“Might be, yes.”
“You thought about that?”
Jack had thought about it. He’d thought about it more than made sense given that she’d made her position on him fairly clear.
“She mentioned solo overnight runs,” he said. “She told Chris Hepner she’d be doing one in December. A couple more after the new year.”
“In areas where someone is actively poaching and the task force hasn’t identified anyone yet.”
“Yes.”
The fire shifted. Outside the tall windows, the sky was the deep black that only happened this far from a city where lights were limited.
After a while, Liam said, “You know, for a man who describes her exclusively as a professional obstacle, you track a lot of details. The solo runs. The training schedule.”Liam’s tone was even, not pushing. “That’s a lot of data points for someone you’re indifferent to.”
Liam wasn’t wrong, and he didn’t even know the half of it. Jack hadn’t told him about the deep dive he’d done into Steph, her career, and her hobbies. Explaining it would make it seem like he’d crossed a line from professional interest to obsession. It wasn’t an obsession exactly, but he certainly wanted to get to know her better.
“I’m not indifferent to her. She’s a direct competitor as far as The Frozen Divide is concerned. Besides, I have training to do too. I need to know where it’s safe and where it isn’t.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“It’s true.”
“I’m not saying it isn’t.” Liam looked at him sideways. “Thing is, you don’t strike me as a man who thinks about his competitors the way you think about her.”
Jack looked at the fire.
“You’ve never made room for it,” Liam said. “Before now, I mean. Training, the biathlon, going for the Olympics, building this. Always something. Always easier to be alone than to adjust.”
“It’s not easier. It’s simpler.”
“You sure about that?”
Jack turned the glass in his hand. A long moment passed before he said anything. “There was someone. Years ago.”
“I know,” Liam said quietly.
“She was—” He stopped. “You know what happened?”
“I do.”
“Then you know why simpler makes sense.”
Liam didn’t argue with that. He had the decency not to. The fire burned down a little, and Jack finished what was in his glass.
“She’s not her,” Liam said finally, not unkindly.
“I know that.”
“I know you know it. I’m just saying it out loud.”
Jack set his glass down and looked toward the window. Nothing to see out there but dark and his own faint reflection in the glass. He looked away from that. “The poaching,” he said. “If it escalates—”
“Chances are good the task force will wrap it up.” Liam recognized the subject change and let it happen. “Keep your runs in the mountains around Elkridge. You should be fine.”
“And Steph?”
“She’s a smart gal. Besides, she has the sheriff watching out for her. My guess is he’ll make sure she does what is smart.”
