Backwoods

Backwoods Jill Sorenson The more you trust, the more you risk…When plans for a wilderness retreat with her teenage daughter Brooke go awry, Abby Hammond reluctantly pairs up with Brooke's stepbrother and his dad, Nathan Strom, for the weeklong trek. The only thing Abby has in common with the bad-boy former pro athlete is that their exes cheated with each other. That…and a visceral attraction that's growing more complicated with every step through the picturesque woods.Nathan's wild-card reputation lost him his career and his family. After years of regret, he's ready to fight for what truly matters–and that includes Abby's hard-won trust. When Brooke goes missing, Nathan knows he's her best and only hope of rescue. But the deeper into the rugged mountains they go, the more dangerous the territory will prove–for their safety and for their hearts. The more you trust, the more you risk… When plans for a wilderness retreat with her teenage daughter Brooke go awry, Abby Hammond reluctantly pairs up with Brooke’s stepbrother and his dad, Nathan Strom, for the weeklong trek. The only thing Abby has in common with the bad-boy former pro athlete is that their exes cheated with each other. That…and a visceral attraction that’s growing more complicated with every step through the picturesque woods. Nathan’s wild-card reputation lost him his career and his family. After years of regret, he’s ready to fight for what truly matters—and that includes Abby’s hard-won trust. When Brooke goes missing, Nathan knows he’s her best and only hope of rescue. But the deeper into the rugged mountains they go, the more dangerous the territory will prove—for their safety and for their hearts. Praise for Jill Sorenson “Sorenson makes her characters realistic, flawed, and appealing. Deftly handled violent action and red herrings rush this thriller to a believable ending.” —Publishers Weekly on The Edge of Night “This goes down as one of the best I’ve ever read. Bar none.” —New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks on Dangerous to Touch “Taut with emotion, suspense and danger. Sorenson expertly weaves the two stories into a heart-wrenching conclusion.” —RT Book Reviews on The Edge of Night “One of the best books of the year…nonstop, heart-pounding excitement.” —RT Book Reviews on Stranded with Her Ex, Top Pick! 4.5 stars “[A] high tension romantic thriller...culminating in a page-turning climax. Despite the mystery, the real tension comes from the emotional relationships, full of explosive sex and terrible secrets.” —Publishers Weekly on Crash into Me “It was definitely hot. Sooo hot. Jill Sorenson is my new favorite romantic-suspense author!” —USA TODAY bestselling author Victoria Dahl on Crash into Me Backwoods Jill Sorenson www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk) To Stacy Contents CHAPTER ONE (#ue9bb9005-fd77-5fb5-b81c-482ceaf6a42d) CHAPTER TWO (#u16dce09d-cbcc-51c3-b961-61239a18e2b8) CHAPTER THREE (#ud4bf0118-2f5c-59ed-8216-174988225d4c) CHAPTER FOUR (#ua4fded63-e3bc-5ff0-8737-beabac30d742) CHAPTER FIVE (#u8f5f2492-f102-582f-802e-89f3663b236b) CHAPTER SIX (#ub7b208a0-8c95-59f8-a314-05a4861c4b9a) CHAPTER SEVEN (#uefba5c26-035d-582e-8cca-8ea38148af0a) CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER ONE ABBY’S ANXIETY INCREASED with every mile she drove away from the main road. She tightened her hands around the steering wheel, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Only twenty minutes had passed since she’d exited the freeway, but it seemed like longer. Her daughter, Brooke, was sitting in the passenger seat. She yawned into her hand, unfazed by the increasing remoteness and looming trees. At dusk, the branches took on menacing shapes, forming an oppressive canopy overhead. “You didn’t have to come,” Brooke said. Abby rolled her neck to relieve tension. “I wanted to.” “Mom.” Abby studied her daughter’s pretty face. It was hard to believe Brooke was almost nineteen. She was a young woman now, strong and confident. Abby’s heart ached to look at her. “What?” “You don’t like hiking.” “I love hiking.” “Backwoods hiking?” Abby made a noncommittal sound. She didn’t like backwoods camping because it meant being cut off from modern amenities, but she’d travel to the ends of the earth for Brooke. “I’ll stay in the cabin. We can go on a few day hikes.” “You’ll be bored.” “Never,” Abby said, lifting her chin. She’d brought plenty of reading material, only half of which was work-related. “Just don’t try to coordinate activities, okay?” Abby was the wellness director at Seaside Retirement Center in San Diego. She planned exercise classes, therapy sessions and outdoor excursions for the