"Yep. That's what my nephew said," Wallace's rusty voice rattled from the radio's speaker. "The fella the bounty hunter's after is considered armed and dangerous, so watch yourself. You radio my nephew if you see any strangers lurking about. He'll have one of his deputies out there in two shakes. You best take stock of your supplies, too. We've got another storm blowing in tonight."
"Thanks for the advice, Wallace," Robyn said. "Over and out."
After ending her daily morning chat with Wallace, Robyn pulled on her parka and snow boots and headed outside to check on Charlie, her overgrown black Labrador. Last night's fresh layer of snow had added a few more inches to the near knee-deep blanket of white stuff. They definitely didn't need more.
She rounded the corner of her cabin to see what Charlie's raucous barking was about. The idea that a violent criminal was on the loose on her mountain sent a chill racing up her spine. Maybe she should go back in the house and get her shotgun. On second thought, she had Charlie. If anyone nosed around her place they'd have to tangle with her dog.
Silent now, Charlie waited at the barn door. Robyn clapped her hands. "Come on, boy. We're not going anywhere today."
Reluctantly, the dog started in her direction, tossing one last, longing look toward the barn.
"We'll take a trip into town next week," Robyn placated him. She scratched him behind the ears and scanned her peaceful surroundings. There was no place on earth like Indian Lake Meadow. Her grandfather had named the mountain lake when he'd built the cabin next to it over 50 years before. He'd purchased a big chunk of this side of the mountain, ensuring no close neighbors. The place was impossible to reach other than by foot or four-wheel drive vehicle. It was his little piece of heaven, he'd told her on more than one occasion.
It wasn't until Robyn's heart had been broken that she'd realized just how wonderful it was. Choosing to leave city life behind, she'd moved here a year ago to find herself. The move had been good for her, personally as well as professionally. Her latest novel had recently hit the New York Times bestseller list. It didn't get much better than that.
A white rabbit darted across the frozen lake. Charlie bolted after it.
"Charlie! Come back here!" Robyn yelled.
A loud crack pierced the silence. Robyn's heart lurched. "Charlie!" She was running down the slope toward the lake before her brain fully assimilated what she'd heard — ice cracking.
The ice parted and Charlie slipped into the freezing water. Robyn dropped onto her belly and slid across the ice toward him. He struggled to keep his head above water.
"It's okay, boy," she murmured. Extending her body over the edge as far as she dared, she wrapped both arms around him and pulled hard. His weight almost dragged her into the water. The wet cold pierced her skin through her layers of clothing. Finally, she had him back up onto the ice.
"It's okay, it's okay." Robyn pressed her face into his wet fur and let go a ragged breath. Thank God. She gave him a nudge toward the bank and pushed to her knees. "Go to the house, boy."
Another sharp crack rent the air. The ice beneath her gave way. Before she could react, she was in the water. Her breath left her in one long whoosh. Robyn flailed her legs to stay afloat. She grappled with the jagged edge and tried to pull herself up. The ice crumbled with her weight and this time she went all the way under.
She gasped for air as her face broke the icy surface. Her fingers fought for purchase on the sharp edge of the ice. A kind of numbness settled over her. Charlie was barking again. She had to get out. But the blackness dragged at her body, at her heavy layers of clothing. She felt herself sinking, and saw the bubbles as the last bit of air slipped from her lungs.
A large hand reached toward her, grabbed her, and pulled her to the surface. She gasped and coughed and, to her complete surprise, life-giving air filled her lungs. She felt herself being lifted. Charlie barked furiously. Robyn closed her eyes and tried to gather her wits. She couldn't think straight. Was she dead and just didn't know it yet? Who'd rescued her?
A sudden warmth made Robyn dizzy. She was back inside her cabin. Violent shivers convulsed her body. The numbness was slowly replaced by pain. Then she was on the edge of the bed and her clothes were being stripped off.
"What — what're you doing?" She fought to control her body's trembling.
"You've got to get out of these wet clothes."
Robyn didn't struggle. Somehow, some part of her brain knew he was right. She looked at the stranger who'd pulled her from the lake. A tall, broad-shouldered man. Dark hair and eyes. Husky voice. He was wet, too, she realized. He'd gotten that way saving her life.
"Who — who are y-you?" she spoke through chattering teeth.
"Jesse Hawke." His hands never slowed in their work of undressing her. "I'm a bounty hunter. I'm after —"
"The bad guy," she managed to say.
His dark gaze collided with hers and a new kind of warmth surged inside her. He nodded, then ushered her to her feet so that he could drag her jeans down her legs. Crouched in front of her, his movements slowed as if he'd just realized that she stood practically naked before him.
Her modesty kicking in a little late, Robyn grabbed the quilt from the bed and held it to her chest. The stranger — Jesse Hawke, he'd called himself — stood, took the quilt from her, and swaddled it around her.
"You need something hot to drink," he said wearily.
He was the one trembling now. For the first time, Robyn noticed the pale quality of his skin. It looked so out of place considering his dark features. She also noticed how handsome this stranger was. Too handsome.
"Wait." Her common sense finally filtered to the forefront of her tired brain. "I'll need to see some ID."
He swallowed hard, the movement somehow distracting. "My ID was stolen."
"Who took it?" A mixture of fear and suspicion crept into her heart, making it pound a little harder. Who was this man? Was he really the bounty hunter, or could he be —
He peeled off his damp sheepskin coat, grimacing with the effort. "Look, lady, you'll just have to trust me."
