Snowbound Targets (HQR Romantic Suspense) Read online

  The bleakness in his tone moved her. Throat aching, she decided to focus more on the passing landscape than the big man beside her. When she gave in to her emotions, they only seemed to cloud the situation.

  As the land grew less steep, she saw more and more houses. Most of these sat tucked back behind long drives amid towering trees. “Where’s the town?” she asked. “I would have thought I could have seen it from up there.”

  “You’ll see it soon enough,” he responded. “But first we go up one more slope. When we get to the other side, it’ll be spread out below. I always wished my cabin had that view.”

  The road curved and twisted, taking a meandering route rather than straight across the mountain. She sat up straight in her seat, eager to see the sight he’d mentioned.

  And then they rounded a curve and there it was. The town glittering like a jewel below them. She caught her breath, both enamored and afraid. “Do we have to go through town to get to Colorado Springs?”

  “Yes.” He glanced sideways at her. “Don’t worry, we’re not stopping, except at stop signs or red lights. It’s still a good distance after we pass through town before we reach an actual highway.”

  Though she nodded, she couldn’t help but worry that someone would see her.

  “Don’t worry,” he said, making her realize her concerns must have shown on her face. “Just scrunch down in the seat. With your hair up under that hat and those sunglasses on, you could easily be a guy. If you’re spotted, no one will think anything of it, I promise.”

  Chapter 7

  Lucy’s heart pounded, and she waited until the last possible minute before bending over to hide, pretending to be searching for something on the floorboard. She really wanted to see what the town looked like but couldn’t risk it. Small towns were usually hotbeds of gossip. Someone might notice a woman with Jason and wonder who she was. News like that might travel like wildfire, right to the man or men who represented a danger to her. Especially if everyone knew Jason. Her enemy would know right where to look for her.

  Even if she didn’t know his face or his name, she knew he was out there somewhere. Searching for her.

  “You’re worrying too much,” Jason told her, eying her sideways as she bent almost in half, trying to act nonchalant.

  Glancing up at him, she shrugged.

  He turned out to be right. They sailed through the charming little mountain town without any problems. Another time, she would have loved to explore Main Street. From her quick glance, it had looked like the kind of place where she could roam leisurely, checking out the cute little shops and maybe having a meal at the café she’d spied on the corner.

  “You can get up now,” he said. “Cedar is behind us.”

  Slowly, she sat up, refusing to feel foolish. “Better safe than sorry,” she said, her voice more flippant than she’d intended.

  “I agree.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “But now you can relax and try to have a little bit of fun.”

  Though she nodded, she felt like it might take a while before the tension left her shoulders. She wasn’t even sure she knew how to have fun. Not yet anyway.

  Once they’d left the town in their rearview mirror, they continued on through more winding roads, up mountains and down again. While the roads had been cleared, the landscape remained covered in snow. The scenery—beautiful, remote and somehow exotic—called to her on an elemental level. She wondered out loud what it would be like to live here full-time. “Do you become immune to it, or does seeing this always take your breath away?”

  He chuckled. “Most times, there will always be something that hits you like a punch in the gut. A herd of deer silhouetted against a full moon. The sun rising over the mountains to the east and setting over the ones to the west. The way the sky darkens right before a good rain. Around here nature has a way of constantly reminding you how lucky you are.”

  His response made her smile. She liked the way he used words to paint a picture. No doubt that ability came with being a journalist, even if he did most of his reporting with photographs rather than words.

  Finally, she saw a sign proclaiming the interstate ahead.

  “Wow. We’re pretty far off the main roads, aren’t we?”

  “Yep.” He nodded. “That’s why our Cedar stays so small. We’re not convenient to anything. The closest towns to us already have ski resorts and tourist attractions. We get some of the spillover from them—that’s how my family came to buy our place way back when—but we’re pretty low on the radar as far as tourism.”

  “Is that good or bad?” she asked.

  “There’s been a long-standing debate about that,” he replied. “Cedar seems pretty equally divided between those who want to do whatever it takes to bring in the tourists and their money and those who want to keep things just the way they are.”

  She regarded him curiously. “And which camp do you fall in?”

  Instead of answering immediately, he gave her question some thought. “I really don’t know,” he finally admitted. “I’ve always sort of stood on the outside looking in, watching them argue and discuss and debate. I’m gone so much that I don’t feel as if I have a say, you know?”

  Though she didn’t, she nodded. “Do you ever think you’ll travel less, stay in one place?”

  “Settle down, you mean?”

  Instantly, her face heated. Still, she stuck to her question and pushed ahead. “Sort of. I don’t mean like the kind of settling down with a wife, kids and the proverbial white picket fence. I just meant less traveling into dangerous places, that’s all.”

  Another long silence. He kept his gaze straight ahead while driving. “I’ve been seriously thinking about it,” he finally admitted. “Recently, I contracted to put together a picture book tentatively titled War—A Special Kind of Hell. I’ve got to submit the photos I’ve chosen and the layout I have in mind, as well as a brief write-up for each, in a little over two months. That’s part of the reason why I took a ninety-day leave of absence.”

