Page 130 of Love Me Dangerous

The prickles turn hot. “Yeah.”

“When?”

“Really soon.”

“Oh good. I miss you.”

My heart presses painfully against my ribs. “I’ve missed you so much. We have a lot of catching up to do, don’t we?”

“Yeah. We’ll be together, right? For good this time.”

I squeeze the back of my neck as the tears splat on the desk. He’s safe. We’re safe.

But going to him means leaving here. Leaving Sofie.

“Yeah, bud. For good.”

I whip the sled around,huffing after the long climb, and hold it steady while Linnie and Sofie climb on. Next to us, Ava, Hutch, and Linnie’s friend Maryanne climb onto the other sled.

Hutch and I lock eyes, then shove off and jump on behind the girls.

Linnie and Maryanne both shriek in delight as our toboggans fly down the hill, flashing past the other sledders climbing and descending, their brightly colored snow clothing a blur.

The cold air burns my eyes and stings my teeth.

“We’re going to crash!” Linnie cries.

“Hold on!” I steer us past a bump but the right edge flips up and we all go tumbling. I scramble for Sofie and Linn, but they’re both cackling so hard they can barely get a breath.

“Dad’s here!” Linnea says, scrambling to her feet and racing down the slope to Rowdy.

He swallows her up in a giant hug while I pull Sofie to her feet. She smiles, her eyes playful, and gives me a quick kiss before tugging me to where Rowdy is swinging Linnie around, laughing.

It’s been almost a week since the blizzard and the awful events that happened. After they released us from the hospital, I went home with Sofie. Those first two days, we both slept a lot, the two of ustangled up in her big bed or curled up on the couch. Since then, we’ve spent most nights in my little room above the Hutton’s barn. We’ve had a lot of making up to do. The bed is cramped, but the couch and the bathroom counter have proved quite useful. Plus it’s private, and I’m now officially addicted to the sweet music we make together.

I squeeze Sofie’s hand and she grins back at me, as if reading my thoughts.

Neve and Jesse join us, holding hands, and all of us trudge back to the hill, sleds in tow.

With the arrests of Dustin and Kai, my security job at the ranch was terminated. Stu offered me a mechanic intern position this winter, but I turned him down. While the idea of working outside is appealing, I’d rather devote my energy to a job I’m passionate about. I think I know what that might be, but there are too many unknowns right now.

Kristov is in jail, awaiting his trial. I’ll have to testify, but I’m not afraid. His network has been disbanded and more arrests have been made, including several high-powered government officials and a former Russian intelligence agent. It’s boggling to think Kristov was connected like that, but it doesn’t matter now. He’s going to spend the rest of his sorry life in prison.

I talk to William every day, and every day he asks when I’m coming. I’ll need to give him an answer soon, especially with the approaching holidays.

“Hi, Sofie!” A small person in a baby blue one-piece snow suit wraps his arms around Sofie’s legs.

“Arlo?” She gets down on her knees to smile at the boy.

“Sofie!” a man with bright hazel eyes and a tanned face cheers. He’s towing a sled and dressed in black ski pants and a red coat. A man behind him, clearly a private security detail or bodyguard, stands five feet away.

Sofie jumps up and smiles. “Couldn’t resist the famous Finn River Sled Hill, huh?”

The dad laughs, and it’s then I recognize him.

“Mr. Lennox is a member at Finn River,” Sofie says to us. “Sometimes I get to spend time with Arlo.”

I try not to stare. It’s no secret the rich and famous frequent Finn River Ranch, but Teague Lennox is my first movie star.

---