Trapped on Vail Mountain (Vail Mountain Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  “We stayed that way until after the killers left,” she whispered. She felt Jacob stiffen behind her, and he moved to stand in front of her.

  “After they left? Did you see them?” he demanded. He blocked the view of the mountains, her focal point, but she really wasn’t seeing anything anyway as she nodded and met his eyes.

  “They mentioned something about him rejecting their ‘boss’s kind proposition.’” Nina was still confused on that one. Her father had never let on that he was being threatened or bullied, and she confirmed that with Jacob, shaking her head before he could even ask.

  “Not a word. He never mentioned anything to me.”

  Jacob nodded. “Tell me about that night, before you had come to my place,” he asked grimly.

  Nina forced the words out past her tight throat, determined to get it all out and over with. “I was packing Emily up to leave town. I couldn’t think. I just knew they were going to find me, that they knew where I lived. They had told my dad that ‘I had better agree or the same thing was going to happen to me.’”

  “What?” Jacob whispered, locking eyes with her. She could tell he was trying to understand, but if she didn’t understand herself, how could he?

  Nina shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know what they wanted or want and why. When they came to threaten me—”

  Before she could finish, Jacob lost it and grabbed her arms in a hard grasp, causing her to yelp.

  He jerked back and shot her an apologetic look as he dropped his hands to his side. “Shit, Nina. I’m sorry. I knew they had slashed your tires, but I just thought you had run because of that, not that they actually came and threatened you, which opens up another fucking mess.”

  “What?”

  “You know what they look like. They wouldn’t want that, even with whatever they think they have on you.”

  “Have on me? They don’t have anything on me!”

  “And that makes it worse,” he said grimly as he started to pace the small room. She watched him, finding it hard to breathe as her thoughts raced, struggling to understand, to cover all the bases, but the bases were loaded with two outs and a full count.

  Fuck, now I’m using baseball analogies? she thought, disgusted with herself. If her father had been there, he could always tell what she was thinking and would have washed her mouth out with soap even if the cuss word had been in her mind and not said out loud. At the thought of her father, a sadness like she had never known hit her, along with the reality of never seeing him again.

  Jacob continued to pace, his head bent as he muttered in short and incomplete sentences, but Nina let him go with it, hoping he could fill her in on whatever he was thinking because she hated to be in the dark with anything. Less than a week ago, her world was right and happy.

  Within two days, it was shattered and broken, leaving her to pick up the pieces with her daughter, and she hated it, hated the unknown of what was going to happen. She could almost feel the killers on her back, so close…

  Jacob suddenly looked up from his rambling as if he had forgotten she was in the room. “I have to make some calls,” he said. He walked out of the room, leaving her staring after him.

  She was still in that exact position, her gaze on the empty doorway when Rob filled that space, his dark head cocked in concern.

  “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

  She met his eyes and shrugged, not really knowing how to answer that question, but she played it off like she did everything else in life, with the attitude that everything was sunshine and rainbows.

  “Yes, I’m fine.”

  He shot her a look that spoke of his understanding of the lie that it was but thankfully didn’t call her out on it.

  “Where’s Jacob?”

  “He had to make some calls. Why?” she asked. Given the tension between the two, Nina was surprised that he was asking for him.

  He hesitated, and Nina narrowed her eyes. “What is it?” she demanded. “I’m not a wilting flower that can’t take bad news, Rob,” she said, saying his name for the first time since meeting him. His name fit him, flowing off her tongue as if it was instinct. At the sound of his name as it glided past her lips, his eyes met hers again, and this time, there was no hesitation coming from him. His brown eyes grew darker in intensity, and Nina could have sworn she saw desire in their dark depths.

  She gulped, her thoughts of what was going through his mind flying out the window. They stared at each other, and Rob took a step toward her as her heart started to pound, picking up in tempo. It wasn’t fear that was racing through her, not this time. Her mouth dry, she watched him come closer, almost as if he were stalking her, but how could someone stalk a willing participant?

  Before he could take another step, that last little step between them, they both heard Emily’s voice coming down the hall, Joan’s voice following her.

  Rob straightened just as the little girl came through the doorway, her eyes wide in excitement. “Mommy, Joan said that she’s going to take me hiking tomorrow!” she exclaimed, almost bouncing on her toes.

  Nina started to smile but jerked, startled at Rob’s harsh voice. “No hiking.”

  At his words, Emily’s excited smile fell, and Nina frowned over at him as he shook his head.

  “Danny just told me he ran into two men on the mountain while we were searching for you and your daughter,” he said grimly.

  Nina froze, and her heart hit the floor. “What?” she whispered, barely able to speak past the terror that threatened to choke her.

  Joan stood behind Rob, concerned. It wasn’t hard to read the tension in the room, the fear that poured from her.

  “Mommy, is everything okay?” Emily asked.

  Before Nina could lie, Joan smiled down at the little girl and took her hand. “Everything is fine, pumpkin. If we can’t go hiking, then how about we do a little baking for everyone and bake some cookies?”

