Page 82 of In Hiding

William smiled and stood. Crossing the room, he patted his uncle’s huge bicep and nodded. “I do. Please come to the house. Stay with us.”

“Listen. If that guy is who you think he is, then I can’t. I don’t want to lead them to your home. Does that make sense?”

William nodded.

“Good boy. You can’t come back here, not until this is settled. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

Uncle Erik grabbed his shoulder and hugged him again. “We need to get you back to school before anyone notices you’re missing.”

~

The numbers on the computer screen blurred before her eyes, forcing Sarah to sit back in her chair and scrub a hand over her face. July brought the end of financial year and came with a virtual tsunami of tax returns to sort through. The clients she’d cultivated over the years had all been in touch, wanting to get their financial affairs sorted without delay.

Usually, she welcomed the onslaught of work. It kept her busy, her mind off the threat of trouble. By the time she emerged from under the pile of work, months would have past, and spring would have sprung. There was a sadness in using her work to escape the constant worry and she’d be the first to admit it, but this year, a voice in the back of her mind sounded a warning.

She didn’t know why it was there or where it came from, only that its soft whisper of danger refused to let up. Something had her unsettled and it seemed no amount of spreadsheet data could sway her focus. The very possibility of Ryan gaining freedom—no matter how small the chance—kept her alert. More and more, it woke her in the middle of the night, its effect on her inescapable.

“You need a break.”

Startled, Sarah leapt to her feet. Dressed like a lumberjack, Jake lazed casually against the doorjamb and smiled an apology.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Twisting her fingers together, she took a breath to slow her heart. “How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to know you need something to eat.”

“Please don’t do that.”

His smile faltered and he pushed away from the door. “I wasn’t spying on you, Sarah. I came to see if you wanted a coffee, but you were so engrossed in your work, you didn’t hear me.” Crossing the room, he took her by the arms. His warmth seeped through the sleeves of her tunic to slip into her veins. “I did call your name.”

“Oh.”

The care in his dark eyes slowed her racing heart. Sarah took in the thickness of his beard and the length of his hair. Mountain man. He grew shaggier by the day, but she found his ruggedness stealing more of her attention than it deserved. Lifting a hand, she pressed her palm to his face where his whiskers tickled her skin.

He smiled. “Surely you can afford to take a small break?”

She nodded. “I can. Thank you for checking in on me.”

He turned her and placed his hands along her shoulders. The instant his fingers began to knead her tight muscles, her body let her know she’d been staring at the screen for far too long. His gentle pressure released the tension and encouraged the blood to flow. Heat spread through her, closing her eyes, and relaxing her posture.

“Good?” he whispered in her ear.

“Too good,” she admitted. Jake chuffed, his breath lifting her hair momentarily. “I’m sorry for reacting like that. Ryan used to insist I tell him where I was and what I was doing all the time.”

Jake’s hands paused. “Don’t apologize.” He resumed the massage, his movements slowing as his thumbs applied pressure to the back of her neck. It sent a zing of electricity up to her brain. “I’m glad you told me.”

How long before I’m free of his control? It angered her that though Ryan wasn’t in her life, she allowed him to interfere like this. He wasn’t the problem. She was. Her ex influenced every thought she had and every action she took.

Kate suspected it was a subconscious security measure her mind used to keep her aware of what he’d done, so she’d never let anyone else do it to her again. It felt like a weight around her neck, ready to drag her to the bottom of an abyss.

A shudder passed through her.

“Come here.”

Gently, Jake pulled her back against his chest. His arms wrapped around her and the cocoon he provided was safe and snug. She’d come to rely on him and his reassurances. It should scare her more than it did.

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