residents. It was a challenging job that required close attention to detail. Brooke had often complained of Abby’s tendency toward scheduling every moment. OCD, she called it. “You won’t even know I’m there,” Abby promised. Brooke sighed, shaking her head. They didn’t discuss the main reason Abby had tagged along. She didn’t trust her ex-husband to show up. He’d canceled last year’s trip at the last minute. Ray Dwyer was a successful plastic surgeon, always running late or flaking out. He showered Brooke with expensive gifts instead of giving her his full attention. Ray was supposed to arrive tonight with Lydia, his current wife, and Leo, her son from a previous marriage. Leo was about Brooke’s age. The combined families would spend a week at the cabin, hanging out and exploring the wilderness. Brooke got along well with Lydia and Leo. She was an easygoing, well-adjusted child of divorce. Abby wasn’t so well-adjusted. She’d been coparenting with Ray for seven years, and they were civil. Under normal circumstances, Abby wouldn’t impose on their vacation. She didn’t try to limit his visits or interfere in his relationship with Brooke. He’d taken her to Hawaii two summers ago. Ray was a good father—when he made the effort. But if something went wrong and Ray changed his plans, which happened all too often, Brooke would be on her own. Abby didn’t want her daughter traveling through the High Sierras by herself or hanging out alone at the cabin. It was easy to get lost in this area, by vehicle or on foot, and there were innumerable dangers. Last fall, a young couple had disappeared while camping in these woods. The boyfriend had turned up in a shallow grave. The girl’s body was never found. Abby shivered to think of what might have happened to her. A lost child was a mother’s worst nightmare. Abby had been separated from Brooke for several days after the San Diego earthquake. The agony of not knowing if her daughter was dead or alive still haunted her. She continued to struggle with anxiety and overprotectiveness. Abby had missed Brooke terribly since she’d gone off to college. They were still going through an adjustment period. Abby had been looking forward to reconnecting with her over the summer. Instead, Brooke had been traveling with friends and jumping from one activity to the next. Abby wanted to sit her down and hold her close, but Brooke seemed determined to maintain her newfound independence. Maybe she thought keeping her distance would make it easier to leave again. Abby smothered the urge to ask Brooke how things were going at school again. Every time she reached out, Brooke retreated a little more. “Where is this cabin, at the edge of nowhere?” she asked. “Practically,” Brooke said with a smile. “It’s tucked right up against the mountains, close to the trailhead.” Brooke lived for adventure. She had the temperament of an extreme athlete, always pushing herself physically, game for any challenge. She was a track star at Berkeley. Whenever Brooke wasn’t making Abby proud, she was driving Abby crazy with worry. The cabin at the end of the road was no rustic shack, thankfully. It was an impressive getaway, sturdy and sprawling. Abby knew it boasted a full kitchen, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There was a fireplace and a stocked fridge. Ray might not be reliable, but he didn’t skimp on luxuries. She parked next to a beat-up motorcycle in the driveway. “Whose is that?” “It must be Leo’s,” Brooke said, her eyes bright with excitement. Not bothering to bring in her bags, she hopped out of the car and bounded to the front door. Abby followed Brooke up the walk, pocketing the car keys. She was relieved that Ray and Lydia hadn’t arrived yet. It had been a long drive. She needed a few minutes to collect herself, to take deep breaths and smooth her hair. When Leo answered the door, Brooke tackled him with an exuberant hug. He stumbled backward, laughing in surprise. Although she was tall for a girl, almost his height, he didn’t drop her or fall down. She clung to him for a few seconds and let go, squeezing his shoulder for good measure. “Is that your motorcycle?” His lips curved into a smile. “Yeah.” “Take me for a ride.” Abby had never met Leo before, and he wasn’t quite what she’d expected. He had a mop of jet-black hair, in dire need of cutting, and ragged clothes. His Green Day T-shirt, torn jeans and high-top sneakers gave him sort of a punk-rock edge. Although he didn’t look like a jock, his physique appeared strong and lean. Instead of agreeing to mount Brooke on his death machine, he cleared his throat and glanced at Abby. “You must be Leo,” she said, stepping forward. “You look