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“Maddy, wait.” He rose too fast and had to stop and inhale deeply until the pain eased. God, he needed this like a hole in the head. But, in retrospect, he was damned lucky because he knew the bullet could have resulted in a hole in his head. He followed her to the door where she stopped.

  “Maddy, I—”

  “Are you home permanently?”

  “Do you want me to be?”

  “Answer the question, Logan.”

  “No.”

  She nodded. “That’s what I thought. Then what are you doing here? Weren’t you working back east?”

  He shook his head. Lying to her sucked, but that came with the job. “I’m working construction over at the resort. And I’m fixing up this place to sell.”

  “Then you’ll move on.”

  “And then I’ll move on.” The flicker of disappointment in her expression gave him pause. Made him think maybe she wanted him to stay. But that was impossible. Maddy had made it clear whatever bridges there had been between them had been burned to cinders.

  He stood in the doorway and watched her drive away. Fuck. The tangle of memories coming back to Hangman’s Loss brought were bad enough, but seeing Maddy about ripped him open.

  He’d been harboring so much anger and turmoil when he’d broken up with her, he’d thought he’d explode if he didn’t find a way to vent it. The more Maddy had talked about the life they’d have in the Loss—marriage, kids, a house together—the more he’d felt like a cage was closing and locking him in. Whenever he’d tried to explain, she’d get that wounded look in her eyes and he’d feel like he’d kicked a puppy. So he’d kept it in until he couldn’t anymore.

  There was something wild inside him that he would never have been able to tame if he’d stayed with her. Whether it was the Army, the tour in Afghanistan, or maturity, now he wanted the picture Maddy had painted for them all those years ago. But karma, and its vagaries, had reversed their positions, and Maddy no longer wanted that life with him.

  Over the previous ten years, he’d done his damned best to quash, pummel, and beat his love for her into oblivion. Hadn’t worked. A year and a half ago, when he’d come back as part of an assignment, he’d met up with Brad and, despite the years apart, felt the rock-solid connection with his best friend as if no time had passed at all. That Brad was also Maddy’s brother complicated matters. Then at his friend’s insistence, he’d gone to the Founders’ Day picnic knowing full well Maddy would be there. Kind of a test. One he’d failed miserably. Because the minute he’d seen her on that sunny spring day, realization had smacked him in the head. No matter how far he ran, and Afghanistan had been pretty damn far, or how many other women he knew, no one would ever replace Madison Gallagher in his heart. She was lodged there like the goddamned granite that made up these mountains, and nothing he did would ever shake her loose.

  He shut the door and made his way to the couch, where lying down was more a controlled fall than not. Head on a cushion, he shifted, trying to find a comfortable position. His side hurt with a constant throbbing pain, but less now that the pain meds were starting to kick in. Going to Maddy’s had been a risk. After the operation went sideways, he’d needed to lay low. But he hadn’t been able to leave that dog on the side of the road.

  Reporting to SAC Rittenhauer, the deputy special agent in charge of the operation, how the whole thing had blown up and how Logan had ended up shot, that hadn’t gone over well. With some convincing, Logan had assured his boss that his cover was secure and he could proceed with the assignment. Rittenhauer had given him the intel that another shipment was coming through. Transporting the women north through the Central Valley of California, or using the coastal highways, had gotten much more dangerous for the traffickers, so now they’d taken to shipping up the eastern side of the Sierras.

  Logan’s job was to find out how the distribution network worked, identify the crucial players along the way, then devise a plan to apprehend the fuckers with enough evidence that they’d be behind bars for a good long stretch. Once this syndicate had been destroyed and the men who lived off the suffering caused by human trafficking were doing hard time in federal prison, Logan would give serious thought to quitting the job that was making him a cynical, weary man. Maybe he’d go with the dream of finding a Caribbean island where the sand was hot, the drinks cold, and the women wore tiny little bikinis. He could take up scuba diving and learn to play the guitar. Quitting the Bureau to become a beach bum sounded about right.

