face. “Hello? You’re doing it again!”
Jade blinked, forcing a smile. “Sorry. Just ... enjoying the morning.”
And she was. The crisp mountain air, the exercise, the companionship—it felt wonderfully, beautifully normal. Like the person she’d been pretending to be for the past decade might actually be real.
Don’t get comfortable,her father’s voice whispered.Comfortable marks are dead marks.
Jade forced those thoughts away, focusing instead on Lindsay’s story about her latest dating disaster. She wouldn’t let old ghosts ruin this moment of peace.
Even if peace, in her experience, never lasted long.
