Page 2 of My Mountain Man Valentine
“You see something down there?”
The woman startles at my voice and jerks upright. She spins around with one hand over her chest, a chest that heaves up anddown, showing off the outline of breasts that are just as juicy as the ass that was on display. Not that I can see the breasts under her coat. It’s zipped right up to her neck, not even allowing me a peek of skin.
“You startled me.” Her voice is faint, barely a whisper, and I step closer to hear her.
The woman wears her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun, and she pushes wire framed glasses back up on her nose. “I was trying to decide if that’s a shoe print or just a smudge.”
She steps back so I can take a look, and as I shuffle past her I catch the scent, so faint, of lavender and rain.
I crouch in the dirt and look at the print she’s talking about. There’s definitely an indent in the mud. With the rain we had earlier, the earth is damp, making for good prints. But that’s not a human print.
“A bobcat.”
The woman gasps, and her hand goes to her chest again. “Poor Olivia.”
I really shouldn’t have said that out loud.
“It’s an old print,” I lie. “And there’s no sign the little girl went this way.”
The woman regards me with sharp eyes. I’m not fooling her. “Then why are you here?”
I run a hand over my chin, grazing my fingers on the stubble that’s starting to form. “Because we’re covering all our bases. There are caves this way, and I want to check that she’s not holed up in there.”
The woman nods once as if approving of my reasoning. “I’m coming with you.”
It’s off the main trail and treacherous with the rain we’ve had, more of a scramble than a walk and not good for civilians. “If you want to help, you’re better off staying with the other parents. I’m sure Olivia will be found soon.” I put on my bestreassuring voice but the woman keeps staring at me intently, like she can see right through me.
“I’m not a parent.” She looks away, and her bottom lip wobbles. For a horrible moment, I think she’s going to cry. Then she straightens her shoulders and turns back to me with resolve. “I’m her teacher.”
My gaze scans over the woman in front of me with her sensible walking shoes, zipped up coat, severe hair, and wire rimmed glasses. If I had to pick a teacher out of a line up, she’d be it. But that doesn’t mean I want a civilian trailing me.
“I’m sorry this happened on your school trip. But you’re better off waiting back at the tent. Suzie will be the first to know if there’s any news.”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m coming with you. Especially if there’s a bobcat around.” She shivers. “I can’t bear the thought of Olivia…”
She frowns and looks away, and I put a hand on her shoulder. It’s supposed to be reassuring, but something sparks between us. A jolt of electric current. Her head turns in surprise, and I pull my hand away.
The woman looks up at me with wide green eyes made wider through her glasses, like jewels that sparkle in her un-made up face. My breath hitches, and a strange feeling spreads in my chest. She’s pretty, despite hiding behind her severe expression.
“I’m coming with you,” she says again. “Olivia was my responsibility. I’m not leaving her behind.”
“No one’s leaving her behind,” I say gently. “But you’ll be better off with one of the other groups if you want to help. This way might be treacherous.”
Her gaze sweeps over me. “You’re an ex-military man, right?”
I raise my eyebrows, but I shouldn’t be surprised that a schoolteacher can read me so easily. “Yeah.”
“I thought so.” She smiles briefly, then it’s gone. “Would you leave a man behind? When you were serving?”
“No, of course not.”
“I’m not leaving Olivia behind. Plenty of other people are searching the trails. I’m coming with you. She loved waterfalls. She might be here.”
She’s determined, and this conversation is wasting time. If this woman wants to trail me, then I’m not going to waste precious light arguing with her.
“Fine. But don’t do anything stupid. We’ve got a child missing. We don’t need another injury.”
She nods once and falls into step behind me.