  “Wow. That sounds fascinating. If you’d like some help, let me know.”

  He glanced her way, one brow arched. “Some of the photos are...brutal. I’m not sure you’d want to see them. That’s why I’ve got to be selective. The ones I choose will show the atrocities of war, but selectively.”

  Mulling over his description, she nodded. “I imagine that might be difficult to do.”

  “Yes, it might. But I’ve taken thousands of photographs over the years. The most recent are from the suicide bombing in Kabul. There are tons of others, both from Afghanistan and Iraq. I was even sent to Sudan and Libya.”

  “That sounds like hours and hours’ worth of work,” she commented.

  “It is.” He glanced at her again, this time one corner of his mouth curving in the beginning of a smile. “And I’d better get started.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s an understatement,” she said. “Maybe if we work an hour or two each day, you could get it done.” While it felt a little awkward to say we rather than you, maybe if she helped him with this huge task, she could begin paying him back for all he’d done for her.

  “Maybe so,” he allowed. “One of us could use the desktop computer and the other the laptop. We’ll give it a shot tonight. I warn you, though, some of what you might see will sicken you and hurt your heart. I want you to consider very carefully before you agree to help me with this.”

  “I will,” she told him, even though she’d already made up her mind. She’d steel herself and get through it. She at the very least owed him that.

  * * *

  They made good time and arrived in Colorado Springs exactly when Jason had wanted to. Lucy proved to be the perfect traveling companion. She didn’t talk constantly and when she did speak, her observations were astute or amusing. He felt comfortable with her. He could feel himself relaxing, le
tting his guard down. These days, the few women he interacted with had been either military, Afghani locals or journalists like him. It had been a long time since he’d enjoyed the company of a woman with no expectations on either side.

  For the first time, he realized he was going to truly miss her once her memory returned and she went back to her real life, whatever and wherever that might be.

  He located Phil’s medical office building without trouble and parked. “Are you ready?” he asked, unclipping his seat belt and turning to face her.

  Expression troubled, she nodded. “I think so. But I have a question. How well do you know this doctor? Is it safe for me to tell him everything?” Her gaze searched his face. “I mean about feeling as if I’m in danger and all that.”

  “I trust him. I’ve known him for years. If we tell him that this is all private, I’m positive it will stay that way. He can’t release medical info anyway, but I’ll make sure he doesn’t tell anyone you were with me.”

  “Good.” She sighed and then undid her own seat belt. “I’m relieved, though still a bit apprehensive.”

  “Don’t be.” Briefly, he considered kissing her cheek, but instead settled for a quick squeeze on the shoulder. “Come on. We don’t want to be late.”

  Though he went around to her side, intending to open her door for her, she’d already gotten out and stood waiting for him.

  He took her arm. “It’s going to be fine,” he promised.

  “I believe you.” Her wry smile had him grinning back at her like an idiot. “I hope we can have lunch soon after. I’m starving.”

  “Phil said he’d try to make time to have lunch with us,” he said. “He and I haven’t seen each other in a while. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

  In fact, Jason was really looking forward to seeing his old friend. It felt as if he’d lived an entire lifetime since they’d last gotten together.

  Inside, they rode the elevator up to the fifth floor. Once they located the proper office, they went inside.

  “Sign in, please,” the young receptionist said by way of greeting. Busy entering something on her computer, she barely looked up at them.

  After exchanging glances with Lucy, Jason went ahead and signed his name.

  Taking the clipboard, the young woman frowned. “I’m not finding you in our system. Do you have an appointment?”

  “Phil knows I’m coming,” Jason said. “He’s expecting me.”

  Still frowning, the receptionist pushed up from her chair and hurried away. Jason made a mental note to mention her attitude to Phil. Not exactly warm and welcoming. Or friendly.

  A moment later, she returned. “Dr. King is currently with a patient,” she said. “After that, we close for lunch.”

  “We’ll wait,” Jason shot back, deliberately cheerful. “We’re his lunch date after all.”

  In response, she gave him a brusque nod and went back to her computer.

  “Wow,” Lucy murmured, as they turned to find seats in the currently empty waiting room. “I guess she’s having a bad day.”

  “I think she is.” Jason figured it was about to get worse once he spoke to her boss about her attitude.

  A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman emerged, apparently the last patient before the office closed for lunch.

  “Jason!” Phil sauntered into the room, grabbing Jason up in a quick guy hug. “So good to see you.”

  Lucy stood too, wiping her hands on the front of her jeans nervously. When Jason introduced them, Phil took her hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you. Would you two like to go back to my office or would you rather talk at lunch?”

  “Lunch,” Lucy interjected before Jason could respond. “I’m starving.”

  “Lunch it is.” When Lucy turned away, Phil looked from her to Jason and back again. When he caught Jason watching him, he grinned and winked.

  “I’ll drive.” Outside, Phil pointed to a large SUV. “That’s mine.”