Robyn's self-preservation checked in next. "I think maybe you should leave."
He looked at her for one long moment. A kind of understanding passed between them. "All right," he acquiesced.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he staggered back a step, then dropped like a rock.
Startled, Robyn knelt next to him. He was too cold, but his pulse was strong and steady. No bleeding as far as she could tell. Where had he come from? Was he the bounty hunter Wallace had told her about? Without ID there was no way for her to know. Well, whoever he was, he definitely wasn't going anywhere.
Robyn's immediate instinct urged her to run for the two-way radio. She keyed the handset, anticipating Wallace's crotchety voice, but her stomach twisted into a knot when static crackled over the airwaves.
She looked out the front window as Mother Nature's winter mood railed against the glass. Robyn groaned. Another storm had made its way over the peaks. To make matters worse, once it settled over the lake, the intensity always increased. The weather would make radio reception impossible.
A low moan jerked Robyn's attention back to the handsome stranger lying motionless on her floor. He'd claimed to be Jesse Hawke, a bounty hunter — but with no ID, she had no proof that he wasn't the bad guy.
A sudden shiver coursed through her. Instinctively, she pulled the quilt tighter about herself. Wallace's words echoed in her mind — armed and dangerous. Still, whoever this man might be, he had saved her life. Would a criminal have taken the time to rescue her?
Charlie's sharp bark startled her from her thoughts. The Labrador was still outside. He scratched at the door until Robyn released the latch. The big, black dog lumbered in, pushing past Robyn as she struggled to close the door against the driving wind.
An erratic banging filtered through the howl of the storm. She squinted through the white whirlwind of snow toward the barn, where the door flapped wildly in the wind. For a moment, Robyn thought she glimpsed a figure darting into the dark maw of the open building. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, but saw nothing but the ferocity of the mountain winter. Robyn drove her full weight against the cabin door and latched it tight.
A pathetic whimper drew her attention back into the room. Charlie lay next to Jesse, his furred chin resting on the man's broad chest. He looked up at Robyn with soulful brown eyes, a look he usually used when asking for an extra dog treat.
"Oh, some protector you are!" She halfheartedly scolded the dog. "You got me into this mess, remember?"
In response, Charlie reached a large black paw over Jesse, then turned a wistful gaze toward the man's face and sighed.
Robyn, too, looked at the man claiming to be Jesse Hawke, his strong jawline and determined chin. Crow's feet and laugh lines etched a good-natured character into his tanned face. It was a face Robyn might have enjoyed getting acquainted with, but the only men she trusted these days were those she created in her books.
Another moan, barely audible, escaped Jesse's bluing lips. Charlie looked up at Robyn in alarm.
Suddenly, she realized that this was no fictional character in one of her novels. This was a real, live human being — though not for long if she didn't do something. He'd saved her life — the least she could do was save his.
Quickly, she stripped the soaked clothing from Jesse's chilled body. She had to warm him up, but how?
Taking her cue from Charlie, she laid her almost naked body directly on top of his, then pulled the old quilt over them both. She put her head against his smooth chest, but the only sounds she could hear were the crackling of the hearth fire and the raging wind outside.
"I'm too late, Charlie." Her head fell.
Then slowly, faintly, she heard a rhythmic heartbeat. She pressed her cheek deeper into his chest, faintly aware of the well-developed muscles. Yes, there it was. A weak, but gratefully steady beat. Robyn sighed with relief.
Jesse stirred slightly, intimate portions of him brushing against Robyn's long leg through his damp boxers. The sudden warmth that flushed through her body startled her. Such raw feelings had been alien to her for too long. Her own pulse quickened.
Gingerly, she tried to adjust her body to a less awkward position. She slipped a soft hand down his flank, searching for a steadying position on the floor. Delicate fingers trailed across a long scar at his waistline. She gently lifted the quilt to investigate. She traced the ridged outline of the old wound, wondering at its history.
"I was stabbed."
The sudden male voice caused Robyn to leap backward. She landed in a tangled heap with Charlie, who had been quietly dozing.
"I'm sorry. I thought you were dying. I was just trying to warm you up." Robyn pressed herself against the foot of the sofa, pulling her knees tightly into her.
Jesse struggled to sit up, but faltered. Robyn instinctively reached forward to steady him. As her fingers brushed his arm, his dark eyes met hers. Robyn's blue eyes widened. His face broke into a weak but wide smile. He touched a hand to his head and winced.
"Thanks. The guy I'm after, Holcomb, is a nasty piece of work. I was taking him in to the authorities when he managed to clobber me, steal my ID, and escape. I tracked him all day yesterday, then spent the night in your barn," Jesse admitted sheepishly as Robyn looked up, surprised. "Between that and dragging you out of the lake, I must have been bordering on acute hypothermia. You probably saved my life."
Robyn managed a grin. "I guess that makes us even."
"Not exactly. You have two distinct advantages over me," Jesse countered.
Charlie's cocked head mimicked Robyn's own. "What's that?"
Jesse gestured to the quilt. "One, you seem to have a little more clothing than me. Two, you know my name, but I have no idea who you are."
Robyn reddened to the tips of her toes. She extended a hand, which Jesse took in a gentle but firm shake.
"My name is Robyn Fletcher. I would show you some ID, but I seem to have left it in my other pants."
They both laughed, a welcome respite from the mounting tension Robyn had felt since that first resounding crack in the ice.
"I think I can find some clothes for both of us," Robyn stood. "My grandfather was about your size. His old clothes should fit you."