  Pushing back on the depression that seemed to dog him lately, he closed his eyes. He couldn’t help reliving the feel of Maddy’s cool hands against his skin, the lavender scent of her hair. Add that to the gut-busting realization that he never truly felt alive unless she was with him, and he knew even the turquoise waters of the Caribbean weren’t going to cure him.

  Maddy took a deep breath as she locked up her little cabin, trying not to inhale as she hustled to her SUV. The air was so cold it hurt to breathe. She blinked rapidly so her eyelids didn’t freeze. She loved the Sierras, really she did. But some early mornings were so cold when she headed to work that she questioned her sanity. Getting her workweek down to under sixty hours might also help to maintain that sanity.

  She liked her little cabin being away from town, away from neighbors. She spent so much of every day with people, the café being the social center of Hangman’s Loss, her cabin provided her with time alone and allowed for some peace and quiet—a place to decompress and be without someone constantly demanding her attention. She started up the engine, letting it idle as she cranked the heater to max position. Maybe she’d build a garage next to her cabin, a heated garage. And while she was dreaming, and she might as well dream big, she’d add a wraparound porch like her brother Brad had on his house. She had a thing for wraparound porches.

  She found herself grinning. Who would have thought Police Chief Bradley Gallagher would fall so hard and fast for Emmaline Kincaid? Not that Maddy was complaining, because she’d gotten a new best friend out of the deal. In fact, she, Emma, and Dory had become pretty tight the previous year when both Emma and Dory had been in danger.

  Maddy refused to dwell on the fact that Logan had been around at that time, too. He and Brad had always been tight. But Logan was off her list of acceptable brain topics today. She refused to think about him. She absolutely would not check to see if he was healing. Or bring him soup from the café. Nope, Logan Ross was permanently barred from even one minute more of brain energy.

  She’d think of Brad and Emma instead, and try not to be envious that they were on a trip to Hawaii. With Emma four months pregnant, they’d taken the opportunity to have one last vacation as a couple before the baby was born. That her brother and her good friend had found each other, and were so obviously head-over-heels in love, made Maddy’s heart sing.

  Steering the SUV down her long winding driveway, and then the even longer dirt road until finally reaching pavement, she turned up the volume on the radio and tapped her fingers as Taylor Swift set the beat. If Maddy filled her brain with other things, there would be no room for Logan. The DJ switched to the weather. Highs today were expected to climb into the mid-forties. Yay for being above freezing. A big snowstorm was forecast for tomorrow, and the reporter cautioned that this one was expected to be a humdinger.

  She slowed the SUV and took the turn toward town. She’d have to prepare for being snowed in. No one in these mountains started the winter without the basics, meaning plenty of firewood and a full pantry, but she’d need other things as well. Giving it some thought, she decided being snowed in might be absolutely perfect. She’d close the café, visit the library for an armload of books and DVDs, and make sure basic food supplies (chocolate and wine being at the top of the list) were well stocked. She might even bring home some of the soup she was planning for the café, as well as those pistachio chocolate biscotti she’d baked the day before.

  The highway curved and through the pines she caught a glimpse of the moon reflecting off Hangman Lake. She
returned her attention to the road and a split second later stomped on the brakes, bringing the SUV to a screeching halt. Heart hammering in her chest, she jammed the car into reverse, unable to dismiss what she’d seen. Even though rationally she understood that a young woman had not darted off the road, she had to make sure. Backing up carefully, she stopped, angling the car so the beams of her headlights lit where she’d seen the movement. A bear? Perhaps, but most bears were already in their winter hibernation. Deer were plentiful, but this hadn’t moved like a deer.

  Reaching in the glove box for a flashlight, she left the engine running as she stepped out of the vehicle and into the trees adjacent to the road. She pulled her scarf down to call out, “Anyone there?” Her voice sounded small under the vastness of the early morning sky. “Do you need help?”

  A twig snapped and Maddy swung her flashlight to the right, gripping it tightly in a gloved hand. A woman, shivering, her arms crossed in front of her and hands tucked under her armpits, stepped from behind a tree. Despite the low temperature, she wore only a zippered sweatshirt with the hood pulled over her head, dark jeans, and sneakers.

