Page 61 of In Hiding

Pulling his lips from hers, he hauled in cool air and rested his forehead against hers. Her arms slid around his waist and held him tight. He felt every one of her curves against him and allowed himself one brief moment of imagining them together, naked, entwined. His body hardened, taking him back a step to avoid sending the wrong message. With a tiny shake of her head, Sarah stepped with him, keeping them pressed together.

Anticipation coursed through him with such power it left him inspired to silently promise he would only ever treat her with love.

And if Mitchell happened to find them and threaten her life, Jake knew without a shadow of a doubt, he’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.

11.

Finished at the timber yard, Jake drove back to the center of town with the intention of swinging by the garage. Rain splattered on his windscreen and the clouds above seemed ominous. Though he had the heater on full, the winter chill permeated the car’s interior and settled in his knees. The wipers swished across the glass, pushing the rain aside. Down here in town, it didn’t snow quite as heavy, though everyone had assured him that winter hadn’t yet peaked here in the mountains. The idea of the cold lasting longer than usual didn’t amuse him one little bit.

On his way to Lawson’s Garage, he noticed a new car yard setting up shop. A car carrier sat out the front, loaded with an array of vehicles. Its driver reversed a shiny new Ford down the ramp to ground level. Directing the car into place, a very tall, very large, very familiar man caught Jake’s eye. He pulled hard on the wheel. The car behind honked and flashed its lights to let him know its displeasure.

Ignoring the other driver, he brought the car to a halt at the roadside and stared through the windscreen at the man who looked like a Viking. Surprise and curiosity twirled in his head as he pushed open his door and stepped out into the frigid morning air. Icy rain drops smacked against his face forcing him to shrug his hood up onto his head.

“Erik?”

Across the yard, the big man looked up, searching for the source of his name. When he laid eyes on Jake, a smile split his face from ear to ear.

“Langley.”

Moving toward him, the Great Dane rounded the front of a Ford and broke into a jog. Hardly believing his eyes, Jake stood flat-footed and waited for Erik to reach him. “What the hell is this?”

He expected a handshake. He got a bear hug. “It’s a long story. How are you, brother?”

“I’m fine but what are you doing here? How did you get out?”

Stepping back, Erik glanced over his shoulder to the sales office. Following his gaze, Jake almost groaned when he saw the familiar shape of Damien McCafferty moving about inside the glassed shopfront. His involvement shouldn’t have surprised Jake, but it did.

“It would seem we have a mutual friend.” Erik sounded as unconvinced as Jake felt. When he turned back, the expression in his eyes echoed the sentiment. “You look well, Jake. How’s Sarah?”

The mere thought of her lightened his heart. “Stubborn. Hard-headed.”

“I warned you, didn’t I?” Erik’s hair grew damp as the rain tumbled down. “Come inside where it’s dry.”

Following him wasn’t a choice, not if it led Jake to understanding Damien’s involvement. He tried to figure out what the old man stood to gain from tangling himself in this web, but it eluded him. They wound their way through stationary vehicles as the rain began to ease. When they got to the doors, he grabbed Erik’s arm.

“What about Mitchell?”

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