Scorched by Laura Griffin

right now. He wore a desert-brown T-shirt that stretched taut over his chest, faded jeans, and sneakers. This was the closest he ever came to looking like a civilian, but it didn’t really work because everything about him screamed warrior. Disapproval emanated from him, and she felt the need to explain herself—which was ironic considering that he was the one who’d been skulking around her cabin late at night.
    She took a deep breath. “You heard about Blake.”
    He gave a slight nod. “Lot of people looking for you.”
    “I know, I just—” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I had to get away.”
    “You’re running.”
    She opened her mouth, but she couldn’t bring herself to explain. She didn’t want to involve him in this. She wanted him to walk right out that door and stay out of it.
    At the same time, she felt impossibly grateful that he was here. Just seeing him, hearing him, being in the same room with him made her feel as if she hadn’t completely lost her grip on the normal life she’d had only a few days ago.
    His expression hardened. She recognized the look. He didn’t like to be stonewalled, which was funny given that he was one of the least communicative men she’d ever met.
    “Forget it. You can tell me later.” He pushed off from the wall. “Right now we need to get you out of here.” He walked around the room and picked up her phone from the counter. “You got a bag or something?Anything besides the purse?” He held the phone out to her.
    She gaped at him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Rule number one, Kelsey. Never, ever go where the enemy might expect you to be.”
    “But nobody knows I’m here.”
    “I know you’re here. Joyce knows you’re here.”
    “But—”
    “Save the argument. We need to—”
    Glass shattered. Gage launched himself across the room and tackled her. They crashed to the floor and she smacked the side of her head.
    He pushed up on his hands. “You okay?”
    She managed a nod. “What—”
    “Rifle.” He glanced over his shoulder. A pistol seemed to have materialized out of nowhere and he gripped it in his hand. He turned around and must have seen her look of horror.
    “Don’t worry, all the shades are down—he’s shooting at shadows.” Gage reached across her to yank the lamp cord from the wall and the cabin went black. “We need to get out of here.”
    Kelsey’s heart hammered. Her lungs didn’t seem to want to work. Someone was shooting at them.
    Gage moved into a crouch beside her. “Stay down. Grab your purse and anything else you need. And here, give me your keys.”
    Dazed, she fumbled around in the darkness and followed his commands. Then he folded her hand around something metal—a key.
    “I’m parked two lots down, at an empty cabin. You’re going to make a run for my truck.”
    “What?”
    “I’ll create a diversion.”
    Before she could voice any of her objections, he reached up and opened the back door. He went perfectly still as he peered into the darkness. When he seemed satisfied it was safe, he slipped out the door, ducking low and towing her behind him. Together, they eased down the steps.
    Kelsey gripped the keys in one hand and Gage’s arm in the other.
    “Come with me,” she whispered. “Let’s stay together.”
    He shook his head. Then he pointed her shoulders toward the woods.
    “Just over there, all right?” His voice was warm against her ear, but barely audible over the frenzied beating of her heart. “Count to five, then run like hell. Get in on the driver’s side, then move over for me.”
    He gave her arm a squeeze and disappeared into the shadows.
    Kelsey stood motionless. She felt a swoosh of wind, heard the rustle of bushes. A loud squeak as he yanked open the door to her car.
    She’d forgotten to count!
    The car sputtered to life. Kelsey glanced around, then darted for the nearest spruce. She felt like a cartoon character running from tree to tree, trying to make herself invisible. Her