  “Oh my god. What are you doing out here?”

  The woman shook her head, then spoke through chattering teeth. “Estoy frío, muy frío.”

  Maddy didn’t need even her limited Spanish to know what that meant. “Of course you’re cold.” She motioned to her car. “Come on. I’ll take you to town. It’s warm inside the car.” She moved toward the vehicle, but the frightened look in the woman’s eyes gave her pause. “Muy caliente in el auto.” She went to the passenger door and waved the woman over. Probably realizing that she risked her life if she stayed out in the cold, the thin woman finally approached the car, slipping into the seat when Maddy opened the door.

  Behind the wheel again, Maddy cranked up the warmer to the passenger seat, and let the car idle as she peered at the woman holding her fingers to the vents blowing hot air. “What’s your name?” Shivering, the woman glanced at her. Maddy tried again. “Mi nombre es Maddy. Y tu?”

  Under the dome light, the woman’s dark eyes looked frightened. “Belen. Mi nombre es Belen.”

  Maddy nodded in encouragement. She put the SUV in gear and again made her way down the curving highway. “Belen. I’m not sure how much English you understand, and I’m guessing it’s not much, but I’ll talk to you anyway. I’m going to take you to my café, to my business. There are people there who speak Spanish, and we’ll figure out what’s up with you. How we can help you.” She glanced at her passenger. “I think you’re in trouble, and I’ll help you. You’re safe with me.”

  When they reached the scattered buildings that marked the edge of Hangman’s Loss, Belen leaned back, sliding down in her seat. The movement confirmed Maddy’s hunch. She pulled in behind the café. Maddy pointed to the back door. “You’ll be safe there.” What was the word for safe? “Seguro.”

  Belen shook her head and looked like she wanted to remain glued to her seat.

  “I get you think you’ve found a safe spot, but you can’t stay here. I have food.” She didn’t remember the word for food. “And coffee. Café caliente.”

  Maddy gathered her phone and purse and got out of the car, circling the hood to open the passenger door. “Come on, Belen.”

  When Belen stayed rooted to her seat, Maddy crossed the pavement to unlock the back door. She flipped on the lights and beckoned the young woman. After a long moment, Belen left the security of the car, shutting the car door softly behind her before cautiously following Maddy into the building.

  Chapter Three

  Maddy groaned when the door opened again, the tinkling bell signaling the arrival of yet more customers. Official closing time was three p.m., and with only twenty minutes to go, for the first time ever, Maddy was thinking seriously of closing early. She’d texted Dory to come by because not only did Dory speak Spanish, but as one of her best friends, Maddy could trust her not to blab. Mariana spoke Spanish, but Maddy’s assistant manager needed to leave promptly at three to pick up her kids from school, and while Lulu understood Spanish, speaking it was another matter.

  Customers were good, that’s why she had a business, but for today she wanted to shoo every one of them out the door and flip the sign firmly to the closed side. With the dining room clear, she thought she’d almost gotten there, that is until the Hensley triplets trooped in, each bundled in their matching bright pink parkas. They had caused a sensation when they were born some seventy-odd years ago, back when triplets were a rarity, and identical girls even more so, and the three had been basking in their shared celebrity ever since.

  Normally, Maddy enjoyed the triplets. She loved their shop that featured local crafts, and usually made a point of complimenting them on the current choice in matching hair color (an eye-popping orange this week). But today she needed them to move along, pronto.

  She glanced back toward the storeroom. The door remained firmly shut. Good. As she knew they would, each one of her employees had dealt with Belen’s presence with aplomb. That the young woman was terrified was apparent. Mariana had been amazing, speaking to her in quiet tones as though Belen were a wild animal ready to dart away in panic at any sudden move. Mariana had her own experiences being afraid and on the run, and she treated Belen with touching compassion. Even then, Belen had refused to tell her why she was so scared. It didn’t take a police detective to figure out she was probably in the country without documents, but there had to be more to her story.