exactly like your mother.” He didn’t seem embarrassed by the comparison, as some boys might have been. But then, his mother was beautiful. “Thanks,” he said easily. “I think he looks like his father,” Brooke said. Leo frowned at this comment. Abby had only seen Leo’s father in photographs, and in the infamous video clip that Leo had uploaded to YouTube. The pro baseball player had been falling-down drunk in the footage. It hadn’t cast him in a very flattering light. “Your dad is seriously hot,” Brooke added. He grimaced in distaste. “Will your bike hold both of us?” “Sure.” Abby studied the motorcycle with trepidation. Brooke was an adult now, so she couldn’t forbid this activity. “There’s only one helmet?” “She can wear it,” Leo said. Brooke let out a squeal and ran toward the motorcycle, hair flying. Abby rubbed her temples, trying not to visualize deadly accidents. Maybe she shouldn’t have come on this trip. It was bound to be one anxiety attack after another. “Brooke, you should put on real shoes. Flip-flops aren’t safe.” “She’s right,” Leo said. Sticking her tongue out at Leo, Brooke opened the car door and grabbed her hiking boots. She sat down in the driveway to put them on quickly. Her jeans offered minimal protection against injury, but her tank top left her arms bare. “And a jacket,” Abby said. “Oh my God, Mom. We’re not going on the freeway.” Leo sided with Brooke this time. He was a teenage boy with a motorcycle, so his judgment was questionable. “I’ll keep it under fifty, Miss...” “Abby,” she murmured, waving her permission. He climbed aboard the bike and released the kickstand, passing the helmet to Brooke. She tugged it on and settled in behind him, curving her arms around his trim waist. With a loud pop, he started the engine. Seconds later, they were off. Abby stood in the driveway for a long time, listening for the sound of screeching tires. Dark crept into the corners of the balmy evening, bringing a chill that only Abby could feel. Brooke and Leo, with their superior circulation and raging hormones, would be warm enough. She’d never considered the possibility that the stepsiblings might have romantic feelings for each other. Not that Brooke’s overzealous embrace indicated as much. She was friendly with everyone, and often seemed unaware of her effect on men. Abby unloaded her bags from the vehicle and went inside the cabin, sighing. The interior was beautiful, with high ceilings and exposed wood beams. A bouquet of purple wildflowers rested on a glass-topped coffee table in front of a leather couch. Abby found a room with a worn duffel bag on the bed, obviously Leo’s. Bypassing that and the master suite, she retreated to the opposite end of the cabin to stake her claim. In the bathroom, she washed up and scrutinized her appearance. She was healthy. She ran five miles on the treadmill every other day. Her figure was still good. Since the divorce, work and motherhood had taken up most of her energy. She’d dated a physical therapist for several years, but their relationship had fizzled in recent months. Her daughter’s absence had made her realize that something else was missing in her life. She’d rather be alone than settle for the wrong person. It was a little embarrassing to be the fifth wheel at Ray’s cabin, single and unattached. His betrayal with Lydia had devastated her. Maybe the missing piece was inside Abby, and she’d never be able to give herself completely to a man again. Sighing, she reached for her favorite distraction: her cell phone. She’d found that redirecting her thoughts often helped her stay calm. Daily exercise, relaxation techniques and steady breathing worked, also. Abby called her favorite person: Ella. Her sister answered the phone with a throaty giggle. Abby could hear Ella’s boyfriend, Paul, in the background. Ella had met Paul at California’s Channel Islands last summer, on a previous ill-fated family adventure trip. After Ray canceled, Ella and Abby had stepped in to accompany Brooke. Paul had been their handsome kayak guide. Ella had ended up stranded for a night with him on remote, uninhabited San Miguel. They’d been inseparable ever since. “We just got here,” Abby said. “How is it?” She glanced around the bedroom. “It’s nice. Ray and Lydia aren’t here yet. Brooke went on a motorcycle ride with Leo.” Ella didn’t have to ask how that made Abby feel. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.” “Has Brooke ever talked to you about him?” “Um...” “How old is he now?” “Nineteen, I think.” “Where does he go to school?” “Humboldt.” Not far from Berkeley. But not that close. Abby paced the room, nibbling her lower lip. Ella was ten years younger than Abby, and more like a sister than an aunt to Brooke. Sometimes Brooke confided in her, rather than Abby. “I have to tell you something,” Ella said. “What?” She made a breathy sound. “We’re getting married.” Abby almost dropped the phone. “What?” “He asked me last night. Can you believe it?” Her sister went on to tell the story of Paul proposing at Rose Valley Falls. They were both outdoor nuts, like Brooke. He’d gone with a nontraditional ring and a rare gemstone that sent Ella into raptures. She was a geophysicist. “Oh, Ella,” Abby said, her chest tight. “I’m so happy for you.” Ella couldn’t wait to show her the ring, so she sent Abby the photos via text message. The first was of the happy couple at the falls. In the second, a slim platinum band with a sparkling gray stone graced her sister’s slender finger. Gorgeous, Abby texted back. Love you. She put the phone in her purse, torn between joy and melancholy. Her baby sister was getting married to a great guy who adored her. The ring was unique and beautiful. Abby should be dancing on a table. Instead she felt like curling up in a corner. To her dismay, tears gathered behind her eyes. She’d been engaged once. She’d shown off her big, traditional diamond and held her head high. Their situations were different, of course. Ella was twenty-six, with an established career. Abby had gotten married right after high school. She’d been a mother at eighteen. Years later, she’d pursued a degree in nursing and gone to work at Ray’s cosmetic surgery office. Her entire life had revolved around him. Ella and Paul were on equal footing. Ella knew what she was doing. And Paul wasn’t the cheating type...was he? Abby sat down on the edge of the bed, plucking at a loose thread on the comforter. The question always niggled at the back of her mind, infecting her chances of having a committed relationship. In her experience, marriages didn’t last. Partners strayed. Love was ephemeral. The doorbell rang, startling her. It was probably Ray and Lydia. As she rose to answer it, an X-rated image of the couple popped into her mind. Abby had learned of the affair by walking in on them in flagrante delicto. It was after regular business hours, so the front office was deserted. Ray had a back room with a leather couch for napping between surgeries. Abby had found him there with his pants around his ankles. Lydia had been bent over the couch, her breasts exposed and her skirt raked up. Their expressions had been priceless. Eyes wide. Bodies frozen, midstroke. Pushing that unpleasant mental picture aside, Abby continued forward. It seemed odd for Ray to announce his presence by knocking, considering that he’d rented the cabin. She glanced through the window blinds to make sure it was him. A stranger was standing there in the dark. He was taller than Ray, his shoulders broader. “Who is it?” she asked, raising her voice. “It’s Nathan,” he replied. “Nathan Strom.” Nathan Strom. Leo’s father. Lydia’s ex-husband. The world-famous baseball player whose career had gone up in flames. “Is this the wrong cabin?” he asked. Abby opened the door warily, giving him a closer study. She recognized him from the YouTube video, though he looked different. A little older, more weathered and clear-eyed. In person, he did resemble Leo. They had the same square jaw and handsome features. Nathan’s hair was brown, rather than black, and expertly cut. His clothes were elegant. An expensive watch glittered on his wrist. Brooke had described him as “seriously hot.” That was right on the money. Abby didn’t know how to welcome him. This was the man Lydia had been married to when she started seeing Ray. Lydia had cheated on Nathan with Abby’s husband. Ray had cheated on Abby with Nathan’s wife. His appearance here was unexpected, to say the least. Maybe Ray had invited him. Ray was so arrogant and oblivious that he might not anticipate any tension between them. And now they were supposed to spend the week together in this cabin, pretending no one had been caught screwing in the back office? The level of awkwardness just ratcheted up ten notches. CHAPTER TWO IT TOOK NATHAN a moment to place her. He’d been anticipating a confrontation with his son, not a blank stare from a pretty stranger. Had Lydia given him the right address? She’d mentioned that Ray’s daughter, Brooke, would be here. Nathan knew at a glance that this woman wasn’t her. She had to be at least thirty, with honey-blond hair and lovely blue eyes. Her clothes were casual, but stylish and feminine. She wore a body-hugging tunic and cropped leggings. Her leather sandals had a studded strap around the ankle. The speech he’d planned for Leo faded into the background as he