"That would be great," Jesse began as he slowly tried to stand. "Then I guess I'll be on my way." He wobbled, barely catching himself on the edge of the overstuffed armchair. Robyn grabbed his arm.
"Whoa! You're not going anywhere. There's a raging storm out there." She assisted Jesse into the chair.
"But so is Holcomb."
Despite the wave of warmth from the fire, Robyn shuddered as she recalled the dark figure she thought she saw going into her barn.
Suddenly, Charlie's ears perked up. Robyn's skin prickled as Charlie emitted a low, menacing growl. Both Robyn and Jesse followed Charlie's gaze toward the window, where a dark shadow was silhouetted against the blowing snow.…
Robyn and Jesse glanced at each other, then back at the window. The figure was gone.
"I'll get our clothes." Nervously Robyn headed into the bedroom, her steps quick and purposeful.
Jesse's full attention remained focused on the window. Charlie also remained riveted, and the low growl in his throat didn't let up.
Robyn returned with some clothes for her and Jesse. They both dressed quickly.
She was almost right about her grandfather's clothes: They fit Jesse in length, but not in breadth. His broad shoulders and well-muscled arms strained against the material. Her gaze lingered a moment longer than was necessary.
She banished the sensual image from her mind. This was no time to be thinking about how well Jesse filled out a shirt. "Who do you think is out there?"
"I don't know.…" Jesse began.
His answer was cut short by a loud pounding on the cabin door.
Robyn's heart leapt into her throat as her eyes locked onto his.
"Robyn?" A deep voice called out. "It's Jim. Are you in there?" Concern dripped from every word.
Robyn smiled, weak with relief. "It's okay. It's the sheriff. His uncle must have sent him up here to check on me." She didn't know why she told Jesse that little white lie. Jim Trenton had had a "thing" for Robyn ever since they were teenagers, but she never encouraged him. He stopped in frequently, especially when the weather was bad.
She noticed Jesse slip silently into her bedroom before she pulled open the heavy wooden door.
In front of her stood not one, but two large men, huddled against the onslaught of the storm.
Robyn blinked quickly and stared up at the stranger beside the sheriff, her skin crawling once again.
His head was covered by a navy blue stocking cap, barely hiding his shaggy shock of dark brown hair. His face was slightly disfigured by one scarred eye that drooped a little at the corner. He looked in need of a shave.
The stranger scanned Robyn from head to toe, then focused his attention on something in the room behind her.
Charlie charged forward and barked ferociously at the stranger, who wisely moved back and slightly behind the sheriff.
Robyn automatically grabbed the dog's collar and turned her attention to her friend.
"Hey, Jim, what's up?" She again glanced uneasily at the stranger.
Jim's eyes momentarily softened as they melted over Robyn.
"Robyn, this is Jesse Hawke, the bounty hunter my uncle Wallace told you about. I came up here to check on you and I found him searching your barn for the fugitive. Jesse, this is Robyn Fletcher."
Robyn's eyes widened with surprise as she momentarily loosened her grip on Charlie's collar. She grabbed it again before the lunging dog's teeth could make contact with their target.
"Can I see some identification?" she demanded as she looked this new "Jesse" fully in the eye. She needed a moment to think.
The stranger seemed almost eager to provide the ID as he quickly reached into his shirt pocket and produced a very mangled leather billfold with equally damaged contents.
"I ran into a little trouble with the man I'm hunting, Holcomb. My wallet took a knife intended for my chest. I'm afraid it's pretty badly beat up."
His driver's license was conveniently stabbed right through the face. The name, however, was intact. As she scrutinized the documents, her hand curled around a small piece of paper stuck to the underside of his license.
Robyn nodded, handed back the wallet and hoped he believed she was satisfied. She casually stuffed her hand into her jeans, hiding the unknown item deep in her pocket.
"I'm sorry. Please come in." Robyn stepped aside, holding the door open for Jim and "Jesse." She motioned to Charlie to stay by the door.
Her writer's brain sailed into high gear. Now there were two men in her cabin claiming to be Jesse Hawke! She didn't like the looks of the man Jim obviously believed was the bounty hunter. How did Jim get hooked up with this "Jesse"? Should she tell Jim privately that another "Jesse" was hiding in her bedroom?
Robyn mentally shook herself, trying to clear her thoughts. Her reasons for trusting Jesse hadn't changed. She decided to keep his whereabouts a secret…for now.
"Do you mind if we take a quick look inside? We've already checked the outbuildings." Jim and "Jesse" removed their boots as they scanned the cabin's interior. "The roads are getting pretty treacherous and we have a couple more cabins to check out before nightfall."
"Sure. Are you thinking that the guy might be hiding in here?" She hoped against hope that Jesse would find someplace to hide himself if they searched her room.
"We think there's a good possibility that he hunkered down someplace nearby to wait out the storm." Jim replied.
"What did this guy do?" She asked, feigning innocence as "Jesse" began to search her bedroom and Jim headed into her kitchen.
"He's wanted for numerous bank robberies…and he's dangerous. That's why we're checking out your cabin. We don't want him anywhere near you." Jim replied from the other room.
Satisfied that there was no one in the kitchen, Jim moved on to the bathroom. Robyn let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding. Where could Jesse have hidden?
"So what do bounty hunters do, exactly?" She caught the stranger's eye as he came out of her bedroom.
"They're paid to find criminals and bring them back to the police." He answered curtly. The fact that he referred to bounty hunters as "they" was not lost on Robyn.
