Page 56 of Only One More Lie

Caleb pulled her into his arms and began to stroke her back. “It’s going to be okay.”

Juniper wanted to relax against him, but she couldn’t. “Someone might see us.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” he murmured. “Your parents were the only ones who cared if we dated. Now they’re not here to stop us.”

His words sent a chill through her. Caleb almost sounded as if he were glad her mom and dad were gone, like their deaths had worked out in his favor.

She stiffened and took a step back. What kind of person said something like that?

“Juniper . . . I didn’t mean it like that. You’ve got to know that.” Caleb reached for her again, an apologetic look in his gaze.

She took another step away from him. “Then how did you mean it?”

“I just meant we don’t have to keep things so complicated. No one is going to judge us for dating.”

She wasn’t so sure about that. Her uncle Tim wasn’t going to love this.

And she didn’t even want to think about romance right now.

Not after everything she’d lost.

But Caleb’s words still echoed in her mind.

He didn’t have anything to do with her parents’ deaths . . . did he?

CHAPTER 27

DECEMBER, PRESENT DAY

Before Andi and Duke turned around, something up ahead caught her attention.

“Duke . . .” she murmured.

He followed her gaze and grunted.

They walked several steps farther before stopping at a clearing. A set of tire tracks stretched there.

Andi watched as Duke kneeled to examine them. “Based on the size of the tires and the distance between the wheels, these tracks most likely belong to a UTV.”

“You think someone took off with Caleb?” she asked. “Had the UTV waiting here?”

“It’s a theory.” Duke rose. “We need to go check the garage. See how many vehicles the camp has and if they’re all accounted for.”

Andi nodded. “Assuming they keep the door locked . . . we need to talk to Juniper first to get access. Come on, we don’t have any time to waste.”

Quickly, she and Duke trudged back through the snow to the lodge.

Juniper looked up with hopeful eyes as they walked in.

Andi quickly shook her head to let her know there were no updates.

Juniper’s shoulders instantly sagged.

“We need to see your UTVs.” Duke got right to the point.

“What?” Surprise filled Juniper’s gaze. “Why?”

“We think Caleb left on one—though we don’t know if it was by his own free will or not,” Duke explained.

---