Sara Stone - Full Exposure

“It didn’t rain in the section you were cutting?”

“No.” Liam’s grip tightened on his water bottle.

“You walked the perimeter of the work site that morning, checking for signs of smoke before you fired up the equipment?” Eric asked. Caroline had poised a similar question that morning. If lightning started the fire, how did they not see the smoke?

“You know we did.”

Eric sighed. “I wasn’t there.”

“Yes, damn it! I sent two guys out to check for signs of fire. They came back and we fired up the chainsaws and got to work.” Liam’s eyes narrowed, his expression fierce. “Do they have a point of origin yet?”

“Not yet. The DOF is working on it. They plan to share their findings in the next few days.” Eric drew a deep breath. “Until then, I need to pull you off the BLM harvest. Craig can take over.”

“What the fuck, man?” Liam leapt out of his chair, running one hand through his hair. “You don’t believe me? I was born and raised here too. I remember what it feels like to walk away from everything you own not knowing if it will be there when you come back. I was ten the last time, but that’s not something you forget.”

“No, it’s not.” Eric understood the heartache that went hand in hand with fire. His mother often waited until the last minute before evacuating. He’d been terrified they wouldn’t get out in time. His father, who understood the threat a forest fire posed, demanded full custody of him and his sister after the last time. His mother had agreed without a fight, quickly moving in with her latest boyfriend. Of course, it hadn’t lasted long. His dad had passed them back as soon as he met someone new.

“Knowing I’m the reason another kid has to wonder if he’ll lose everything, that is my worst nightmare,” Liam said. “I’d do everything I can to prevent that from happening.”

Eric hesitated. He believed Liam. But he had to remain objective. If it were any other employee, Eric would have sidelined him immediately pending the investigation.

Liam stopped in the center of the room. “I’ve been your best friend since first grade. I have always been one hundred percent honest with you.”

Eric closed his eyes, the guilt like a lead weight in his stomach. “I know. And as your friend, I believe you. But the DOF doesn’t want you working on government land until we’ve cleared this up.”

Liam looked him straight in the eye. “I can’t believe this!”

“I’m sorry,” Eric said. “There’s nothing I can do. We need to play ball with them until we know what happened.”

Liam raised his hand, pointing his index finger at Eric. “Keep Georgia out of this. She doesn’t need to worry about me and this shit. Not right now.”

Eric nodded. “I won’t say a word. But if I were you, I wouldn’t be afraid of her finding out. She’s stronger than you think.”

“You can’t tell her, Eric,” Liam ground out. Eric knew his friend was barely keeping a leash on his anger. “Not about this. I want your word.”

“You have it.”

Liam stormed out, slamming the door to Eric’s office. Running his hand over his face, Eric stood and returned to the other side of his desk. He wanted this mess behind them. Of course, it would disappear only if the investigators came back and absolved Moore Timber of wrongdoing. Even then, putting things right with Liam would take time. And after he told his best friend about his relationship with Georgia? It might take damn near forever.

Georgia. She was opening up to him. Now he had to keep this from her. But he had a feeling she’d understand. Her faith in him felt solid. It was something he could count on. But was it enough? Was she falling for him because her heart wouldn’t have it any other way? That was why he was close to putting his friendship with Liam on the line. He couldn’t walk away from what he felt for Georgia. She was his.

He’d always cared for her. But now it felt as if he were tumbling headfirst over a cliff. He’d made the first leap, but caught himself on a branch. If he let go, if he allowed himself to free-fall into this relationship, he needed to be sure she was right there with him, committed to today, tomorrow, and the day after that.

But he wondered if the woman who’d been running scared from her feelings up until last night could handle words like long-term and serious, or if they’d sound like a foreign language. Sharing her memories didn’t change the fact that they’d happened. And it didn’t make them go away.

Eric shut down his computer, and with it his concerns. It was close to eleven. If he left now, Georgia might still be awake. She’d said she’d wait up, but he hadn’t anticipated working this late.

He locked up the office and headed for his car. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the garage, cut the engine, and climbed out of his vehicle. Briefcase in one hand, he opened the back door.

“Nooo!”

Eric walked into the kitchen and dropped his briefcase. That sound—he’d never heard anything like it. It was part scream, part agony. It echoed against his walls, infiltrating every inch of his home.

He ran for the stairs, taking them two at a time, bypassing Nate’s still-quiet bedroom—thank God—and headed for Georgia’s room at the far end of the long hall. There were no longer words. Just high-pitched, seemingly endless screams.

Questions ran through his head. Had someone broken in? He slowed, steps from Georgia’s door. Should he retrieve his gun from the safe?

The screaming grew louder, and Eric picked up the pace. He didn’t have time to get a weapon. He’d fight the intruder with his bare hands. He’d help her. Save her. There was no other option.

Eric pushed through the unlocked door, ready to fight. But the second he saw Georgia, his hands fell to his sides.

She lay on her bed, twisting and turning, her face damp from perspiration, her beautiful features contorted in agony and fear. She was alone, but that offered little comfort. Whatever was terrorizing her was on the inside.

“GEORGIA, WAKE UP!”

She heard the familiar voice. It cut through the images, pushing aside the terror. She no longer felt Louis’s body pinning her down, holding her in the open. The sounds—the rapid gunfire, the yelling—faded. The cloud of smoke she was fighting to breathe through vanished.

“Eric?”

