But it was late April and the temperatures had been mild. When she’d gone to Grigori’s yesterday, she hadn’t anticipated hiking or camping only a few hours later. Sophie shivered again. Maybe she should have just stayed home and avoided all his calls instead of going to see him. Maybe that would have worked better.
She shook her head to dislodge that line of thinking. It wasn’t true. Grigori would have come to her apartment, and he would have made a scene until she let him in. Which she would have.
No, far better that she’d gone to him. At least there had been other people around, though a lot of good that did her now.
She thought she heard a noise behind her, and she whipped her head around, trying to see if there was anything back there. Sophie peered into the darkness surrounding them. There was nothing but woods, woods, and more woods. Chase showed no concern, his pace not slowing at all. Sophie hurried to catch up before he left her behind.
Something cracked again in the distance, and Sophie turned once more to look. There was still nothing, so she faced front again—and collided with something solid. It knocked her back a step, and she windmilled her arms as she lost her balance and started to go down.
Chase grabbed her and jerked her upright. She collided with him once more, only this time she didn’t bounce off him. This time he held her steady. Dammit, she’d crashed into him last night too. And here she was doing it again. Such a klutz… though it was hard to feel bad about it when he was so solid and warm. Her fingers curled in the rain jacket he wore, her knuckles brushing hard muscle.
“You’re shivering.” His voice was angry, but that was certainly no surprise. He stayed angry with her.
“I’m cold and my feet are wet.”
She sounded petulant, which she knew he would hate. Hell, she hated it. But it was too late to call the words back and try again.
He didn’t let her go. Instead, he chafed her arms with his big hands. Warmth buzzed in her veins, but it wasn’t from the mere act of rubbing her arms. No, its origin was somewhat deeper. Somewhat illicit, truth be known.
Sophie told herself she should step away, rub her own arms. But oh, that so wasn’t happening. Her blood thickened to molasses and her insides tingled suspiciously.
“You’ll have a hot shower at the end of this. I just need you to hang in there a couple of more hours.”
She sucked in a breath. “I will.”
“Good girl,” he said, squeezing her shoulders before letting her go again.
“Are we being followed?” she asked, worried once more now that he wasn’t touching her.
“Possibly.”
Her chest squeezed—and then a noise that sounded like a dog baying cut through the night. Chase’s head snapped up, and Sophie’s heart hammered. Tears pricked her eyes. Why in God’s name had she ever said yes to Grigori? And why had she taken that flash drive from his apartment? Why?
“They’re going to find us, aren’t they?”
Chase’s attention jerked to her. His jaw tightened. “No.”
Despair arrowed into her. She didn’t believe him. She was going to die in a cold, dark swamp, and no one would ever find her body. Grigori was too powerful, too determined. He’d eliminated a business rival and no one blinked. A hotel maid accused him of assault—and got painted as a lying tramp. If he wanted to get rid of one more person, who was going to stop him in the end?
“Don’t lie to make me feel better, Chase. I want the truth.”
8
He grasped her shoulders roughly and lowered his head until he could look her in the eye. Sophie’s stomach flipped at the ferocity of his gaze. The utter determination.
“They aren’t going to find us. It rained all day, and we’ve been walking through water for a mile. That’s not an accident. A good tracking dog can still find the scent, but it takes a little more time. And time is our friend right now.”
“You led me through water on purpose?”
Her poor boots—and oh how she really didn’t give a crap about them right this second!
“That’s right.” He gave her a brief grin. “This isn’t my first time around the block.”
“I think I love you right now,” she breathed. “More than chocolate, I might add.”
He straightened—and then he laughed softly, shaking his head. “You’re a mess, Sophie. But I might end up liking you in spite of myself.”
For some reason, his words infused her with warmth. She returned his smile. “I think you will. I’m determined you will.”
Briefly, she felt twelve years old again, an awkward girl who wanted the tall, good-looking boy to smile at her at least once before he left for another year.