"Well, he's definitely not here." Jim stated as the two men met up again in the living room. "Is your radio working, Robyn?"
"It wasn't earlier. I tried to get in touch with Wallace to check on the storm, but I just got static."
"Would you consider coming back to town with us until Jesse gets this guy?"
His request was met with an emphatic shake of Robyn's head.
"I'll be fine. I have plenty of supplies and a good strong lock on the door." She didn't mention to them that she also kept a loaded shotgun behind her closet door. "If you two intend to check any more cabins, you'd better get going before the worst of the storm hits."
"You're sure we can't persuade you to come with us? I'd feel a lot better if I knew for sure you were safe from this guy," Jim pleaded with Robyn.
Robyn shook her head. "No. I'll be fine. Besides, I have Charlie to look after me." Robyn gestured toward the door where Charlie sat, alert and bristling. He clearly didn't like "Jesse" any more than she did.
Reluctantly, Jim agreed, and the two men left.
Robyn shut the door behind them, then called out an all clear to Jesse. After a couple of minutes, his tall, well-muscled form stepped out of her bedroom…holding her shotgun tightly in his hands.
His words sent a chill up Robyn's spine.
"He knows I'm here."
Robyn froze. "What do you mean, 'he knows'?"
"I was behind your bedroom door, holding this." Jesse held up the shotgun.
"I forgot to —" Robyn began.
"Load it," Jesse finished for her. "So I noticed. Luckily, Holcomb didn't know that."
"Were you going to…to shoot him?" Robyn asked, a seed of fear taking root in her belly. She stared at the shotgun, then back up at him.
The corner of Jesse's mouth tipped up in a grin. It wasn't hard to guess what was going through her mind. "I'm a bounty hunter, Robyn, not an assassin."
"Prove it." She dug the paper out of her pocket. "I removed this from your wallet when Holcomb showed me your I.D., claiming it was his. Tell me what it says."
Jesse furrowed his brow. "After all we've been through, you still don't believe me?" He sighed, resigned. "I guess I can't blame you. You have a right to be suspicious. That paper you're holding is the address of the local sheriff's office. That's where I was taking Holcomb when he managed to escape."
Robyn sighed with relief. He was correct. She'd been right to trust him after all.
Jesse handed her the shotgun and moved to the window. "I'm betting that Holcomb plans to use the sheriff to guide him off the mountain." He left out that Holcomb had threatened to kill Robyn if Jesse blew his cover.
"Why didn't you try to stop him?"
"Holcomb had a gun. I didn't." Unarmed, Jesse hadn't had a chance.
Robyn joined him at the window. "He could have killed you. And me. And…Jim!" She gasped, suddenly looking stricken. "I have to warn him!" In seconds she had the two-way radio in her hand.
Jesse moved quickly to stop her. "You'll get him killed." He gently twisted the speaker from her hand. "Robyn, you can't. Think for a second. Jim's safe as long as he doesn't discover Holcomb's identity."
Robyn had never felt so helpless. "Then I'm calling Wallace. He'll know what to do."
Jesse again blocked access to the radio. "You can't. What if Jim and Holcomb are monitoring the radio frequency?"
Frustrated, Robyn pushed past him. "We can't just sit here. We have to do something."
"I'll go after them." He shot her a look. "You are staying here."
Robyn straightened her shoulders and glared at Jesse. "You're not leaving this cabin without me."
"Watch me."
"Jesse…" she pleaded.
He ignored her, pulled on his still-wet boots and scanned the room for the keys to the truck he'd seen earlier in the barn.
"You won't get far before you're lost. And you don't know the way to the other cabins." Their eyes locked in silent battle. "You need me."
Finally, Jesse cleared his throat and looked away. "No. I won't put you in danger."
"I could be in danger staying here." Just saying the words aloud sent cold shivers down her spine.
She was right. She'd be a sitting duck. Jesse swore under his breath. "Get your coat."
In the barn they stared at the slashed tires of her truck.
"Son of a…" Jesse muttered. "Looks like your boyfriend's on his own for a while."
"Jim's just a friend," Robyn said quickly, suddenly aware of Jesse's intense scrutiny. He was leaning against the cab of the truck, looking relaxed except for the tight line of his jaw.
"He's protective of you." Jesse pushed off the truck and took a step toward her.
Her breath quickened at his faintly possessive look. "Jim does his best to look out for me," she stammered. Jesse was close enough that the smell of warm male skin was invading her senses.
Suddenly, a gust of wind whipped the barn door closed. Robyn jumped.
"It's just the wind." Jesse assured her. He placed a finger under her chin and tipped her face to his. "But if it makes you feel better, I'm an excellent protector of damsels in distress. Especially ones as pretty as you." He stroked her bottom lip with his thumb and a bolt of electricity shot through her.
"Who will protect me from you?" Robyn asked quietly, fighting the urge to throw herself into his strong, safe arms.
Jesse groaned and dropped his hands to his sides. "I'm sorry. That was out of line." He shoved a hand through his damp hair. "Storm's getting worse. We'd better get back to the cabin."
Before Robyn could respond, Jesse had bundled her out the door and was practically carrying her through the deep snow back to the cabin, using his body as a shield from the storm.
The contact between Jesse's body and her own awakened every female instinct Robyn had buried for the past year. By the time they were inside, a slow burn had ignited in Robyn's body. She was in trouble and she knew it.
Jesse steered her toward the dying fire and drew her against the warmth of his body. Her eyes closed and she made a soft sound of surrender as he reached around her and stripped off her wet coat.