“I’m here.” His hands pressed into her shoulders, drawing her up into a seated position. Her clothes clung to her damp body as she blinked, slowly taking in her surroundings. Her room at Eric’s house. The overhead light was on. He must have hit the switch. She glanced down, focusing on her breathing, knowing she needed the steady in and out to find her way back.

She dug her fingers into the sheets twisted around her. No one was shooting at her. Not here. She wasn’t carrying her friend’s body. She stared at her knuckles, watching them turn white, clutching the thin fabric. Nothing would hurt her here.

Except for her memories.

But only if she let them.

“You had a nightmare.”

Georgia looked up at Eric and saw the concern on his face. “Yes.”

“Georgia, you’re shaking.” He moved to the bed, drawing her into his arms, engulfing her in his strong embrace.

“I know.” She breathed—in and out, burying the nightmare, beating back the terror. But the fear was still very much alive for him, she realized. He held her tight, as if the physical contact could literally keep her together.

But she wasn’t breaking. Not now, not ever.

“It was just a bad dream,” she said, fighting the slight tremble in her voice.

“The way you screamed . . .” His tone was rough with emotion as he reached for her, touching the side of her face. “It was pure terror.”

She captured his hand in hers, offering a reassuring squeeze. “I know.”

“This has happened before?”

She nodded. “Not for a while. But yes, it has.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was handling it.”

“By not sleeping,” he said grimly, as if he was starting to put the pieces together. “Georgia, that’s not a solution. You need help.”

“I told you, I’ve got this. I’m working through it.”

Eric raised his hand to her face, holding it there before brushing her cheek. The way he touched her was as if she were a scared animal. “Georgia, let me help you. Please. I love you. And seeing you like this . . . Christ, it tears me apart.”

She pushed free from his embrace and stood, willing her trembling limbs to hold her steady. Love. That one word gave her strength and cut her to the core at the same time. She wanted his love, but not like this, not tied so closely to pity and anxiety.

Eric rose too, reaching for her. She stepped back.

“Eric, look at me.” His eyes, still deep pools of seemingly bottomless worry, met hers.

“Do not mistake this for weakness,” she said. “I am strong. Don’t you dare doubt that. Ever. I don’t need you to be my hero. I don’t need you to protect me from my own memories. I don’t need a white knight rushing in to save me. I’m my own hero. And I will get through this.”

“Georgia, it’s OK to ask for help. That doesn’t make you weak. You went to war—”

“Uncle Eric?” The sound of Nate’s half-asleep little-boy voice filled the space. Eric crossed the room in two steps, crouching in front of his nephew.

“Hey there, buddy,” he said, his voice gentle and soft.

“Is there a bear in Georgia’s room?” Nate asked, rubbing his eyes.

“No, Nate,” he said. “No bears.”

She watched as he pulled Nate into his arms, hugging him tight, offering the comfort Georgia had refused.

“I had a nightmare,” she said. “I’m sorry I woke you, kiddo. It won’t happen again.”

Eric drew back from his nephew and looked over his shoulder at her. She saw the uncertainty in his expression. Then Eric returned his gaze to the scared, still-half-asleep child. He was trying to choose, she realized.

“It’s not a choice,” she said. “I’m fine. Take Nate back to bed.”

Eric nodded. He stood and walked over to her. “I’ll be back once he’s asleep.” He kept his voice low to ensure his words were not overheard. “I promise. Wait here for me. We’ll talk.”

“Eric, I’m fine,” she insisted, knowing deep down it was a lie. But this wasn’t his battle to fight.

He rested his hand on her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “I’m going to help you through this, Georgia.”

“Go,” she said firmly. “Nate needs you.”

Georgia watched Eric lift Nate into his arms. The little boy looked so small compared with his uncle. But he was safe there, right where he belonged.

“Night, Georgia,” Nate mumbled, resting his cheek against his uncle’s shoulder. “Maybe we can have pancakes in the morning. With syrup.”

“Maybe, kiddo,” she said. “Maybe.”

Georgia waited until the sound of Eric’s footsteps on the wooden floorboards faded, then she sat on her bed, drawing her knees tight against her chest. She picked up the sheet and wrapped it around her shoulders, draping it over her legs. Now that she was alone, the tears threatened.

“I’m strong,” she whispered. “I know I am.”

She closed her eyes, letting the teardrops flow freely. The nightmare, the fear, was all in the past. But the way Eric had looked at her? As if she were weak? As if his love was wrapped in pity? That hurt nestled deep inside. But what scared her the most was the way he looked back at her after Nate came into the room, as if he had to choose, as if he couldn’t be enough for both of them.

And that was just plain wrong. Eric had infused her life with stability. She knew he did the same for Nate. His willingness to listen had helped strengthen her, allowing her to crack open the locks holding back her emotions.

But maybe he was right. Maybe it all came down to a choice. Deep down, she knew she couldn’t stay here. Not if her nightmares disturbed the small child living down the hall. Nate had to come first. Always. She could still care for the little boy, even if she lived at her brother’s house for a while, until the nightmares went away for good. And they would. She’d make sure of it.

A new wave of tears threatened. But this time Georgia fought back, squeezing her eyes tight against them. She refused to wallow. Pushing off the bed, she stripped off her damp nightclothes and pulled on the jeans and T-shirt she’d been wearing earlier. Gathering the keys to her borrowed Jeep, she headed for the door. Right now, she needed to feel the wind in her hair. She needed to feel alive, strong, and in control—because she was all of those things.