dragged his gaze up her slender body, lingering for a second too long on her breasts. Then his brain kicked into gear. “You’re Abby.” “Yes.” He was knocked for a loop. She didn’t look old enough to have a daughter in college. And...she was hot. Not flashy, in-your-face hot, like Lydia, but too damned beautiful to be Ray’s ex-wife. “Leo took Brooke on a motorcycle ride,” she said. Nathan glanced at the deserted road, hoping his son was sober. “I’m sure they’ll be back soon.” “Can I come in?” A pulse fluttered at the base of her pale throat. She must have seen the YouTube video. She didn’t want to let him in. “I’ll wait outside,” he said, ignoring the blow to his pride. Not so long ago, women had tripped all over themselves to talk to him. Fans clamored for his autograph. He’d been cheered in public and treated like a rock star. Now people recognized him as the guy who’d thrown away his career. He’d been videotaped in a state of extreme intoxication by his own son. The clip of him stumbling out of a taxicab and falling down on his front lawn had gone viral. He’d lost visitation rights with Leo. Their relationship had been strained ever since. Nathan didn’t make excuses for the mistakes he’d made in the past. He’d gone to rehab and cleaned up his act. He was no longer a famous baseball player, and he might always be remembered for personal lows, rather than professional highs, but he’d come out okay. He’d gotten his life back on track. Most addicts weren’t so lucky. Instead of getting defensive about his bad reputation, he’d learned to shrug off criticism and roll with the punches. Although he’d stopped caring about the opinions of strangers, he didn’t want Abby to be afraid of him. Maybe because of their tenuous, broken-family connection. Maybe because he found her attractive. Her cheeks flushed pink. She was embarrassed by her hesitation to let him in. “Is Leo expecting you?” “No.” “What are you doing here?” She was direct. He liked that. “Lydia sprained her ankle this afternoon. She can’t hike or even walk.” Her lips parted with disbelief. “What about Ray?” “He’s staying with her. They asked me to come instead.” “Son of a bitch,” she muttered, propping a hand on her hip. “He does this every time!” “I’m sorry.” “It’s not your fault.” “I’m sure your daughter will be disappointed.” “Yes.” Leo would also be disappointed. His son had made it clear that he didn’t want to see him, but Nathan hadn’t given up on reconciling. Abby stepped aside. “Come on in.” “Thanks,” he said, passing by her. After she closed the door, they stood there, staring at each other. She was tall and poised. With her careful makeup and chic clothes, she didn’t strike him as an outdoor explorer. He couldn’t picture her hiking into the wilderness. But he couldn’t see Lydia doing it, either. His ex-wife was more of a yoga-and-latte type. “I was wondering if Ray had invited you,” she said. “I imagined the four of us around the breakfast table, plus Leo and Brooke.” Was she joking? He’d rather eat with wolves. She cocked her head to one side. “Do you get along with Ray?” “No.” “Why not?” “Why do you think?” She smiled wryly, crossing her arms over her chest. Nathan had forgiven Lydia ages ago, and he no longer wanted to beat Ray to a pulp. He could say hello and be polite, but he’d never be friends with the man who’d fucked his wife while they were still married. He wasn’t that evolved. “Have a seat,” she said. “I’ll stand.” With a shrug, she retreated into the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by an island with a speckled granite surface. “I was going to make a drink. Do you want something?” The hair on his nape prickled. “Is this a test?” She took a mug off the shelf and held up a square package. Not a glass tumbler or a bottle of hard alcohol. Instant cocoa. “Sorry,” he said, rubbing a hand over his mouth. It was an old gesture, back to haunt him. “I’m nervous.” “Why?” “You must not know Leo.” “We just met.” “He doesn’t like me very much.” She filled her mug with water from the tap, not commenting on his parenting failure. Her daughter was a shining star at Berkeley. She’d been a straight-A student in high school. According to Lydia, the girl excelled in athletics, as well. Brooke was everything Nathan wished Leo would be. “Is he a good driver?” she asked. Nathan doubted it. The only activity Leo put effort into was getting stoned. “He’s never been in an accident.” “You don’t want cocoa, I take it.” “No.” “Club soda?” “All right.” She put her mug in the microwave and filled a pale green cup with ice, pouring the clear soda on top. “Thank you,” he said, giving her another once-over as she stirred the cocoa. Her legs were