Page 39 of Line of Resistance

“I think we might’ve lucked out.” Nate’s words were the only warning she got before the world again tilted on its axis and she was suddenly planted on her feet, all the blood rushing back where it belonged so fast she saw stars.

“Whoops.” Nate scooped her up as she started to drop, holding her bridal style as he finished the walk to what appeared to be a small hunting cabin. “Looks like I get to carry you across the threshold.” He paused, shifting his weight. They rocked back as he swung one foot up and planted it right in the center of the door, hitting it with enough force to send it bouncing off the interior wall.

“Are you always this destructive?” Eloise fought his hold, worming her way around until Nate finally tipped her feet toward the floor. This time she managed to stay upright as she took in their temporary home. “Someone could have been living here, you know.”

“Not unless they’re like you and wanted to freeze to death.” Nate dropped her bag and the blankets onto an aging floral armchair as he motioned to the cast-iron stove tucked into one corner of the single room shack. “There was no smoke coming out of the chimney.” He turned and went to work closing the door, pulling a multi-use tool from his belt before rigging everything back into place.

“There’s probably a key under the mat.” Eloise wrapped both arms around her middle, hoping to conserve heat. The little building did block the wind, but after getting snowed on and sweaty, her clothes and hair were damp, allowing the chill to sink straight into her bones.

“Wasn’t in the mood to dig through a pile of snow to find it.” Nate crossed the space, his boots heavy as they moved over the worn and dusty plank floors. “Give me just a second and I’ll get a fire started.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Eloise glanced out the window. “Then someone will be able to tell we’re here.”

“We’re far enough away from the road that no one can see this place, and there’s smoke coming out of chimneys all over. No one’s going to notice this one, and even if they do, they won’t assume it’s us.” Nate flipped the lock on the back door and swung it open, stepping out onto the small porch. He came back a second later with an armload of dry firewood. “Plus, we have to get dry.”

It seemed wrong to make themselves right at home in someone else’s home. “What about the people who live here? I’m pretty sure they won’t love coming home to find us hanging out.”

“Didn’t you notice all the dust? No one’s been here for a long fucking time.” Nate dropped the wood onto the floor in front of the stove and crouched down, swinging open the door before loading in a few pieces. “And I can promise you no one will be here anytime soon, so sit your pretty ass down and relax.”

“Don’t do that.” She scowled at the back of his head. “Don’t treat me like all I can do is be pretty.” It shouldn’t bother her. She’d literally built a whole personality on practically that. But after allowing Nate a glimpse of who she really was, it grated that he still reduced her to nothing more than something pleasant to look at.

“You’re putting words in my mouth.” Nate snagged an extra-long match from the supply of fire-starting items sitting next to the stove in a ceramic tray painted with swirling roses. He struck it and settled it inside, working the lit edge under the wood before closing the door and turning to face her. “Because I don’t remember saying being pretty was all you could do.” He stepped toward her and it took everything in her power not to move back. To retreat. To get away from this man who was absolutely a threat. Nate’s eyes held hers as one corner of his mouth lifted. “You’re also real good at being a pain in the ass.”

Eloise flattened her lips, shooting him a frown. “Funny.”

“Funny because it’s true.” Nate continued coming closer, large and looming. “And I’m a little bit upset that you weren’t a pain in my ass earlier.”

She stood her ground, doing her best not to get distracted by his nearness. Or his face. Or his scent. Or that low seductive tone his voice was taking on. “And would that have changed anything? Would it have made you want to kiss me at the Christmas party or take me out on that date we were supposed to have?”

Nate stopped, a flicker of uncertainty passing across his strong features.

“Yeah.” She smirked, feeling victorious but also oddly disappointed. “That’s what I thought.”

Eloise turned away, not really sure where she was going since there wasn’t much space to be had, but planning to get as far away from Nate as she could. She barely made it a step before he snagged her, one arm banding around her middle and the other covering her mouth as he dragged her body back against his, pinning her back to his front. He stood perfectly still so she did the same, refusing to even breathe as she waited to find out what in the hell could be wrong now.

A shadow moved across the curtains covering the back window. Her stomach dropped as her heart started to race.

She tried to warn him. Told him whoever was after him would see the smoke coming out of the chimney and realize someone was in here.

Nate slowly released her, lifting one finger to his mouth the same way he had in the woods, as if he thought she was dumb enough to do something ridiculous like scream. Could he not see that she was more than capable of handling just about anything this world threw at her?

Nate slowly crept toward the window, movements surprisingly silent considering his size. He stood by the window a second before ever so carefully edging the flower-printed fabric away from one side, moving it just enough so he could peek out. The cabin was so silent she could hear the rush of air as it left his lungs. “You’re not going to believe this.”

“What?” She couldn’t handle any more surprises. Any more craziness. Any more—

Nate flung the curtains open to reveal who was lurking on the other side.

Eloise groaned. “Motherfucker.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

NATE

ELOISE STARED AT the moose on the other side of the window, her jaw slack. For a few seconds she didn’t blink. Didn’t even breathe.

Then she started to laugh, the sound becoming slightly unhinged as she pointed his way. “He knows you killed his brother.” The next breath she took included a snort. “Now he’s after us too.”

He was glad to see her laughing, but the wild edge of the sound made him worry she might quickly shift to tears.

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