  Once they were all inside, with Lucy taking the back seat and Jason riding shotgun, Phil asked them if they both liked Thai food. Though Jason answered in the affirmative, Lucy merely shrugged. “I guess I won’t know until I try it,” she said.

  Phil chuckled. “That’s how it happens sometimes with amnesia patients. One small thing can bring back a flood of memories, or none at all. It’s a very sporadic thing.”

  Clearly disappointed, Lucy grimaced. “I’m guessing what you’re saying is there’s no one size fits all when it comes to something like this?”

  “Exactly.” Phil beamed. “Once Jason called me, I did quite a bit of research. The one consistent guideline that I came across is that you shouldn’t try to force anything. Your memories, if they return, could come slowly or all at once. The important thing is not to cause trauma.”

  “She has nightmares sometimes,” Jason interjected. “And we’ve learned there are a few things that seem to trigger her.”

  “Trigger you how?” Phil asked, glancing at Lucy in the rearview mirror. “In a bad way?”

  “Yes.”

  Now Phil exchanged a quick glance with Jason, though most of his attention was, of necessity, fixed on navigating the traffic. “Surely, not everything you remember is bad? Somewhere in there, you must have had a few glimmers of good things?”

  “Yes,” Lucy admitted. “Though they seem to be all small. Things like something my grandmother used to say, or the fact that I own an iPhone or my favorite dessert. Nothing earth-shattering or even useful. That’s what’s so frustrating.”

  “You remembered your mad self-defense skills,” Jason pointed out. “She took me down,” he told Phil. “I heard her crying out while in the middle of a nightmare and made the mistake of trying to comfort her.”

  “I reacted instinctively,” Lucy said. “You have to understand, I was still asleep.”

  Though Phil nodded, he didn’t comment.

  They pulled into a crowded parking lot alongside a restaurant called Thai Terrific. Once Phil located a space, they parked.

  Jason hurried around to help Lucy out. This time, he made it to her just as she opened her door. He held out his hand, relieved when she slipped hers into it, and assisted her down. Once both of her feet were on the pavement, he took her arm.

  Clearly noticing the possessive gesture, Phil eyed them thoughtfully. “How long have you two known each other?” he asked as they walked toward the front of the restaurant.

  Jason sighed. “Not very long. We’ll tell you the entire story once we’re seated.”

  Once inside, the hostess greeted Phil by name and led them to a booth in the back corner. “I come here a lot,” he said, sliding into a seat.

  Instead of sitting down opposite, Lucy fidgeted. “Do you mind switching sides?” she finally asked. “I can’t sit with my back toward the door.”

  Though her statement must have surprised Phil, he simply got up and moved without comment.

  Jason slid in beside Lucy, wondering if she’d object to being on the inside of the booth.

  “Classic self-preservation technique,” Phil drawled. “Now tell me everything.”

  Jason started with coming home and finding Lucy asleep on his couch. Before he got too far into his story, the waitress came to take their orders, interrupting them.

  “The usual?” she asked Phil. He chuckled and nodded.

  “What about you two?”

  Since they hadn’t even had a chance to open the menu, Jason ordered a simple green curry. Lucy hurriedly perused the lunch choices and chose a yellow curry for herself.

  They all ordered iced tea as well.

  As soon as the waitress bustled off, Jason resumed his story. Lucy listened, but didn’t interrupt, not even to give her side of things.

  Phil must have noticed. “What about you?” he asked her. “What do you remember?”

 
“That’s just it,” she said. “Nothing. I have no idea how I got to the cabin. I woke up on the couch, sore and stiff. My head hurt. When I took a shower, I discovered my body was covered in cuts and bruises.”

  “Go on,” Phil asked.

  “You can’t imagine how horrifying it is to wake up in a strange place with no recollection of anything, not even your name or age. Clearly, I was hurt, but whether in some sort of accident or what, I have no idea. All I knew was a vague feeling that I might be in danger. From what or whom, I have no idea.”

  Leaning forward, chin on his hand, Phil motioned her to continue. Once again, the waitress interrupted them by bringing their drinks.

  As soon as she left, Jason turned to Lucy. “Tell him about your nightmares.”

  She looked down, twisting her hands together on the tabletop. “I can’t remember them exactly. There was smoke, fire, a sense of danger. When you touched me on the shoulder, I thought you were part of that scenario somehow. That’s why I acted without thinking.”

  “She threw me to the floor,” Jason told Phil. “She’s got skills.”

  “And I did remember taking self-defense classes,” she added. “Though I couldn’t tell you where, when or with who.”

  “That’s all right.” Expression sympathetic, Phil sat back as their waitress brought their entrées. As she placed their meals in front of them, the scents wafting from the food had Jason’s mouth watering.

  “I love yellow curry,” Lucy exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. “It’s something I eat quite often, when I can.”

  “See.” Beaming at her with a pleased smile, Phil picked up his fork. “And there you have another piece of the puzzle, just like that.”

  Lucy opened her mouth as if to ask another question, but apparently thought better of that. Conversation ceased for the next several moments while everyone dug in to their food.