Vivian Arend - High Risk

“You’ve made a good impression on them, Becki,” Marcus assured her. “You’re not just Rebecca James, some unknown superstar, anymore. You’re obviously considered part of the team.”

That conjured her first full smile of the day. “Thanks. Still, I want to let them know it means the world.”

“Monday will be soon enough—there’s no training this weekend.” Something occurred to him. “Hmm, the fact that it’s the weekend might make it more difficult to reach anyone in Yellowstone. I assume you have contacts?”

She nodded.

“If the authorities need to get hold of you, they will, e-mail or phone. If you want to make contact first, that’s fine as well.” Marcus hesitated, but had to ask. “Did you want to return to Yellowstone for Dane? A memorial or something?”

She clutched her fork a little tighter but shook her head. “We already had a funeral, and there’s not anyone who wants to do it all over.”

And after more than eight months, he didn’t want Becki to have to deal with the body. “Family who might want him buried somewhere in particular?”

“No. It’s too bad they found him, in a way.” Becki lifted her gaze to his. “And I know I can say this to you, because you’ll get it. I’m not talking about the trouble this means to me—them finding his body. It’s just, things were done, and now they’re not. Even your question about a memorial. Dane wasn’t close with his adoptive parents. He’d gotten in contact with his birth mother for the first time a couple of months earlier, but nothing more seemed to come of it. It’s sad he’s gone, but being buried on the mountainside was what he would have wanted if he’d had the choice.”

She shivered, and her eyes grew wide.

“Becki?”

“Thought I’d remembered something.” She stared across the table and sighed. “It’s gone. I’m not sure what it was, but you need to know—last night I dreamed about the accident again.”

“Figured you would.”

“I remembered the next part after that scene when things repeated all the time. Dane fell and I got yanked upward. I rigged new lines to haul him up, but they failed. I got dragged nearly off the cliff—” Becki shivered hard enough her body shook. She lifted her tired gaze to meet his, sorrow and fear overwhelming her. “And that’s where it ended. I had my knife ready, Marcus. And I was being pulled toward the ledge.”

He didn’t snap out the first thing that came to mind, because if he did, she’d probably wave his assurances away. Instead, he took a step back. “For the record? I understand what you meant about Dane and the mountain.”

She nodded, small jerky motions. “Thanks.”

The doorbell rang, and she shot to her feet.

Marcus waved her down. “I’ll get it.”

He cautiously opened the door a crack. What he found on his doorstep made his temper flare. “You’re not welcome here, Ted.”

The other man shrugged. “Had to try. I’m not the only one looking for information. Of course, if I get a story then the others will probably back off a little more. No promises, but it might work. If Ms. James wants to talk?” The reporter raised his voice at the end.

Marcus crowded forward. “Get off my property.”

The man stared over Marcus’s shoulder. “Sure. No problem.”

Marcus didn’t believe that for a second. This intrusion was only the first attempt. He knew it. Ted knew it.

When he turned to face Becki, he could tell from her expression she knew it as well.

“They won’t go away because you told them to,” she warned. “They never did when I was in Yellowstone.”

He paced to her side. “We’ll do what we can to help. All of us will. Maybe there will be some huge political scandal in the next few days, and they’ll all scurry off to bother someone else.”

Becki folded her arms over her chest, fingers cupping her upper arms as she rubbed. “I hate this. I hate not knowing. I hate being poked.” She stared into his eyes, concern creasing her face. “If they go by rote, we’ll be trapped in your house or swarmed every time we leave. I’m sorry.”

Marcus slipped his fingers around her neck and pulled her against his chest. “Now that’s one of those ‘Don’t be stupid and apologize for things you didn’t cause’ statements.”

“I asked to spend the night with you.”

“And it would have been so much better for you to be alone in the dorm rooms this morning. Where Ted and everyone else would have complete access to you. Bullshit.”

Marcus had thought this through a dozen times, setting aside his conclusions because she’d asked him not to make decisions for her, but the solution rose again. It was the only decision that made any sense.

Only he had to phrase this correctly. He’d learned that much.

“Get in touch with your Yellowstone contacts. Once you know what they need, I have a foolproof solution to get the media off your back.”

Becki backed away, taking a moment before looking at him. Standing strong, but with that edge of lost in her eyes. “Are you rescuing me, Marcus?”

“That’s what a team does. Do you trust me?” he shot back.

Becki paced to the window and looked out. There was a small break in the clouds, allowing a bit of brightness to light the view of the town. It also showcased the footprints just starting to melt on the deck.

She shivered.

Turning to face him, she lifted her chin high. “I trust you one hundred percent.”

Rule three. Trust your team. The fact that she’d put him into that role—acknowledged there was a connection beyond casual between them—was enough to make something inside him very content in spite of the circumstances that brought them there.

Marcus nodded. “Let’s get organized.”

On the seat behind them lay gym bags packed with clothing. Food-stuffed boxes rested in the truck bed—David met them at the off-ramp to the highway to transfer a load. He gave Becki a brief hug, slapped Marcus on the back, then sent them on their way.

The three-hour drive that followed was more than enough time to let her relax. Becki had taken to staring at Marcus since the rain coating the windows and the clouds around them continued to obscure the view.

