Classified Christmas Mission. Lynette Eason

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      Lance padded over in his bare feet and handed her the wet socks and shoes. She tossed them in the dryer and got it started once again and hoped they wouldn’t have to leave the cabin in a hurry.

      When she turned to face him, her nose collided with his chest and his hands came up to grip her elbows. She lifted her head, her heart thudding into overdrive. And there it was. The attraction she’d felt for him since...oh, forever. The childhood crush she’d never outgrown. She remembered the crushing despair when she’d learned that he’d married someone else. And as a result, she’d thrown herself into her job to push his memory aside. It had worked for a while. But now...now Krissy, his wife, was dead and he’d been alone for a long time. Had his heart healed from his wife’s betrayal and criminal activities? Was he ready to find someone else? And why was she even wondering?

      She swallowed and tried to figure out her next move. Close in for a kiss or step back and pretend she didn’t see the spark of interest in his brown eyes?

      He took the decision out of her hands. He cleared his throat. “So, do you have time to talk?”

      Disappointed that the choice was suddenly gone, she tilted her head and kept her gaze on his. “Of course. Tell me what happened at the scene.”

      “I answered a lot of questions and managed to keep them from finding the car. For now. If you look over the edge, you can’t see the vehicle immediately. When you hit those trees, snow fell and covered the top of it. There’s also a small overhang that sort of hides it, so...” He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not sure Gretchen was convinced everything was fine, but I did manage to buy the time you said you needed.”

      “Good,” she breathed as relief filled her. “What about the tracks I left going down the side?”

      “I parked my SUV over most of them to hide them.”

      “Thank you.”

      “Of course everyone wanted to know what happened to the person involved.”

      She winced. “What did you say?”

      “That the person involved walked away from the wreck and was going to be fine. Although I did kind of hint at an abusive relationship and the longer we gave the person to get away the better off she’d be. They quit asking questions after that.”

      She blew out a low breath. “Well, it’s the truth. Sort of. Thanks.”

      He nodded and rubbed his hands together. “It’s starting to warm up in here.”

      “Finally.” She walked over, shut the oven off and closed the door.

      “I can’t believe the power and water are still on.”

      “And no one’s broken in,” she added.

      “That’s due to the security that patrols this area. You’re going to have to keep a low profile if you want to stay here very long.”

      “I don’t plan to be here too long. I’m hoping to get what I need and get moving again.”

      “What you need?”

      “Yes.”

      “Okay, I guess that brings us full circle. Who shot at you, Amber? Who are you running from and why?”

      Amber pursed her lips then motioned for him to have a seat at the kitchen table. Instead, he walked to the window and looked out. He placed his wallet and keys on the end table next to the sofa. “It’s quiet in the back.”

      “Yes. For now.” She pushed aside the curtain above the sink. “The front is, too.” She scanned the area. “No headlights, no shadows. The full moon is helpful.”

      “How did they find you?”

      “I have my theories.”

      “Such as?”

      “A tracker on my vehicle. One that I didn’t find in spite of my careful search. Maybe.”

      “Ah.”

      Lance pulled out a chair and planted himself there. Amber turned and opened the freezer. “Oh, thank You, God,” she breathed.

      “What?”

      “Food.” She turned back to him with a frown. “Are you sure no one’s been living here?”

      He shrugged and rubbed his head. “Now that I think about it, Mrs. Landers’s grandson may have been here sometime last month around Thanksgiving.”

      “Then all the food in this freezer is probably good.”

      “You’re going to eat it?”

      Her frown deepened. “I’ll pay him for whatever I take, but yes, if it means the difference between going hungry and eating this food, we’ll eat.”

      “Of course, I didn’t mean you should starve.”

      She smiled. “I know. And I understand that I’ve just broken into someone else’s home. Then again Mrs. Landers always liked me. She taught my Sunday school class when I was in middle school and she used to have us girls over to hang out and go waterskiing in the summertime. She was always telling me to make myself at home. I think she’d be more than happy to offer her help if she could.”

      He knew she was right, but still...the law was the law. Then again, someone had just tried to kill her and for now, this cabin was a safe place for her and Sam. Sam, who hadn’t budged when Lance walked in. Sam, who wanted a hamburger and fries and a chocolate shake. Lance sighed. Their talk could wait until they’d eaten. He stood. “You have any hamburger meat in there?”

      “Yep.” She pulled out the patties and passed them to him.

      At least the kid would have his burger. “Get me a frying pan. We’ll see if they’re still good.”

      “You cook?”

      “Out of survival, but yes.”

      She dug in the cabinet next to the sink and came up with a frying pan. She handed it to him. “Have at it. I’m going to check on Sam then check all the windows again. I would walk outside, but don’t want to leave any more footprints than we already have.”

      He frowned, but nodded. It was still hard to wrap his brain around the fact that Amber was here. She left and he turned the stove on. Within minutes Lance had the burgers cooking.

      When he turned, he nearly ran Sam over. The boy stood behind him, watching him. “Hi.”

      “Hi.”

      “You like hamburgers, I hear.”

      “Hamburgers. Yes.”

      “Well, they’ll be ready shortly. You know how to set the table?”

      “Three plates, three forks, three glasses, three napkins.”

      “That СКАЧАТЬ