"You'll have to spend the night." She told him in a quiet voice, feeling a tiny stab of excitement at the prospect. She felt his hands drift lightly down the sides of her body, causing a slight trembling deep inside her.
"Is that an invitation?" Jesse said softly, bringing his hands to rest on her hips. Before she could object, he pulled her to him.
Instantly, she became aware of distinctly hard thighs against hers, and an iron arm pressing her to his chest. What she felt was alarming.… And incredibly arousing.
"Mmm…" she murmured, a strange, tingling sensation spreading over her flesh and a shudder running down her spine as Jesse bent to kiss her.
Suddenly a voice crackled over the two-way radio. "Robyn. Come in, Robyn. This is Wallace."
Robyn and Jesse both started and stared dumbly at the radio.
"Dammit, Robyn! Are you there? Answer me!"
Jarred into action, Robyn moved in the direction of the radio, but Jesse stopped her. She followed his gaze to the cabin's front window, where faint headlights flashed against the glass. Charlie began to bark furiously.
Wallace now sounded frantic. "Robyn, if you're there, listen to me. Jim's been shot. Holcomb stole his truck and he's headed your way!"
Jesse stepped back, deeper into the shadow of the room and pulled her with him, his arm protectively curled around her waist. He held her tightly to him and she leaned back against his chest, the top of her head tucked under his chin.
They watched the headlights through the window. The lights appeared to head in the direction of the cabin and then they moved away, disappearing into the forest.
Both of them stood frozen, watching the window to see if the lights came back. A few minutes went by as they concentrated on the window.
Robyn let out a long sigh. "He must be on the logging road. In good weather it's hard to see the cabin from the road and with this snow it would be virtually impossible." Robyn turned and looked at Jesse, hopeful. "Maybe he's lost and can't find his way back."
Wallace's voice crackled across the radio. "Robyn! I'll get out to you as soon as I can. Are you okay? Answer me!"
Robyn looked at the radio, then at Jesse. "I have to answer him. We have an emergency code."
"What's the code?"
"If I click the microphone three times it means I'm okay. With the static on the radio because of the storm, he probably won't even hear it, but I have to try."
"Give it a shot and see, but don't talk. If Holcomb is monitoring the radio, he'll know we're still here."
Jesse released her. Robyn walked over to the radio microphone, and slowly clicked it three times.
This time when Wallace answered, the panic in his voice was less. "Robyn. Holcomb shot Jim in the shoulder, but he'll be okay. If you can hear me, I'm coming out as soon as I can. Stay safe." The radio went dead.
Robyn breathed a sigh of relief. "He got it." She smiled at Jesse.
He lifted Robyn's rifle and opened the chamber. "Where are the bullets?"
Robyn led him to the bedroom. "In here. I keep a box of ammo tucked in my dresser drawer." She pulled open the drawer and rummaged through silk and lace panties and bras.
"Mmm, nice." Jesse leaned over her shoulder and peered at the tumble of her lingerie. His hand reached around her waist and into the drawer, burrowing between her silky under-things. An electrical charge crackled between them at his touch. Robyn caught her breath and sagged against him as simmering passion flared again.
"Ah, here we are." He murmured against her ear.
The box of ammo was in his hand. Robyn twisted around. She was pinned between him and the dresser. The length of his body intimately molded against hers. Robyn's heart thrummed in her chest. Even with danger lurking outside, she could not move away or deny the arousal she felt for him.
"We should load the rifle.…" Robyn's voice trailed off.
Jesse leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on her trembling mouth. Their lips clung together for a brief moment before they moved apart. Jesse's hand cupped her cheek, and he ran his thumb across her lower lip as he had before.
"We have to be ready for him. There's no guarantee that he's lost. For him to shoot Jim was a desperate move and he's most dangerous now." He slid the cartridges into the chamber.
Jesse walked into the darkening living room holding Robyn's hand; the rifle was hooked over his arm. Night was falling rapidly and the fire burned low. Robin let go of Jesse's hand and reached for a log from the rack by the fireplace.
"No, leave the fire," Jesse's hand stayed Robyn's.
"Why? It'll be freezing in here in a few hours."
"If Holcomb comes back, it will look as if we're not here. It might hold him off from approaching the cabin. The weather could break, and Wallace might be able to get to us before Holcomb decides to pick a fight." Jesse looked out the window into the darkness.
In silent agreement, Robyn went to the bedroom closet and hauled down some quilts and blankets. She carried them to the couch and dumped them in a pile.
Charlie was curled up on the rug in front of the fire; his soft eyes followed her every move. Taking a blanket from the pile, Robyn laid it on the floor by the fire. Charlie got up, lumbered to the blanket, and flopped down with a contented groan.
"There, that should keep the chill from your bones." She scratched behind his ears as his tail thumped the floor.
Jesse continued to keep watch while Robyn went into the kitchen and made some coffee. She came back with a large thermos and put it on the table.
"This will warm our bellies when the temperature starts to go down outside."
She felt Jesse watching her as she continued to move around the cabin, closing the doors to the other rooms, hoping to keep the warmth in the living room.
Every nerve tingled as if he was touching her with his hands. Robyn found it difficult to breathe, she was so acutely aware of him. She fussed with the quilts and kept rearranging them.
