Page 42 of The Quiet Witness

He was offering her a way out, and whether it was to keep her from screaming in the middle of a supermarket or to give her peace of mind, it didn’t matter. Because each time she thought she had a leg up, he was there to sweep it out from beneath her. Pushing her into the quicksand that kept sucking at her feet.

Kate ripped the coffee out of his hand, clenching the warm brew to the pulsating pain in her chest, and made her way over to the two women.

I will not give up, I will not give up, I will not give up.

Chapter 18

A Lovesick Couple

Snow crunched underfoot as she trudged along beside the company with her cup of chai. It had long since grown cold, taking up space in a hand that was slowly turning into a block of ice.

Littering is bad and irresponsible.

Even though her limb had begun to tingle, the thought kept the drink stuck firmly in her grip. And for a lack of a bin, this is how it would be for the duration of their walk. As if nothing could make this moment even better. Yay.

This being… torture. Clara just wouldn’t shut up. Anything was enough to spark a chat. Slip over the ice? She’d once strained her knee while ice skating. A footprint etched onto the snow clearly belonging to a fox was that of a bunny. And the weather, when she’d finally run out of ideas.

“The sky is beautiful today, isn’t it?” Clara’s statement was directed to only one person in their company. Lucien had nodded along with the woman, a calm expression on his face. Nothing to indicate he was eating himself up from the inside. Still, she knew now why he hadn’t been dancing on his feet for the walk either. Or why he had used her to get rid of the girl’s crush. It all made sense now. There was but one upside to this whole charade.

The scenery was breathtaking. The mountains as imposing as the man who hadn’t left her side. If anything, Lucien fit right into the decor with his green eyes scanning the forest path. His stride confident, while she found her feet skidding over the ice more often than she dared admit.

He felt her gaze, arching an eyebrow in question. But she turned to stare straight ahead. The conversation they had half an hour ago living painfully fresh in the back of her mind.

Sunlight glinted through the bare branches, guiding them along the path. The sun, it had been weeks of dark, doom and gloom days. It fit her mood alright, but seeing the blazing orb lifted her spirits, if for a bit.

We’re supposed to look like little lovebirds.

Kate didn’t forget it nor did she forget the threats, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Apparently, dear old Lucien was thinking along the same lines. His hand grazed her free one lightly, but she snapped it out of his grip. Moving to push it deep into the pocket of his jacket. But… it was the one bearing DNA. She let it fall back to her side.

Taking that as his cue, Lucien shifted to her other side. He took the coffee cup from her with zero hesitation and locked their hands together. Fingers slipping through hers as easily as he had done seven days ago.

She could do it. Withstand the touch. What was so hard about holding hands with the person hired to kill you? And at least it was finally… warm. Kate started to hum internally, mentally distancing herself from the man next to her, the one touching her. Roses are red, violets are–

Lucien traced a slow circle over her palm. —blue… You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.

She drew her hand back, but his grip held firm. His lips lowered to her ear, and a soft whisper brushed up against it. “Actions have consequences, sweetheart.”

Her hair rose on end, but she barked back. “They do indeed.”

A loud laugh escaped him, spooking Denise and Clara at the front of their convoy. His voice deepened temptingly. “I’ll be waiting.”

Kate’s cheeks reddened in shame, and she turned to stare at the mountains. They surrounded them from all sides, cutting her off from the world. And it hit her, made her swallow back the heavy ache in her throat. She was in the company of three people. And still, she was as alone as she’d ever been. No one really knew her. Not her dreams. Not her hopes.

All she’d ever had was nature. But it was enough, it had to be.

A smack resounded through the clearing, and it took a moment for her to realize it was Denise, who’d dropped back to her side and hit her with a second slap to her arm. “You need not worry, I would blush even more in the presence of this man.” She winked at Lucien, who chuckled along.

Clara popped up beside Denise. “So, Kate, What do you do for a living? I’m sure Lucien loves a woman with a good head on her shoulders.”

Ouch. She hadn’t quite prepared for a barrage of personal questions. Her cheeks heated even more. A tomato. Don’t become a tomato.

Had that been meant as a jab? If so… lame.

Kate had become used to it growing up. There wasn’t a lot that people could say that would set her off. The reverse was true for questions. Especially considering her worth to society.

How do I say, nothing at all, in an educated manner?