It looked like they were alone. But there were a hell of a lot of places to hide in this forest.
Indie shook her head, raindrops hitting her face. “It’s raining and windy. I doubt there was actually anyone here. I should get my camera to the car before it gets too wet.”
“I want to call Jesse.”
“Why?”
“I want his deputies to do a search of the area—”
“No, it was probably an animal.”
“Indie.”
She started pushing to her feet, and he helped her up. “I was clumsy. I don’t want to waste my cousin’s time.”
His jaw clenched. “It’s not a waste of time. It’s making sure my father isn’t stalking you.”
“Your father doesn’t even know me.”
“He saw you with me. He sawmebeing protective of you. He knows you’re important to me. He could use that against me.”
“He doesn’t even know I’m here.”
In the small town of Amber Ridge, it wouldn’t be hard to find that information.
She reached to lift the camera bag, but he grabbed it first. Then he gripped her hand and tugged her behind him as he moved. His gaze never stopped scanning the forest around them while they made their way back to the parking lot. He had a bad fucking feeling in his gut, and it had everything to do with that asshole being back in town.
And Indie had just slipped over a cliff—a fuckingcliff. If he hadn’t been there to pull her up…
No. He couldn’t think about that.
When he reached her car, he put her camera bag in the back before turning to her. “Are you okay to drive?”
She nodded, but her fingers continued to tremble in his hold.
“Indie—”
“I’m okay.” She stepped closer. “I’m a bit rattled because I slipped, but you pulled me up. I’m okay to drive. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He could have laughed. “I’m following you home.”
“You don’t need—”
“I’m following you home, Cricket.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
She stretched up to her toes and kissed him before sliding behind the wheel.
Colt fisted his hands to stop from pulling her back. When he reached his Audi, he’d already heard Indie try to start her engine two times.
Her car…another damn problem. He needed to get her a new one, and he needed to do it fast. But he already knew Indie wouldn’t accept it willingly…not yet.
On the way to her house, he called both Jesse and Ben just to update them on what had happened. Ben said he’d check the area, but Colt already knew he wouldn’t find anything. If it was his father, the man would be long gone.
Indie tookone hand off the wheel and squeezed it into a fist. She needed to get rid of the tremble. Colt was already losing his mind. She couldn’t let him see how shaken she really was.
She’d slipped off the edge of a cliff. She could have died. If Colt hadn’t been there, she would have. With the rain and wind, a couple more seconds and she wouldn’t have been able to hold on any longer.