Jesse came up behind her and settled his hands on her hips. Robyn froze. His warm hands slid up her sides, back down, and around to her belly. She trembled under his touch and closed her eyes, savoring the moment. Gently he drew her against his chest and held her tightly, his arms wrapped around her. His breath fluttered against her hair and he nuzzled at her ear, then found the hollow of her neck.
Robyn leaned into him and arched her back as he tugged at her shirt. His fingers fanned across her quivering belly. All breathing stopped as his thumb ran deliciously inside the waistband of her jeans.
She turned to face him and reached up to tangle her fingers in his hair. Robyn pulled his head down to hers, caught in the heat of his gaze. His arms, though corded with muscle, cradled her as though she were made of crystal. He bent his head to meet her lips with his, and kissed her deeply.
Silently, Robyn prayed for no interruptions and wound her arms around Jesse's neck.
Time stood still as Robyn savored Jesse's kiss. The gentle touch of his lips and tongue sent ripples of pleasure throughout her body. As they kissed, Robyn felt Jesse slowly undo the buttons of her sweater. She gasped as the backs of his fingers grazed against her skin. Gently, he removed her sweater, letting it fall to the floor.
"Beautiful." His words sounded like a hushed lullaby as he gazed at her in the dimming firelight. Then in one smooth movement, Jesse picked Robyn up, cradling her against his chest. Slowly, he lowered her to the couch and kneeled beside her.
"Jesse." Her voice was full of ache and raw hunger as she lifted her arms to him. Jesse groaned and took her mouth with his in another passionate kiss. Then he pulled his sweater over his head, tossing the garment to the floor.
Robyn inhaled sharply at the expanse of tanned, muscular flesh that was now illuminated by the soft firelight. Hesitantly, Robyn let her fingers explore the sinewy strength of him. Jesse groaned and she stopped immediately.
"Did I hurt you?" she asked. Jesse let out a deep, soft chuckle.
"You didn't hurt me," he reassured her as his fingers slowly traced the line of her collarbone and slid up her neck into her hair. Robyn couldn't help the moan that escaped her from his sensual touch.
"My thoughts exactly," Jesse said, looking deep into her eyes. He bent his head and slowly teased her mouth with his lips and tongue. Robyn felt as if she were going to jump out of her skin, she wanted him so much.
Robyn barely breathed as Jesse leisurely ran a finger underneath the lacy strap of her bra and then over the soft swell of her bosom. He stood, then lowered himself onto the couch, covering her trembling form with his own.
"Are you cold?" he asked in a whisper. Robyn could only shake her head no as Jesse cradled her against him. Hot, muscular maleness covered her from head to toe. She was left speechless by the exquisite sensations Jesse's touch caused as he slowly caressed her and nuzzled her hair.
Robyn's eyes closed as she enjoyed how precious he made her feel. Then she felt his lips upon hers, and all coherent thought was lost to the electricity that surged between them. Lips and hands searched and found every pleasurable spot they could reach. Soft moans echoed around them as the fire continued to die down. But neither of them felt the increasing cold. The heat of their passion kept them more than warm enough.
Robyn moaned as Jesse's fingers trailed down her rib cage, across her taut belly, and traced the waistband of her formfitting jeans. Minutes seemed like hours as his fingers slowly started to unbutton them.
Somewhere in her mind, Robyn damned ever owning a pair of button-fly jeans. A zipper would have been less cumbersome. But as Jesse continued to slowly unbutton her jeans, it became an erotic dance that she would have dreamed of only in the plots of her novels.
His mouth blazed a wet, hot trail down the smooth column of her neck. Jesse's fingers parted the denim then, finding the satin smoothness of her panties. Robyn arched her burning body into the hot, searing length of his, wishing he would hurry, but loving the feel of his hands on her as he took his time.
Suddenly, Charlie crept forward from the fireplace, emitting a low menacing growl toward the door. Jesse's movements stilled immediately and he gestured for Robyn not to make a sound. She clung to him, fear replacing the all-consuming passion she had felt just moments earlier.
A thump sounded from the porch. Jesse reached down to the floor and grabbed both of their sweaters. Quickly, he yanked his on and pushed Robyn's into her hands, gesturing for her to get down to the floor so she would have less chance of being seen. He crouched on the floor, as well, the rifle ready in his hands, his eyes never wavering from the cabin door.
Swiftly, Robyn buttoned her jeans and pulled on her sweater, trying hastily to do up the small buttons. Another thump sounded from the porch, stilling all movement within the cabin.
"Robyn?" Robyn let out a sigh of relief as she heard the familiar voice. She crept closer to Jesse.
"It's Wallace," she said in an urgent whisper. "He said he was going to come and check up on me."
Jesse glanced at her, then looked back toward the door. "Are you sure?"
Robyn laid a reassuring hand on Jesse's forearm. "I'd know the sound of his voice anywhere."
Jesse nodded toward the door and followed Robyn as she went to open it for Wallace. Just as she lifted the latch, the door was shoved open.
"Robyn, move, quick!" Wallace yelled. Charlie started barking furiously.
Wallace hurried inside and tried to push the door closed, but he was no match for the person on the other side. A hand holding a pistol emerged from behind the door and came down hard on Wallace's head. The door was shoved wide open. Robyn immediately moved to Wallace's side and then recoiled in fear as she saw Holcomb standing on the threshold of the cabin.
Jesse stepped forward to stop Holcomb from entering, but stopped in his tracks as Holcomb calmly pointed the pistol at Robyn's head.
"Try it and she's dead." Holcomb grabbed Robyn's arm and forced her to get up, keeping the pistol pressed against her head. He made her close and latch the door. Holcomb then nodded toward Jesse's rifle next.