  Emily’s face lit up, and the two left, Emily chatting away as they headed for the kitchen, but Nina’s focus was on Rob and the terrifying scenarios that were flashing through her mind. The bastards had found them. And if they hadn’t, then it was only a matter of time before they found the resort.

  “Don’t,” Rob ordered, reading her mind.

  “I can’t stay here!”

  “You’re safer here than in any city around. Here we can see them coming a mile away. I’ll let Jacob know, and he can call in some reinforcements or whatever it is he does for cases like this. Just think of this as a safe house, but no going outside. I want you both to stay inside and away from windows.”

  Nina moved away from the window and against the wall. “I hate this,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

  Rob moved in, and she felt his arms come around her, tightening their grasp and pulling her against his hard chest.

  “Nothing is going to happen to you,” he whispered against her hair as she laid it against his warm shirt. “Nothing to you or Emily. I swear.”

  She wanted to believe him, believe that he knew what was best, but Nina had lived on her own since she was seventeen, made her own decisions since she was a kid. It was hard to let go, but while standing in Rob’s embrace, being comforted by a man she really didn’t know but was somehow developing feelings for, she really wanted to believe it, wanted to believe that this was real.

  Chapter 7

  After lunch and visiting with everyone, Nina couldn't stop thinking of Rob, of the two of them in the small conference room and the look they had shared. Her daughter was somewhere in the resort, playing with Connie.

  Nina hadn’t really gotten the chance to know her, but the other woman always seemed a little sad, a sadness that surrounded her and often glistened in her blue eyes.

  Nina had noticed that when she looked at Emily, the woman's eyes would light up, so she allowed her daughter to follow Connie around as she chatted up a storm.

  Connie didn't seem to mind at all, and that left Nina to her thoughts, thoughts of not only f
ear of what was going to happen but fear and confusion where Rob was concerned.

  She heard a knock on her bedroom door and opened it to reveal Jacob.

  "Hey."

  She didn't know what to say to him. His attitude toward her had changed as if he had realized that nothing was going to happen between the two of them, and now, after five years, there was tension and awkwardness between them.

  "Can I talk to you for a few minutes?" he asked quietly, standing in her doorway.

  Nodding, Nina opened the door farther and stepped aside as he walked in. Closing the door behind her, she turned as he started to pace, and she frowned, wondering what was on his mind.

  "What's going on, Jacob?"

  He was silent for a moment and then turned toward her, his eyes dark as he stared at her.

  "I want you to come back to New York with me."

  Her eyes widened, and her stomach dropped at the thought of returning, at the thought of what awaited her in the city.

  "What?"

  "I want you to return to New York with me. It's too dangerous for you and Emily here."

  She was shaking her head before he was even finished. "And it’s safer there? Are you out of your mind?" she asked incredulously.

  Now it was her turn to pace, her movements jerky with tension.

  "Nina, the bastards are here. Danny told me he ran into two guys on the mountain while searching for you."

  "I know. Rob told me."

  At his name, Jacob's eyes darkened, and his lips tightened, turning white around the edges of his mouth.

  "And don't give me that look!" she snapped, finally fed up with his jealous streak. "I've told you for years that nothing was going to happen between us, Jake. I value your friendship, but that's all it is, so stop with the jealousy."

  He stared at her, his eyes unreadable until he finally sighed as regret and acceptance flashed in those chocolate brown eyes of his.

  "I know, Nina, and I'm sorry. I just care about you and Emily," he admitted, running his fingers through his hair that stood up from the action.

  Nina's eyes softened, and she walked over to him and touched his arm.

  "I know. I've never wanted to hurt you. And Emily adores you, but I won't pretend that I feel something more for you than friendship."

  He nodded, full acceptance in his eyes.

  "I get that, but that still doesn't mean you aren't in danger here. I can protect you at the station. Put you and Emily in witness protection until the bastards are caught."

  Nina thought about his argument, thought about returning to the city of crime, drugs, and the fast-paced life of society. She hated the thought, but could he be right? Was it better to return?

  "I'll think about it, Jacob," she said reluctantly. Entertaining the idea of returning killed the joy of the mountains that had just consumed her before he had shown up at her door.

  "Don't think too long, Nina. It's not safe here for you."

  She didn't respond as he left, closing the door behind him. She walked over to the window and stared out into the vast wildness, her thoughts a depressing mantra of blood and death. Was he right? Was she putting her daughter in more danger by staying?

  Another knock hit her door, and she sighed as she walked over to open it. Her eyes widened at Rob.

  "Is everything okay?" she asked quickly. She poked her head out the door and looked around, searching for the reason behind his strange look. "Is everything okay with Emily?"

  "Emily is fine."

  Something was in his voice as he stared at her.

  "What did Jacob want?" he asked, coming inside.

  Frowning, Nina closed the door behind him and looked over at the man who seemed to be consuming her thoughts suddenly.

  A week ago, she hadn't known he existed, and now he stood in front of her, his eyes a dark void of intensity and desire.

  She attempted to collect her thoughts and remember what he had asked. Oh, Jacob. Right.

  "He wanted me to return to New York and enter witness protection until the killers are caught," she said, distracted.

