McKenna let out a tight scream and tightened her hold on the handle of the gun.
Trevor grasped the doorframe and clamped his free hand over his face.His skin flushed and he locked eyes with Jaxon.“What the hell did you do that for?”
“You’ve been stalking her.We know you’ve been lurking around the house, fucking with her property.”
Trevor’s gaze flew to McKenna, and he blinked rapidly.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.I swear to god.”He pulled his hand away.Blood coated his fingers.He wiped his face on the sleeve of his jacket.
A small weight of doubt stuck to the lining of her stomach like a burr.She rolled her tongue inside her mouth to stop the accusations that wanted to hit Trevor as fast as Jaxon’s fist had.
Jaxon’s wide shoulders filled most of the doorway.“Get the hell out of here, Trevor.If I find you near McKenna’s property again, I’ll throw your ass in the wood chipper.”
McKenna cringed.God, he couldn’t be serious.“Ah, he doesn’t mean that,” she called out.
“Yes, I—”
“Jaxon,” she hissed, jabbing her fingers into his side.He flinched and rubbed the wounded area but didn’t tear his gaze from Trevor.
“If you come around here again, McKenna will press charges.”He turned to face her.“Better?”
She rolled her eyes.
A muscle in Trevor’s jaw jumped as he stared at her, but he didn’t back away, nor did rage fizzle from his pores as it had on his last visit.
“You don’t really think I did that, do you?That I creeped your place and damaged your property?I know we had a misunderstanding before—”
McKenna drew up to her full height and elbowed Jaxon out of the way.“There was nomisunderstanding, Trevor.You pushed yourself inside my house and refused to leave.You groped me.You kissed me.Youviolatedme.”Anger shook her words, and it took all of her strength not to point the gun at him.
Jaxon’s arm looped around her waist and he pulled her to his side, taking the shotgun from her hand.The tension radiating up and down her body dissipated.
Trevor opened and closed his mouth.He dragged his palm over his face.“Look, I misread your signals.I get that.I was drunk, and...”He turned from the door and paced in a wide circle, then stopped.“You have every reason not to believe me.But please, come take a look at what’s in my truck before accusing me.”He gestured to his vehicle, whose headlights beamed across the snow.
McKenna lifted her chin to read Jaxon’s face.The sharp line of his jaw moved back and forth.He kept his stare on Trevor.
“Why?”Jaxon barked.“What’s in your truck?”
Trevor motioned with his arm and stormed off the porch steps.Jaxon’s arm steeled itself against her side.“You stay here.”He grabbed his boots and shoved his feet inside.“If anything happens, lock the door,” he said, exiting the cabin.
Indecision weighed on her.She wasn’t going to sit in the house.Not when this whole fiasco was about her.She had a right to read Trevor, to gauge his reaction and judge whatever his claim was for being at her door.She couldn’t do so from inside.
She pulled on her coat, shoved her feet in her boots, strapped on the snowshoes as fast as she could—thankfully she’d become an expert over the years—and followed Jaxon into the snow.The throttling sound of the diesel truck grew louder, shocking her senses.And the sight of Jaxon’s deep footprints made her cringe.This wouldn’t help his cough, although he’d improved drastically since that morning.
She kept her attention on Trevor as he made his way to the back of the truck.Jaxon plodded a few paces ahead of her.If he sensed her approach, he didn’t react.
Jaxon lifted the gun and pointed it at Trevor.
“Jesus, Joseph, and Mary,” Trevor drawled.“You really gonna aim that thing at me?”
McKenna stopped next to Jaxon and shoved her free hand in her pocket.Her hand holding the flashlight shook, creating a strobe effect.Her feet were dry, but her bare hands were freezing.
“Just until I see what you have to show us.”Jaxon’s nonchalant tone made her suck down a chuckle.
Trevor huffed and pulled open the tailgate.“I’ll have you know I’ve been taking necessities to everyone stranded out of town.Mr.Miller from Miller’s Market donated bottles of water, canned goods, and a bunch of other stuff.Me and a few others volunteered.I’ve been at it all day making deliveries.”He shrugged and swung his gaze to McKenna.“Sorry I made it here so late.I figured you wouldn’t want to see me, but I sure as shit didn’t expect that welcome.”Trevor extended his hand and pushed on the barrel of the shotgun.
Jaxon lowered it, stepped closer to the cab, and surveyed the inside.His brows pinched together as he dropped the gun to his side.“Take a look,” he said, nodding at McKenna.
McKenna stepped forward and shone the light inside.Sure enough, several cases of water were piled up in the back of the truck, all the way to the bed cover.There were also boxes full of canned soup, loaves of bread, jars of peanut butter, and even packages of batteries.
“See,” Trevor said.“You can ask everyone in the backcountry.I’ve made stops all day.No way I would’ve had time to traipse around your property.”He scratched his head.“Actually, I saw Dr.Lots a couple hours ago.I think he said there was some suspicious activity on his land too.You might want to check with him when the roads clear.I’m pretty sure your land meets his.”