"On the floor and easy." Jesse hesitated a moment, but then slid the rifle toward his enemy. Charlie growled menacingly and crept toward Holcomb and Robyn.
"Stop him or I will." Holcomb started to point the pistol at Charlie, but Jesse grabbed his collar to keep him at bay. Holcomb then shoved Robyn roughly across the room against Jesse.
"Well," said Holcomb, his dark eyes threatening. "Looks like we have an interesting night ahead of us."
An icy chill raced through Robyn as she met Holcomb's menacing stare. Cutting her gaze to Wallace, still lying prone on the floor, she tried to assess his injury. He didn't move, and blood trickled from a gash on his head.
"Let me help Wallace," she appealed to Holcomb, the calm in her voice belying the anxiety swirling in her gut.
"No. Stay back. No tricks or you're all dead." Holcomb waved the pistol at them, and she sensed the man's growing panic in his jerky movements.
Jesse stepped slowly, smoothly beside her, his hands raised in a conciliatory fashion. "No tricks, Holcomb. Just let her tend to his head injury. I know you don't want to add murder to the list of charges against you."
Jesse's solid presence warmed and reassured her, made her feel safer despite the gun pointed at them.
"I said no. Now move on over to that sofa, and no heroics, Hawke, or the woman gets the first bullet."
Jesse placed a hand on her arm. "Do as he says."
What choice did she have? For the moment at least, Holcomb had the upper hand. She didn't doubt for a second, though, that Jesse's brain was hard at work, examining every angle of their situation and figuring a way out.
She edged toward the sofa, the same spot where moments ago Jesse had been about to make love to her. When this nightmare was over, would Jesse walk out of her life or did she dare hope that she'd finally found someone she could trust with her heart?
A groan yanked her out of her musings. Her attention flew to a small movement from Wallace's hand. Holcomb, too, darted a glance at the man on the floor behind him. That split second of Holcomb's inattention was all Jesse needed.
Springing forward, Jesse tackled Holcomb, grabbing the hand that held the pistol and shifting the aim of the weapon off Robyn. A gunshot rang in Robyn's ears and reverberated off the walls of the cabin. Splinters of wood, gouged from the ceiling by the bullet, rained down around the two men as they struggled for control of the pistol.
Her heart thundering, Robyn dove for the rifle lying on the cabin floor and swung it toward the struggling pair. Charlie barked and nipped at Holcomb's heels, adding to the confusion.
The two men grunted and grimaced as they fought. She couldn't fire at Holcomb for fear of hitting Jesse, but a glance at Wallace gave her another idea. Raising the butt of the rifle, she moved in behind Holcomb and waited for a clear path.
Jesse landed an elbow in Holcomb's stomach, hard enough to slow his opponent. Holcomb's brief incapacity gave Robyn enough time to bring the end of the rifle down on his skull. The fugitive sank to his knees, and Jesse wrested the pistol from Holcomb's hand.
"Good shot," Jesse said, panting for breath and flashing her a grin.
"Are you all right?"
Jesse swiped blood from his swollen lip before nodding. Robyn heaved a deep sigh of relief.
But her relief came too soon. Holcomb lunged to his feet, catching Robyn off guard, and knocked her backward.
"Robyn!" Jesse's shout shook her from her momentary shock. She gasped as Holcomb grabbed for the rifle, an angry fire blazing in his eyes. She squeezed her fingers around the gun, determined not to release the weapon to the madman. But rather than snatching the rifle from her, Holcomb used the gun to pin her against the wall.
Again Jesse seized Holcomb, wrapping an arm around the fugitive's neck to pull him off Robyn. He dragged him to the floor and pinned him with a knee in the small of his back. Pressing the muzzle of the pistol to the back of Holcomb's skull, Jesse growled, "Don't move."
Robyn hurried to Wallace's side and checked the wound on his head. "This is a nasty gash. He needs to get to a hospital."
Jesse nodded. "Find something to tie Holcomb's hands and feet. We'll take Wallace to the doctor on our way to turn this scumbag over to the cops."
Robyn found some rope, and Jesse quickly bound Holcomb's hands and feet. Together, she and Jesse loaded the fugitive and Wallace in the four-wheel drive the retired sheriff had driven up to help her.
"Keep this aimed at Holcomb until he's in custody," Jesse said, handing her the pistol as he slid into the driver's seat. Robyn took the gun and held it, keeping the muzzle centered on the fugitive's chest as Jesse drove. The worst of the storm had passed by now, but the roads were still treacherous.
Robyn cast an occasional glance at Jesse during the ride down the mountain. Despite her gratitude that the danger had passed, melancholy weighed heavily on her chest. Holcomb's capture meant Jesse's job on her mountain was finished. He would be moving on. Their association would be over before really getting started, and she felt the loss to her marrow. Unless...
Swallowing a knot of despair, she cleared her throat. "So Jesse...now what?"
His gaze focused on the road ahead, Jesse replied, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, now that you've apprehended Holcomb, your work is done." She locked a penetrating gaze on him, her heart in her throat. "Where does that leave...us?"
It was a long time before Jesse answered her question.
"Let's have this discussion after we get Wallace to the hospital," he suggested without looking at her.
Robyn wanted to weep. How had she allowed this to happen? It had taken her almost a year to pull her life back together after the man she'd thought she loved had broken her heart. She'd sworn that she would never trust anyone with her heart again. And what had she done? In the space of a few hours she'd fallen head over heels for a total stranger.
