Page 68 of Hunter

They fell toward the lake, her body under his. And she had time for only a partial gasp of air before they hit the cold water.

As they splashed down, she heard an explosion like a dozen thunderclaps coming together in the air above them. Then they plummeted below the surface, and she felt a shock wave hit the water.

Hunter held her down, at the same time kicking strongly and towing her away from the spot where they’d gone over the side. She hadn’t taken in much air, and she felt as if her lungs would burst. When he tugged her to the surface, she dragged in grateful drafts of air.

“Breathe. We must go down again,” he gasped.

Pieces of wood were raining down around them in the water. One hit her shoulder and she winced as Hunter dragged her under again, pulling her parallel to the shoreline and into a stand of water grass that swayed wildly in a sudden pounding of waves.

They surfaced among the quaking stalks, and she sucked in oxygen, shivering in the cold water.

Hunter put his arm around her. “Stay low,” he hissed.

She ducked into the greenery, lifting her head only enough so that she could breathe.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked urgently, his hand gliding along her arm.

“I think I was more frightened than hurt.”

“I saw you on the dock, and I didn’t know what else to do.”

“It was the right thing,” she assured him as she swung around and stared at the spot where she’d been standing moments ago. It no longer existed. In fact, only the first quarter of the dock was still visible, listing at a steep angle toward the water. As she watched, it fell sideways and hit the surface of the lake with a large splash, adding to the fury of the churning waves.

Wide-eyed, she gaped at the scene, her mind trying to make sense of the destruction. The pier and the cabin had disappeared, replaced by a mass of gray boards and small pieces of shredded wood madly bobbing on the surface of the foaming water.

“What happened?” she asked in a strangled voice.

“He waited until you were out on the pier. Then he set off the explosives. Why were you here?”

“A man named Bob Perry called me. He told me to meet you here. He described the location. But just now, I saw Reid.”

“When did this Bob Perry call you?”

“Around eleven thirty.”

“That was one of the times when Reid left me alone.”

She nodded tightly, remembering that she had thought the voice was familiar. It might have been Reid—trying to make her think it was someone else.

As they watched, the man in question moved along the beach near the ruined pier, shading his eyes and scanning the wreckage.

“We must get away from here,” Hunter said. “When he doesn’t see our bodies, he’ll look for us farther from the explosion.”

She made a small sound of agreement, gripped his arm. The last time they’d met, she had been too shocked to speak coherently. This morning, she’d come prepared with explanations and apologies. The words still raged inside her. She wanted desperately to make him understand what was in her heart, but it would have to wait.

“Follow me. And stay down,” he said.

Her legs felt shaky, but she managed to keep up with him as they moved farther from the site of the devastation.

She imitated his crouched posture as they moved through the reeds. When a small black snake slithered past, she made a muffled sound and pointed.

Hunter turned and looked at the creature. “It won’t hurt you. There are no poisonous snakes in this lake.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“But watch for snapping turtles.”

Right. She didn’t tell him she wasn’t an expert at turtle identification. She simply kept following him, her teeth chattering both from the cold water and from reaction.

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