shapely, with smooth, suntanned calves. The leather straps around her ankles resembled Roman slave cuffs. Surely they weren’t meant to inspire bondage fantasies. He tore his gaze away, sipping his club soda. Looking at her like that was a bad idea. If he wasn’t careful, he’d start entertaining thoughts about wife-swapping and poetic justice. Not that Lydia cared who he slept with nowadays. Nathan felt no particular urge to try to make her jealous, either. Hooking up with Abby wouldn’t close the circle of betrayal or right any wrongs. He felt dirty for considering it, which of course made the notion all the more appealing. “Do you still drink?” she asked. “No. I’ve been sober three years now.” “Congratulations.” He acknowledged her with a curt nod. Silence stretched between them. “My sister just got engaged,” she said, showing him a photo on her cell phone. He glanced at the image to be polite. “Is that a gray diamond?” “Musgravite,” she said. “It’s very rare. She’s a geophysicist.” That was impressive. “Are you a scientist, as well?” “I’m a wellness director at a nursing home.” “What does that mean?” “I plan activities and interact with the residents.” “Do you play pinochle?” Her lips twitched at the question. “We play strip poker.” The comment sounded suggestive, like an invitation to picture her naked. Somehow he resisted the urge. “You must see a lot of sock suspenders.” She laughed, shaking her head. “What do you do?” “You don’t know?” “I know you used to play baseball.” “I manage a college team now.” “Is that like coaching?” “Sort of. I handle recruiting and business decisions.” “Where at?” “San Diego State.” The season had just ended and Nathan was happy with their performance. The Toros had done well in the play-offs. Maybe next summer they’d go all the way. He felt good about their future prospects—and his own. Professionally, he had few complaints. Managing a talented young team was lucrative and rewarding. His love life was nonexistent and his son refused to speak to him. But hey, nobody said sobriety would be easy. The sound of a motorcycle engine made his heart jump into his throat. “That’s them,” Abby said. Nathan set his cup on the countertop and proceeded outside with her. Leo parked what appeared to be a vintage dirt bike on the sidewalk by the driveway. It was an old Honda with a single headlight. The seat didn’t appear large enough for two, but they’d managed. Brooke clung to Leo like a second skin, her slender arms wrapped around his midsection. She was wearing a black helmet, obviously his. She hopped off the bike and removed the helmet, pale blond hair spilling down her shoulders. She was tall and leggy, like her mother. Her jeans and tank top were tight enough to rev up any teenage boy’s hormones. Leo grinned at her as he stomped down the kickstand and cut the engine. He took the helmet she offered, seeming a little dazed by her beauty. Nathan could relate to the feeling. Leo didn’t notice Nathan’s car in the driveway or even see him standing there. Nathan stepped forward, clearing his throat. Leo startled at the sound. His smile faded and all of the joy drained from his face. “Is that thing street legal?” Nathan asked. Leo ignored his question. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Brooke gaped at his rudeness. She probably never spoke that way to her parents. “This is Leo’s dad,” Abby said, putting her arm around Brooke’s shoulders. The girl recovered from her shock and greeted him politely. “I’m Brooke.” “Nathan,” he said, shaking her hand. “Pleased to meet you.” Abby guided her inside, aware that Nathan and Leo needed some privacy. Nathan didn’t know where to begin. He hadn’t talked to Leo since Christmas. Now that Leo was an adult, Nathan couldn’t force him to accept his calls or allow visits. Ray and Lydia supported him financially. Nathan had no say in his life. No rights. No relationship. He’d lost his son in the divorce, as well as his wife. Although he took responsibility for the problems he’d created, he still resented being out of the parental loop. Lydia never consulted with him about important issues, like vehicle ownership and college enrollment. Ray gave Leo free rein to fuck up and footed all the bills. Leo had grown several inches since last summer, when Nathan had stopped by to see him after a game at UCLA. Between semesters, he lived with Ray and Lydia in Beverly Hills. They’d converted the pool house into a small studio apartment where he could jam loud music and hang out with his hoodlum friends. His hair was longer. His shoulders were a little broader. Though he refused to play sports, he was a natural athlete. He had quick reflexes and a quick mind—when he