  Drew had zipped home and brought back a sleeping bag and air mattress, and the last time Maddy had checked, she’d found Belen curled up in the storeroom, asleep on the makeshift bed. Maddy was trying to figure out where the young woman would spend the night.

  She faced the triplets, told herself to be patient, and forced her lips into a smile. “Good afternoon, ladies. I’m sorry the kitchen is closed, though everything in the display cases is available.” Mariana gave her a nod as she crossed the foyer to restock the coffee table.

  Jeanie Hensley bent over the display case. “That’s okay, hon. We got to feeling a little peckish and thought to stop in. We’ll take it to go today.”

  Thank god. Jeanie led the triplet pack, the other two seemingly forever content to follow their older-by-minutes sibling.

  Jackie nodded agreeably. She tipped her head to the third sister. “Joanie thought you might have some of those little fruit tarts left.”

  Joanie nodded enthusiastically. “We’re having a holiday party and want to order some of your tarts. They’re so festive.”

  “You’ll make them for us, won’t you, Maddy dear?” Jeanie asked.

  “I would love to. Come in when you have the time and we’ll set up the order.” She’d better bake extra loaves of bread tomorrow morning, as well. There was nothing like an impending storm to have people scurrying to stock up on the basics. But first things first, and that meant serving the Hensley triplets and sending them on their way.

  All three continued to stare into the case with avid interest. Maddy liked to change up her inventory, try new recipes, but still keep certain favorites on a daily basis. Right this minute she was cursing the practice, because it meant the women could spend fifteen minutes deciding whether to try something new or go with one of their old standbys.

  “No fruit tarts today, I’m sorry to say. Why don’t you ladies have the cinnamon rolls?” They had a weakness for her cinnamon rolls, and since there were three in the case, and the triplets only ever ordered in threes, Maddy thought the pastries might be just the thing to move them along. “And I’ll throw in coffee on the house.” That should sweeten the deal, because the Hensley triplets liked nothing better than a bargain.

  The bell over the door tinkled again and when Maddy looked up, she felt her heart give that traitorous kick. Logan was dressed in a black coat and black jeans, with his knit cap pulled nearly to eyes a deep gunmetal blue.

  She couldn’t resent that he looked so good, but she could resent what i
t did to her. You’d think she’d be immune. Being with Logan all those years ago should have inoculated her to his attraction, given him no power over her. If only.

  Jeanie put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. “Why, Logan Ross, what the devil are you doing back in the Loss, boy?”

  He flashed one of his rare smiles, and Maddy felt that kick zip all the way down south to where it counted.

  “Miss Hensley.” With the triplets nearly impossible to tell apart, he did what many in Hangman’s Loss did, and referred to each of them as Miss Hensley. None of the three had married, so the one salutation covered all bases.

  “Well?” she said, raising her brows.

  “Working construction over at the ski resort, ma’am.”

  She narrowed her eyes shrewdly. “I bet that’s not all you’re up to.”

  Since Jackie was giving her an uncomfortably speculative look, Maddy reached into the bakery case and pulled out the cinnamon rolls, deftly boxing them. She wasn’t sure what Jeanie had been alluding to, but if there was speculation about her and Logan, she wanted to nip that in the bud. “Here you go, ladies. Logan’s a customer, like everyone else.”

  Since that comment seemed only to encourage the speculative looks, she hurriedly rang up the sale, not even bothering to feel guilty that they hadn’t actually asked for the cinnamon rolls. Handing Jeanie the box and her change, she filled the coffee cups and fitted the tops on them.

  The triplets exited through the door with a chorus of cheery good-byes, and when it shut, there was a moment of silence. Maddy found her gaze locked on Logan’s. He was staring too, an avid stare that made her think all sorts of crazy thoughts. Thoughts that included that mouth of his kissing every inch of her. Every inch. She could feel the flush staining her cheeks even as she mentally reeled.

  That his expression mirrored the same hot thoughts made Maddy want to step outside to cool off. Dang. She could never allow herself to go there again. The pain she’d endured when he had left her all those years ago was nothing compared to the pain she’d suffered in the years that followed. She’d survived, but barely.