Page 36 of Line of Resistance

Eloise relaxed a tiny bit but still didn’t make a sound as she waited along with him. Her eyes fixed on his face as she mouthed a question.Are they gone?

Nate tucked his chin in a small nod. “Seems like.”

He forced his body away from hers, nearly groaning at the loss of her warmth and her scent. Eloise shivered almost immediately and he was terrible enough to take pleasure in knowing she felt the loss too, even if it was only the loss of his warmth.

Nate shifted the blanket covering her body, pulling it in and tucking it across her front, before tilting his head toward the road. “I’ll be right back.”

One of Eloise’s hands shot out from under the blanket, grabbing his arm and stopping his movement. She shook her head violently, eyes wide.

Nate carefully unwound her gloved fingers, stroking his thumb across the center of her palm as he tucked it back under the blanket. He pointed to the snow at her feet before lifting a finger to his lips, indicating she needed to stay quiet and stay put.

He had to make sure their unwanted visitors were really gone before they made any big movements. As much as he wanted to keep her close, there was no way he would put Eloise in the direct line of fire. If they took him out she could stay where she was, let them think they got who they were looking for. She had food and water and blankets and a sleeping bag, so she could make it a little while longer, even without the cover of her car.

And, based on what he was seeing now, they would absolutely be without the cover of her car. Or his, for that matter.

Both his Jeep and Eloise’s crossover were gone. The only sign of their existence were the lines of tire tracks cut into the heavy snow. He shifted to one side, finding a gap in the branches that offered a different angle and an explanation for why they hadn’t been discovered. While the moose had been responsible for their predicament, he was also responsible for their escape. He’d paced around Eloise’s car enough that the snow was churned up beyond belief, disturbed by prints and gouges making it practically impossible to notice the skidding marks left from their escape.

He gave the landscape one final scan before turning and going back to Eloise. She was standing right where he left her. For the most part.

She’d migrated her way around the tree trunk, blanket wrapped tight around her shoulders as she peeked his direction, exposing herself to anyone who might want to take her out. And she didn’t look the least bit sorry about it as he stalked back her way.

Nate shot her a glare intended to make the seriousness of his point clear. “I told you to stay put.”

Eloise scoffed. “I needed to know if you got murdered so I would be ready to run.” She bent down and grabbed her bag, struggling with the weight of it as she tried to sling it over one shoulder. “God knows I need a head start.”

Nate closed the gap between them, snagging away the tote before grabbing the sleeping bag and shoving it down inside. “They took our cars.”

Eloise looked him up and down, eyeing him with suspicion. “Who isthey?”

He hated the answer he had to give her. “I don’t know.”

Eloise’s brows lifted. “You don’t know who came to try to murder you?”

Nate stopped wrestling with the bag. “Why did they have to be coming to murder me?”

Eloise rolled her eyes as she turned away. “Come on. Who in the hell wants to murder a goody-two-shoes elementary school principal?”

“Maybe Matt?”

Eloise’s spine stiffened. She stood completely still for a second before slowly turning his way. “Why would you bring him up?”

Because he was a jealous asshole who was still a little agitated that a prick like Matt had every opportunity to make Eloise his. “I went to see if you were at your apartment and there was something on your porch from him.”

Eloise’s chin lifted a little. “Maybe we’re dating again.”

Nate shook his head, the possibility adding to the irritation already simmering under his skin. “No way.”

Eloise huffed out a bitter laugh. “What? Don’t think I’m good enough to date him either?” She was baiting him.

And it was going to work. Just not the way she expected.

Nate moved in close, crowding her space. “You’re not dating him again because I know you wouldn’t do something that stupid.”

Eloise eyed him but didn’t back up. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

He had plenty of nice things he wanted to say to her. None of them fit for polite company.

“Why is he leaving shit at your house?” He’d thrown Matt out on his ass once and was itching for a repeat performance. The prick didn’t deserve the time he was lucky enough to spend with Eloise. Knowing Matt only had the opportunity because Nate canceled the date he and Eloise should have had chapped his ass to no end.

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