Christian lifted a shoulder, and snow scattered. “Wasn’t a bad plan, really.”
Ophelia tucked the gun into her waist and blew warmth into her hands. “Plan?”
Brock paused and then prowled around the front of the truck. “Suicide Hill is a sledding hill for kids. Well, and adults. It’s a long hill, and there’s somewhat of a parking area at the bottom. The shooter sledded down and must’ve had a rig waiting.”
Christian dropped to his haunches and ran his hand over the front tire on the driver’s side. “You have three flats. Want to take care of it tonight or tomorrow?”
A muscle in Brock’s jaw ticked visibly. “Tomorrow when it’s light and not so cold. I’ll meet you here and buy you breakfast after.”
“Deal.” Christian stood and nodded at Ophelia. “That’s twice, Agent. We’ll find out who wants you dead and why.”
Her legs trembled. She needed to get to a store tomorrow and buy long underwear or thermals. “Brock was with me both times. Maybe the shooter aimed at him.”
“It’s possible,” Christian allowed, turning back toward the river and pushing through the snow. “Come on, Tika.”
Brock watched him. “You can stay at my place tonight.”
“Nope. Need to check on Ace.” Then the trees swallowed him.
She shook her head. What an odd man. “Um, what now?”
Brock pointed down the desolate and icy road. “My cabin is that way.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Brock tossed a towel at Ophelia right inside his front door as they both ditched their boots and coats. “You want a warm shower or the hot tub?”
She blinked and hung her coat on the nearest hook. Snow covered her pretty dark hair and her jeans up to her knees. “You have a hot tub?”
“Of course. It’s Alaska in the winter.” He tried not to think of her nude body in his hot tub. “I don’t have swimsuits, just so you know. It’s up to you, Ophelia. I want you to stay tonight since there’s a shooter out there looking for you, and my cabin is better protected than the B&B. You can shower quickly to warm up, borrow some clothes, and then you’re welcome to stay in my guest room.” He rubbed snow out of his hair to land on the mat. “Or you can join me in my bed.” He didn’t need to add the rest.
Her instant chuckle surprised him and then ran right down his spine to land in his groin. “I like that you don’t play games.”
He wouldn’t know how to play that kind of game and didn’t care to learn. “I figured you should understand all of your options.”
Her smile widened. “I also like that you have absolutely no confidence issues.”
Why would he?
She removed her wet sweater, revealing a light green tank top. “I also like that you can handle yourself in emergencies, have a softness for people in trouble, and fill out your T-shirt like a sculptor chiseled you out of stone.”
Amusement battled with instant arousal inside him. “I’m getting the feeling that abutis coming my way.”
“Yeah, you have a cute butt,” she drawled, her nipples clearly outlined beneath the soft fabric of her shirt. “This whole situation is complicated, and I believe that you didn’t kill Hank.”
He cocked his head, noting the goose bumps on her bare shoulders. Oh, he could warm her up and fast, but that was her decision. “You believe me?”
“Yes, I believe that you didn’t kill Hank and don’tknowwho did,” she said, her eyes the clear blue of a mysterious night. “That doesn’t make this any less complicated.”
“It can,” he murmured, moving toward her slowly. “It’s just you and me here, Olly. No past, no cases, no facts. Just us.” He grasped her delicate chin between his finger and thumb, gently tilting her face and giving her every opportunity in the world to stop him.
Her breath caught, but she didn’t pull away. “You protected me tonight. Just like the other night after we were shot at, and I fell in the river.” Her voice softened with a thin thread of…bewilderment?
He stepped closer, letting the heat of his body wash over her. Why was she so unaccustomed to a man providing cover? “I know you’re an agent and probably a good one, and I know you’ve had training.” He’d never want to take anything away from her. “But this is my town, and I’m used to the wildness of Alaska.”
“I know,” she murmured.
It was true, but that wasn’t all, and he wouldn’t hold back. “More importantly, whether you like it or not, you were a woman riding with me both times, and I’m going to protect you. Call me a throwback, call me a chauvinist, even call me an asshole, but that doesn’t change the fact that if you’re in danger, I’m going to tear any threat apart until you’re safe.” Giving her that was a risk, but he wouldn’t lie to her about who he was in case she wanted in his bed.