He handled the truck with impressive competence. They’d left the main highway behind more than an hour ago. The less-traveled path they currently followed required four-wheel drive, the section steep enough to make her heart race, but he maneuvered the massive vehicle along the narrow rocky road without a qualm. His sure and controlled motions mesmerized her, along with the complete comfort he displayed driving in the foul weather.

His jaw remained tight—although she was pretty sure that was because he was still furious at the reasons that had sent them into retreat.

She wasn’t in the clear yet.

“How much farther?” she asked. Again.

His solemn expression broke. “I swear, you’re as bad as the kids in the commercials. ‘Are we there yet? Are we?’ Still thirty minutes if the road doesn’t get blocked by another tree.”

Becki curled her legs under her and twisted until she was facing him, seat belt still tucked around her body. “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”

His snort of laughter made her smile.

“You do that far too well,” Marcus noted. “Although I’m not surprised. Adrenaline junkies don’t make the best travelers.”

“Actually, that was me channeling my kid brother. He’s eight years younger than me, so the last couple vacations I did with the family he was young enough to be an annoying brat. He got way better in his teens, but he sucks at sitting still.”

Marcus nodded. “You mentioned you were a lot alike. You haven’t stopped squirming since you got in the truck.”

“I feel guilty for running away,” Becki admitted. “And pissed off that I’ve allowed myself to be chased from Banff by stupid people.”

“Consider yourself kidnapped then, if it makes it better,” Marcus offered. “Don’t beat yourself up over doing what’s right for you. We’ll have the radio to stay in contact with the real authorities if they need you for anything. The rest of the people trying to track you down are not worth worrying about.”

She knew that. And she and Marcus had already discussed the team not needing more training from her at the moment—areas other than ropes would fill the final week of boot camp. Now she had to adjust her brain and accept this time was for her. To make the most of it.

The edge of fear stealing back over her soul infuriated her even as it scared her. She’d been breaking free of her worries a little at a time, and now they all seemed to be crowding her again. Depression and darkness—running away from Banff was no guarantee she could escape from anxiety.

Becki leaned her head on the seat back and watched a drop of water edge backward on Marcus’s window, pushed by the wind outside.

“You think I’ll keep remembering details?”

Marcus nodded. “It’s likely. From what I’ve heard, there’s usually an emotional reason for a memory block like yours. Now that more of the story has come forward, you might figure out exactly what happened.”

She dreaded and longed for that to happen, the conflicting emotions also making her crazy. “I’m running hot and cold at the idea.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, just adjusted his fingers on the wheel. “You’re strong enough to handle whatever the truth is.”

The absolute conviction in his voice made her throat tighten. “Thank you.”

Marcus glanced at her briefly, nodded, then focused back on the road.

Time to change the topic. “Tell me more about the cabin.”

“The lap of luxury.” He slowed to maneuver past a fallen tree. “Four walls, a roof, and the best view ever. The place is actually David’s. He bought it back when I was still gallivanting around the globe and was too stupid to go halves with him. Now he refuses to let me buy him out.”

She peered out the front window. “It’s got the privacy thing down pat.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry, there really is everything we need. Consider this your holiday before heading to start teaching.”

“Right.” Ahead of them the road leveled, the trees clearing to low brush as they rounded the edge of the mountain. To the left the clouds were lifting, revealing a long line of peaks loaded with fresh snow. They were far enough down to stay below the snow line, the gravel road wet with moisture but not covered with fresh snow. “Tell me there’s a fireplace and I’ll be happy.”

“Airtight stove, not open fire, but the effect is still the same. The light shining through the glass window will look beautiful on your naked skin.”

Well, now. “There’s a change of topic.”

“You’re really surprised that I’m bringing up sex? We’ll have a bit of time on our hands. I thought you might as well know up front how I plan to occupy some of it.”

“Some?” Becki teased. “Marcus, the last time we were holed up together for three days we did little more than have sex. Oh, wait. When we had to take a breather, we occasionally ate.”

“We have a bit of food with us. Only for emergencies.”

The laughter that escaped felt good. This was what she needed. Maybe he was distracting her on purpose, but suddenly the notion of completing what they’d started that morning seemed a very good idea. “I can handle sex in front of the fireplace. I wonder if there’s a sturdy table in the kitchen area. Or a big bed? David strikes me as a king-size kind of guy.”

Marcus choked for a moment, glaring briefly in her direction. “Stop thinking about my brother and beds, if you don’t mind.”

Oh, really? Becki leaned back in her chair and decided the tormenting-slash-distracting could go both ways. Although the idea of fooling around with David didn’t turn her on. He’d been her teacher for too many years.

“It’s not David I wanted to get tangled up with. Just wondering if he’s got the same furniture designer you have. You know, the headboard with the convenient handholds. The couch at the perfect height that if I lean over the back you can fuck me from behind.”

Marcus growled softly, a rumble in the back of his throat. He adjusted position in his seat and sure enough, the front of his jeans was more crowded than before.

Becki wiggled impatiently, snapping open the button on her pants and unzipping. “I won’t expect the type of bathroom you have in your house—that kind of opulence would be pushing it, but then a tiny shower has advantages as well. No room to move without rubbing skin against skin.”