Page 76 of Love Me Dangerous

“Linnie doesn’t know yet?” he asks in a low tone, frowning.

I shake my head just as Linnie comes around the trailer, waggling the white plastic stake stained the color of toffee by our mountain dirt.

“Thank goodness you checked.” Dad gives me a wink before hurrying over to hold his palm up high so Linnie has to jump to smack it.

That night, I lay in bed reviewing my conversation with Zach and what he shared about his little brother. Where is he? What is keeping the two of them apart?

My thoughts drift to Dad, out there alone, patrolling the high country. He’s out of cell or radio range. He’s always cautious, but I wish I knew he was okay.

I text Jesse

I told Dad about L.A. When are you going to tell Linnie?

But he doesn’t reply.

With a sleepy Linniecurled up in the seat next to me, we drive to the Forest Service access point. Pale dawn light spills over the mountains, bringing a soft glow to the foothills, and in my rearview mirror, the calm lake waters turn a glossy black.

“Is Jesse coming?” Linnie asks as I turn up the gravel road.

“I don’t think so.” I try to keep my voice neutral.

She gives me a sharp look. “Why not?”

I manage a shrug, and Linnie looks away, hurt. As of this morning, he still hasn’t replied. Am I going to have to tell her about Jessie leaving, or will he man up and tell her himself?

At the trailhead, other volunteers are gathered at the back of a rusty orange pickup truck, no doubt to snack on the donated spread of Glory Holes and coffee. Dustin is standing at the Forest Service gate smoking a cigarette and talking with a man in a green uniform, most likely about his favorite subject, fishing.

“Maryanne is here!” Linnie cries as her friend turns from the crowd to smile at my sister. Linnie jumps out of the truck and skips over.

I zip up my winter coat and grab my work gloves. Outside, the dry air stings with cold, and though it’s going to be a clear day, the forecast is calling for snow by the end of the week.

Ava and Hutch are in the queue for goodies, so I hurry over to join them. “You should be studying!” I say to Ava as we hug.

“She insisted we help today,” Hutch says, arching an eyebrow.

I dive into his arms, but he’s so solid it’s like hugging a brick wall. “It’ll be great to have you both. Thank you for being here.”

“It’s such a beautiful day,” Ava says, her cheeks bright pink. We each load up napkins with donut holes and pour a cup of coffee into paper cups.

Dustin saunters over. “You kids leave anything for the rest of us?”

We laugh as he snatches a donut hole from the pile and pops it into his mouth.

“Where is Zach?” Ava whispers to me.

I huff a nervous sigh, but as I bite into my first donut hole, the Huttons arrive and park on the far side of the lot. Zach steps down from the truck carrying a pair of work gloves. Our eyes lock, and my face gets hot.

Henry and Barb split off to talk with an older couple, and soon they’re laughing about something, their breaths sending little clouds into the air.

I skirt the crowd so I can meet Zach. “Morning,” I say, suppressing a shiver with a sip of coffee.

“Hey,” he says. “A lot of people here.”

“Good people,” I say.

“It’s the free donuts,” Ava says behind me.

I step to the side so I can introduce my friends. “Zach, this is Ava and Hutch.”

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