  He stiffened at her words and drew away, pulling back. He walked over to the window, his back to her. "And what do you want to do, Nina?" he asked calmly.

  She stared at his broad back, the words of wanting him on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't know how to say it or how he felt.

  Nina knew he wanted her, but was it just a passing thing? Insecurity hit her, and it wasn't just the insecurity for her but for her daughter too.

  Taking chances or risks wasn't in her DNA, and she was scared to start anything without knowing the outcome of what was going to happen or if her daughter would be hurt. They had both been through enough. Nina didn't want to put her daughter through anything else.

  Rob kept his back to her, calm and collected, but if she could have seen his eyes, she would've seen the turmoil. It came down to more than desire. He didn't want her to leave, but he wasn't going to ask her to stay. After thinking about it all day, it would've been selfish to ask when she was used to the city, used to the benefit of civilization.

  Out here, they were isolated beyond the tourist months and guests that showed up. Emily would have to be homeschooled because of the harsh winters that routinely blocked access to the towns below.

  On top of everything else, he was afraid and hated to admit that. Rob had always been in control of every aspect of his life, his job, his relationships. It was never hard for him to make major decisions.

  Until now.

  There was silence behind him, and his shoulders tensed more.

  I won't beg, he thought, his throat tight. Jacob was probably right. It was no doubt safer under the protection of the city and not just from the killers, but life in general would be easier for her. Life with him would be hard, isolated, and in some instances, dangerous.

  "I don't want to go."

  He heard the words, but shock held him paralyzed until he could do something more with his tension-filled muscles than stand there.

  Finally, he turned slowly, and what he saw standing before him was everything he wanted in life, everything he hadn't known he had wanted until he had met her. His control, his famous control that he bragged about, was hanging on by a thread. His heart couldn't afford to take risks, and yet that control was almost gone, so he took the chance, the risk that his heart really couldn't afford, and took that step of faith.

  "I don't want you to leave either," he responded quietly once he was able to talk past the joy that was slowly spreading through him.

  He saw his own joy echo in her beautiful eyes, and he didn't know who moved first. He didn't care. One moment they were separated, him by the window and her by the door. Somehow, as if by fate, she was suddenly in his arms, his mouth devouring her sweet lips.

  Her mouth opened beneath his onslaught, and his tongue plunged in, tangling with hers as their fast breaths filled the silence of the room. He couldn't get enough of her lips, of the sudden passion that echoed his own.

  His hands behind her back, he slowly pulled up her black T-shirt, up and off as they were forced to relinquish their hold for a split second. His mouth returned to hers, and her arms went around his neck, tightening on his shoulders.

  He pulled back again, his breathing harsh as he looked down at her. She stood before him in a lacy, white bra and blue jeans, her flesh pale and toned.

  "Please don't stop," she whispered.

  "Never," he vowed.

  In mere seconds, their clothing was scattered around the room, having been thrown without a care. He picked her up in his arms and laid her gently on the bed, her eyes on him with a desire that echoed his own, shaking him down to the core of his being. His legendary control about to snap, he lay down beside her and skimmed his rough palms down her sides, goosebumps following in their wake.

  He saw her shiver as she arched her back, a pleading look on her face. He had known she would be filled with passion, but even he hadn’t expected the thin red haze of lust t
hat dusted her face, causing her blue eyes to glitter and shine the way they were.

  "Rob, please," she said harshly, spreading her legs as an invitation he wasn't going to reject.

  His control snapped, and almost clumsily, he lurched up and got on top of her, his control a thing of the past. The words on his lips, words he had never spoken to another woman, fought to break free, and he kissed her instead as he spread her legs farther and settled between them.

  Slowly, painfully, he entered her wet heat as she arched her back again, shoving him farther inside of her.

  Her dark head moving side to side, her arms snaked around his neck again and pulled him down closer until he was flush against her, the skin sliding from the sweat that started to develop between them. He began to thrust, to move his hips as he slid in and out, his heart pounding with desire and passion.

  “Rob!” she cried, her hips moving just as fast as his, her legs tight around his waist.

  “Nina,” he growled back, going faster as he felt the beginning of the sparks that consumed him. He felt her muscles contract, and her eyes rolled back as she arched her back again, a scream of pleasure about to explode from her wet lips. He quickly covered the loud moan with his mouth as the explosion hit, enveloping them both.

  Faster. Harder, until he had nothing left. Groaning, he released his desire and collapsed on top of her. With the last bit of his strength he could muster, he slid to the side of her and pulled her in tight to his side. They were both breathing hard, their chests moving fast, and Nina’s eyes were closed, but a small smile graced her face.

  Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he cursed, about to come out of his skin. Son of a bitch!

  Nina’s eyes popped up, and she looked at him, jumping up on her forearms and holding her body half off the bed.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  He groaned and threw one arm over his eyes in embarrassment. He was afraid of her answer, but he had to address it. He had fucked up. Big time. “Please tell me you’re on something. I never forget, fucking never, but fuck…”

  He trailed off as she chuckled, and he lifted his arm to look up at her. Realization and understanding lit her eyes.