Page 3 of Toxic Truth

“Wait.” He hadn’t moved, but she couldn’t risk it. “Help?” She pulled sodden hair off her face. “You mean 9-1-1?”

“I was thinking along the lines of a garage to tow your car out. No need to bother emergency services with that.”

What he said sounded reasonable, but taking a chance on him telling the truth could prove deadly. Her skin grew clammier. “Why are you wearing night vision goggles?”

His eyebrows inched up. “So I can see?”

She didn’t appreciate his sarcasm. “Yeah, I know that. But why? And why are you out here at night in the rain? What were you looking for?”

“You.”

Hell. She fell to her knees and grabbed the largest rock she could find then lifted it to her shoulder, ready to hurl the damn thing at him. “Don’t come any closer.”

Wind pushed his slicker aside. Rain dampened his worn jeans. “If I wanted to hurt you, I could have well before now when I first arrived.” He lifted his rifle.

Her stomach fell. “Put it down. Now.”

“No problem.” He lowered it to his side, the muzzle pointed at the ground. “To answer your questions, when you were gunning your motor—I presume to get out of the mud—the wind carried the sound to my place. I don’t often hear cars up here, especially stuck ones, so I came out to investigate and to help. If you’d let me.” He shoved his rifle back into its holster, unbuckled his saddlebag, and pulled out the blanket. “If I hand this to you, will you promise not to clobber me with the rock?”

Amusement sounded in his strong voice. Not the mean kind, but teasing, as a man does when he’s flirting.

Yeah, right. Out here in the dark and rain, them alone, except for the thugs following her.

She pushed to her feet. “How far can you see with your goggles?”

“Why?” He stepped closer. “Are you expecting someone?”

Unwilling to say, she gripped the rock harder. “Answer me.”

“If you’re asking if they’re also binoculars, they are. Meaning I can see damn far. Why do you want to know?”

“Did you see anything besides me and my car when you were coming down from your place?”

He muttered something beneath his breath.

“What?”

“No, I didn’t see anyone else, all right?” He held the blanket to his chest. “You and I are alone here.”

Whether that was good or bad, she didn’t want to know. “Take off your goggles, binoculars, whatever they are. They’re creepy.”

“They’re… Never mind. Anything to keep you happy.” He pulled back his hood and removed the things.

His hair was dark, eyes a light color she couldn’t determine. Even in the scant light, his features were masculine as fuck and hotter than sin.

Her heart turned over. If she’d seen him in a bar or at a social gathering, she would have drooled in appreciation. Out here, she wanted more proof he was a good guy and not a paid killer who enjoyed his work. “Who are you? Why do you live here? If you do.”

“If I do?” He laughed, the sound deep and rich. “Do you honestly think I spend my evenings riding in rain for fun? Trust me, I don’t. Who are you, and why are you out here in this weather?”

Telling him the truth wasn’t happening. He’d either dismiss her concerns as ludicrous or might think she was a nutcase and would call in authorities she couldn’t trust. “No matter what you claim, my friends are here.” Whether he’d believe her lie or not, she didn’t care. He’d never get the truth from her. “There’s a mountain resort they’re staying at. I pulled off the road to check my directions and got stuck in the mud. That’s it.”

“Hardly.”

“There’s nothing else, dammit.”

“Except you’re freezing.” He unfurled the blanket and wrapped it around her. “Better?”

His lime scent comforted rather than alarmed. His concern brought tears to her eyes. Unable to trust her voice, she nodded and dropped the rock.