wasn’t under the influence. Someday his dissolute lifestyle would catch up with him. For now he was lean and strong and brimming with health. “You need a haircut,” Nathan said. Leo lodged his helmet under one arm, feigning boredom. “What do you want?” “Your mom and Ray couldn’t make it.” He swore at them both under his breath, which set Nathan’s nerves further on edge. Leo didn’t appreciate the easy life he’d been given. “Don’t disrespect your mother,” Nathan said. “Only you can?” Nathan hadn’t badmouthed Lydia since he quit drinking, but he’d called her some unflattering names over the years. They’d argued and exchanged scathing insults. Once, Leo had gotten between them, shoving and kicking. Tears streaming down his face, he’d yelled at Nathan to leave his mother alone. “She called me from the E.R.,” Nathan said. Leo tensed at the news. Still protective. “What happened?” “She sprained her ankle. She can’t walk, so she asked me to fill in. She thought we could go hiking together.” “I hate hiking.” “Then why did you come?” Leo fell silent, glowering into the dark shadows beyond the cabin. Nathan already knew the answer. Leo was driving an old motorcycle for a reason. Ray had taken away his car after finding a joint in the ashtray. Lydia was planning to confront him about his drug use this week. His attendance wasn’t optional. Maybe Lydia’s injury was real and maybe it wasn’t. Nathan wondered if she’d delegated this responsibility because she couldn’t deal with it. She had a certain sense of fatalism, a belief that people followed a set course in life. No one could change their destiny and everything was meant to be. The upside was that she had a loving, accepting personality. The downside was that she gave Leo very little guidance. He needed boundaries and discipline—tough love. Ray wasn’t a pushover, but he served his own interests and avoided conflict. It was up to Nathan to reach Leo. Nathan hoped he could get through to him before it was too late. “Your mother wants us to spend time together,” he said, his throat tight. “I want us to spend time together.” With a scowl, Leo fished his cell phone out of his pocket and stepped away from Nathan to call Lydia. They began a rapid conversation in Portuguese. She was from Brazil, so she’d taught Leo her native tongue and a fair amount of Spanish. Leo could tell Nathan to fuck off in three different languages. Nathan was proud of that. Sort of. Apparently Lydia held her ground. She wasn’t going to give his car back unless he stayed at the cabin with Nathan. Leo mumbled goodbye and pocketed his phone. “Are we clear?” Nathan asked. Leo strode toward the front door, not bothering to respond. Nathan followed him inside. Brooke was sitting on the couch, her eyes wet with tears. Either she’d spoken to Ray or her mother had broken the bad news. Nathan felt sorry for her. Brooke exchanged a glance with Leo, who glared at Nathan as if he’d made her cry. Lydia had told him that this trip had been Brooke’s idea. Brooke was the intrepid explorer who loved communing with nature. Abby handed her daughter a mug of cocoa. Brooke sipped the drink, studying Nathan. “Would you like some cocoa?” Abby asked Leo. He sat down on the couch next to Brooke. “No, thanks.” Abby leaned her hip against the side of the couch. She reached out, as if to smooth her daughter’s hair. But instead of following through on the motion, she drew back a curled fist. “We can still go hiking.” Brooke shrugged, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Abby’s presence at the cabin was both a relief and a complication. With her here, Nathan didn’t have to look after Brooke. He’d figured that she would stay with him and Leo or go home. The idea of hiking as a foursome hadn’t occurred to him. Until now. “Where were you planning to hike?” Nathan asked. Brooke had a map open on the surface of the coffee table. “There are a bunch of cool places around here,” she said, sniffling. “I wanted to go to Echo Lake.” She pointed to a round blue spot on the map. “The trail splits off from there. It’s a steep climb to Miracle Hot Springs or a gentle slope to Lupine Meadow.” Nathan settled into a nearby armchair. “My dad and Lydia would have picked the easier route,” Brooke said. That was all Nathan needed to hear. He’d endured grueling training sessions throughout his baseball career, and he still exercised every day. Physically, Ray was no match for him. Not that they were in competition or anything. “Then let’s take the hard way.” Brooke met his gaze. “Really?” “Sure. There’s no reason to cancel your plans.” Her face lit up with excitement. “Can we, Mom?” “We don’t want to impose,” Abby said. “Not at all,” Nathan