Sure she knew his name and that he was a good man. After all, he'd saved her life twice now. Of course, she'd saved his, too. But the bottom line was that they likely had nothing in common. He obviously had an exciting life that kept him on the road chasing down bad guys, while she lived in seclusion on her mountain with the characters she created for her stories. How on earth could she expect a relationship between two such completely different people to work?
She couldn't.
The remainder of the treacherous trip down the mountain and into town was made in silence. Robyn occupied herself by focusing on making sure Holcomb didn't make any sudden moves. She would not think about Jesse Hawke and his hot kisses...or his strong, broad shoulders, and beautiful dark eyes. It was over. He had captured the bad guy…made the world a safer place.
* * *
Robyn hurried alongside the gurney as the emergency room attendants rushed Wallace into the ER. "You're going to be fine," she assured him, her voice quavering.
Several of the sheriff's men were already at the hospital awaiting word on their boss when she and Jesse arrived. Though in stable condition, Jim was in surgery for a tendon repair after Holcomb's gunshot wound to his shoulder. The prognosis was excellent. He would fully recover. As would her dear friend Wallace.
They paused at the wide set of double doors that warned Authorized Personnel Only. "You'll need to wait out here, ma'am," one of the attendants told her.
She nodded and quickly pressed a kiss to Wallace's frail hand. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she watched the big doors close behind the gurney. They'd told her he would be fine. A few stitches would take care of his head wound, but a CT scan would be performed just in case. Still, she couldn't help but worry.
"They'll take good care of him."
The sound of Jesse's voice flowed over her like warmed honey. She closed her eyes against the fresh tears that surfaced. His job was finished now. He'd turned his fugitive over to the deputies standing by in the waiting room while the hospital personnel took care of Wallace.
She turned to face the man who now owned her heart. "I guess it's time for you to go then." She shrugged, pretending that her already battered heart wasn't breaking into a million screaming pieces. "I can take care of myself from here."
A breathtaking half smile tilted one corner of that full mouth. "I'll just bet you can." Those dark eyes twinkled as if remembering her part in the scuffle with Holcomb. "But we have unfinished business first."
Before Robyn could protest, he curled strong fingers around her forearm and practically dragged her across the waiting room and down a corridor until he'd found the room he was looking for. When the door closed with a little whoosh behind them, she turned on Jesse.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? It's over," she said crossly. "You don't have to drag it out for me. I'm a big girl. You're not the first guy I've —" She caught herself before she said the words. Her eyes widened with the realization of how close she'd come to telling him that she loved him.
"Kissed?" he asked, that smile tugging at the corners of his mouth again. His fingers still clamped around her arm, he tugged her nearer. "Or almost made love with?" he murmured against her temple.
"Don't be ridiculous," she argued, drawing away from him as much as possible with both his muscular arms now wrapped firmly around her waist. "We were both acting on adrenaline. That's all. Stressful situations cause desperate reactions. It's over now," she repeated in hopes of saving herself the drawn-out excuses he would no doubt make for having to leave.
His fingers splayed possessively on the small of her back. "You really think I'm going to let you go that easily?"
Startled, she stared up into those dark eyes. "What do you mean?" She hated that her voice sounded so hopeful…so pathetically weak with need for him.
He snuggled her closer to his chest. "I mean just what you think I mean." He kissed her forehead, his warm lips lingering there as he continued, "I'm not going to just walk away from the first woman I've ever fallen in love with."
Her breath catching in her throat, Robyn drew back once more and stared up at him.
"How do you know you're in love with me?" she asked hesitantly, afraid to believe it could be true.
He smiled. "Partly because the mere thought of never seeing you again makes me feel like dying. I felt that way nearly the whole trip from your place to the hospital." He caressed her cheek with one long-fingered hand. "But then I realized the truth. I love you, Robyn. From the moment I saw you sliding across that thin ice to rescue your dog, I knew you were special." He kissed the tip of her nose. "The way you warmed me with your own body before you even knew my name." He brushed those tantalizing lips over hers then looked deeply into her eyes. "The way you kissed me. It was like I'd found the long-lost other half of myself."
Robyn blinked back a renewed surge of tears. Tears of joy this time. "But we might not have anything in common," she worried.
The hand still at the small of her back pressed her intimately against the proof of his own need for her. "I think we have more in common than you know." He stole another quick kiss from her lips. "We both love nature and animals." Another sweet nip of his mouth against hers. "And I happen to know you feel the same way as I do."
Her eyes rounded. "How did you know?" Her heart was pounding like a drum now. She was certain he could hear it.
He smiled again. "That little hitch in your breathing whenever we're this close. The way your body melts against mine."
She sighed, as much from contentment as renewed anxiety. "But what will we do? We have totally different lives."
His arms tightened around her waist once more. "Hey, just because my job requires that I travel a lot doesn't mean that I don't have a home where, believe it or not, I spend most of my time."
"But my home is here," she countered cautiously. "I can't imagine living anywhere else."
"Then I guess that mountain of yours will just have to be my home, too," he suggested with another brush of that sexy mouth over hers. "That is," he added, his lips only a fraction of an inch from hers, "if you'll have me."
"Oh, I'll have you," she assured him with a quick kiss of her own. "As long as you don't mind my modeling all my future heroes after you."
"I wouldn't want it any other way."
"It's a deal then," she murmured.
Jesse sealed their deal with a long, sweet kiss that promised a lifetime of love and happiness.
The End