“She’s gone.”
I turn. “Gone?”
Jane nods and wheels her attendant cart past me. “She said something about snowshoeing. I told her where the equipment room was and she?—”
“You did what?”
The moment the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. It’s not Jane’s fault she’d helped a guest. We encourage a helpful andguest-firstattitude among our small staff.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “It’s not your fault. What time did she leave?”
Jane scowls at me, which isn’t entirely unusual for her. She’s in her sixties and likens herself as another mother figure to my brothers and me. It’s not a secret that she doesn’t approve of mylifestyle.Still, I know her heart is in the right place. She means well, and she’s a damn good employee.
“Must’ve been ’bout an hour ago now.”
“An hour?” I can’t hide my shock. “She could be…shit. I gotta go.”
I leave Jane tutting behind me, and sprint toward the equipment room. I’m going to need to move quickly if I’m goingto get to her before the snow gets too bad. And who knows how fast she was moving.
When I get to the equipment room, I pull my snow pants, parka, and the rest of my gear on, and grab an emergency pack that has rations and first-aid supplies, just in case. I pick up a radio and flick it on.
“Briggs. Jaxon. Come in.”
It’s only a second before Briggs answers my call. “Go ahead, Ryder.”
I quickly explain the situation and don’t miss the string of expletives my brother mutters before calmly speaking into the radio.
“Take the sled. Keep us updated.”
“Roger.” I clip the radio to the inside pocket of my parka, safe from the elements, grab a spare set of snowshoes, and move quickly for the shed where we keep the sleds.
Chloe’s prints lead out toward the easy loop track that mostly follows the tree line around the property, only ducking into the forest in two spots. It’s an easy loop when the visibility is good. I scan the horizon, but with the snow coming faster and harder, it’s almost impossible to see more than a few feet in front of me. The snowmobile is my best hope, so I don’t waste any more time.
The machine fires up beneath me, and with a roar, I take off, following the track to where I hope to find Chloe.
The sooner the better.
CHAPTER FOUR
Chloe
I’m so cold I can no longer feel my toes. Or my fingers.
Obviously, I’ve made a wrong turn. My instincts were off.
Then again, it’s snowing so hard, I could be walking in circles for all I know.
This is it. No one knows I’m here. I’m going to freeze to death out here.
And all because I couldn’t wait to get some crappy article written for a silly website so I could write another romance novel that I was probably never going to publish. Just like the rest of the books that I’d written and was too scared to do anything with.
I’m going to die having never even tried to make it.
I’m going to die a virgin.
I don’t know why it’s that last thought that breaks me.
I drop to my knees in the snow and start crying, but the tears freeze instantly on my cheeks. It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters any?—
