Capturing the Huntsman. C.J. Miller

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ the crowd and sauntered to where she and Nathan were sitting.

      “Looks like you two have gotten close.”

      His tone left no doubt that he didn’t like what he was seeing. Why did he care so much? What was his grudge against Nathan?

      “What do you want, Ford?” Nathan asked.

      “I want you to leave town,” Ford said.

      “Not going to happen.”

      Ford slipped his thumbs through his belt. “You may have convinced Ms. Reed to help you, but does she realize who you are and what you’ve done?” The threat in his voice was strong, but Autumn wasn’t following.

      She glanced at Nathan. He looked unaffected. “She knows everything she needs to.”

      “About what?” Autumn asked, not liking the idea of being in the dark.

      Ford grabbed a chair from an empty table and swung it around, joining their table. “Bradshaw and I go way back. You want to tell the story, or should I?”

      Nathan gestured for Ford to continue. “You tell the story however you’d like.”

      “Bradshaw met my sister at a fund-raiser for our unit. Two years later, they’re married and then he left her.”

      Nathan’s face was unmoving, but his eyes conveyed his anger. “Are you done airing my dirty laundry?”

      “Sure am.” Ford stood. “Enjoy your meal.” He walked away from the table and toward the bar, leaving a wake of curious stares in his path.

      “You can ask me about it if you want to know,” Nathan said.

      Autumn didn’t think it was her business. Nathan’s ex-wife didn’t factor into the investigation and opening the door to their personal lives wasn’t something she wanted to do. For now, she was happy with that door staying firmly closed.

      * * *

      Autumn and Nathan drove past Lookout Point, a cliff drop-off with an amazing view of the Appalachian Mountains. High white peaks dived to lush valleys filled with evergreens and streams. Clouds dotted the sky, translucent puffs that turned dark before it rained. The Point was one of the reasons her grandfather had decided to build the Trail’s Edge in this location. It looked different every time the seasons and weather changed, sometimes overcast, sometimes deep green and alive, sometimes white and icy with snow. Every scene was as beautiful as the one before.

      Nathan turned into the Trail’s Edge campground, their headlights the only illumination. She’d meant to leave an outside light on at her cabin. She had locked Thor inside. Usually, she preferred to let him wander outside, but she couldn’t risk it with a killer loose.

      He parked in front of her cabin and faced her. His dark eyes glimmered in the dim lighting. “Thanks for coming with me tonight. I didn’t mean to keep you out so late.” He glanced at the clock on the dash as he rolled down the sleeves of his shirt. He reached for his jacket on the backseat. The actions struck her as distinctly masculine. She couldn’t recall either her father or her brother wearing a suit to more than a funeral. Nathan wore his suit as if it was made for him. How could something as simple as a man in a suit send a rush of steamy sensation down her body? Usually, suits and ties weren’t her thing. She liked men how she liked to live her life: outdoors, simple and one with nature.

      Sitting in the truck with him, she was unsure what to do. Bolt for the front door, waving good-night over her shoulder? Hug him and then flee? “I have some chores to do around the campground. I need to feed Thor and take him for a walk. He’s been cooped up all evening.” Why was she rambling?

      “Let me come with you,” Nathan said.

      Autumn unbuckled her seat belt and they climbed out of the car. The fresh air felt good against her neck. The lounge had been too stuffy and hot. “You don’t have to do that. I can handle it.” At the same time, walking alone at dark on the campground post-incident didn’t feel safe.

      Nathan followed her up the steps to her front door. “I want to.”

      She was hyperaware of him behind her, the heat of his body a contrast to the cold night air. Thor was waiting and bounded to her when she opened the door. He went to his dog bowl, waiting expectantly for her to fill it. “I’m not looking forward to taking another walk. Thor might find something, or someone, else.”

      “I promise I will keep you and Thor safe.”

      Why did his words feel so good? No man could promise to keep her safe. The best he could offer is that he’d try.

      Autumn patted Thor’s head. “Sorry dinner is late tonight.” She retrieved the dog food from the pantry and Thor barely waited for the bowl to be full before he dug in.

      “He was hungry,” Nathan said.

      “He’s always hungry,” she said. “I buy more pounds of dog food in a week than I do human food.”

      Nathan settled at her kitchen table. “While we wait for him to finish, do you have any maps lying around? I want a bird’s-eye view of the area.”

      “I have the ones I give to campers,” Autumn said, walking to her desk drawer and grabbing one. She handed it to Nathan and he opened it, spreading it out on the kitchen table.

      He traced his finger along the trails around the Trail’s Edge. What was he thinking about? The murders? “Tell me about places in this area where locals go that aren’t well-known.”

      Autumn sat kitty-corner to him and peered over the map. She had it memorized, having given out so many in her lifetime and having walked the paths many times. From the time she was a child, she and Blaine had explored the forest surrounding the trail and had found a number of places well off the beaten path with great views or great hiking. “We have plenty of places like that. Unmarked trails and places for private picnics or parties.”

      “What about places more difficult to get to? Places where it takes more than a brisk walk to access?”

      Autumn let her eyes wander over the map, picturing the places in the area that matched his description. “I can think of a few places. I can mark the general area on the map if you would like, maybe write down a few landmarks that might help you find them.”

      She took a pencil and put a star over those locations. Nathan leaned in closer. Her heartbeat escalated and she focused her attention on the map. If she turned her head, her lips would be close to his. Kissing distance.

      “Some of these places aren’t near any trails,” Nathan said.

      Autumn nodded. “I’m an experienced hiker and I know my way around. Most hikers don’t see these places.”

      “I guess it’s a good thing I have you to guide me.”

      Being in a position where she was alone with Nathan for hours, possibly days, made her equal parts anxious and excited. She was already thinking about how it would feel to kiss him and have his strong arms around her. That was dangerous. She wasn’t ready to jump into an affair, regardless of how brief.

      Ford’s words at the lounge came to mind. Why had Nathan left his wife? It shouldn’t СКАЧАТЬ