said. “If anyone’s imposing, it’s me.” “You got that right,” Leo muttered. Brooke slapped his shoulder. “Leo!” “What?” “Be nice to your dad.” Abby went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. She came back, passing it to Leo. Although he hadn’t asked for it, he untwisted the cap and took a drink. “Brooke and I can hike on our own,” Abby said. “That’s no fun,” Brooke said, as if hanging out with Abby was a chore. Leo smirked at her plaintive response. He wasn’t keen on camping with his old man, either, but he might enjoy following Brooke up a mountain. Leo would probably be on his best behavior around her. He also couldn’t take off on his motorcycle if he got angry with Nathan, which was bound to happen. This was perfect. “Hiking as a group is safer, especially in remote wilderness areas,” Nathan said. “Lydia told me there was a murder just a few miles from here last summer. They found a guy with an arrow in his chest.” “I read about that,” Abby said. “It was a couple. The girl is still missing.” “Maybe she killed him,” Leo said. “Ooh,” Brooke said with approval. “Spooky.” Nathan caught Abby’s exasperated look. Kids. “How many days will we be gone?” Abby asked. “Four or five at the most,” Brooke said. “But we’ll be near water the whole time. You don’t have to worry about being dirty.” Abby made a noncommittal sound. “She’s kind of a neat freak,” Brooke explained to Nathan and Leo. “I’m a fan of regular showers, myself,” Leo said. Brooke wrinkled her nose at Leo’s lame joke and they both laughed. Nathan wasn’t sure what to think of them. He hardly remembered being a teenager. When he was Leo’s age, he’d been a professional baseball player, married with a kid on the way. These two weren’t children, but he couldn’t see them as adults. “Is it settled?” Nathan asked Abby. “My dad had all of the supplies delivered,” Brooke said, leaping to her feet. “If we pack up our gear tonight, we can get an early start tomorrow.” Leo groaned at her enthusiasm, but Brooke couldn’t be dissuaded. Denying her was like trying to stop the sunrise. “What do you say?” she asked, arms spread wide. “Okay,” Abby said, giving in. CHAPTER THREE ABBY WOKE BEFORE DAWN. She reached for her cell phone and noted the time. Her alarm would ring in ten minutes. Turning it off, she scooted away from Brooke and climbed out of bed. Nathan and Leo had taken the other two bedrooms, so she and Brooke had shared. Last night, Brooke had organized all of the supplies they needed. Two small tents, four sleeping bags, four mats. Miscellaneous food items and dried meal packages. A bear canister, water filter, flashlight, first-aid kit. Toiletries and cooking utensils. Brooke was a ruthless minimalist. She wouldn’t allow Abby to bring any makeup or unnecessary clothes, claiming she’d regret every extra ounce. As a result, the packs weighed less than ten pounds each. Abby put on the clothes she’d laid out the night before. They’d be stopping at the lake before they reached camp, so she started with her swimsuit, a sporty blue two-piece. Over that, she pulled on basic running shorts and a gray tank top. Her anklet socks and black hiking shoes completed the look. After brushing her teeth and pulling her hair into a ponytail, she studied her appearance. Devoid of makeup, her face looked plain and bare. She saw smudges under her eyes, pale lips, freckles and crow’s feet. Tiptoeing toward her beauty case, she unfastened the latch. “Don’t even think about it,” Brooke mumbled. “What?” She rolled over in bed and squinted at Abby. “Your makeup will wash off when you swim.” “I’ll keep my head above water.” “What about tomorrow? I’m not carrying that stuff for you.” Abby would give up a couple of meals for her MAC case. Just a little mascara, some lip gloss, a bit of concealer... “You don’t need it.” That was easy for Brooke to say; she didn’t need any. She had a smooth, even complexion. Her skin tanned easily. Although her hair was blond, like Abby’s, her brows and lashes were dark. Brooke propped her head on her hand. “What do you think of Leo’s dad?” “He’s very nice.” “Nice?” Abby glanced at the closed door, hoping Nathan couldn’t hear them. They hadn’t talked about this last night. Brooke had stayed up late playing video games with Leo. She’d fallen asleep as soon as she crawled into bed. “Leo says he’s single,” Brooke added in a low voice. “How would he know? They don’t get along.” “Lydia knows.” “Don’t embarrass me.” With a smile, Brooke threw back the comforter and rose from the bed in her underwear. She was lithe and lean, pantherlike. Sometimes Abby couldn’t believe this fully grown woman had come out of her body. Not so long ago, her daughter had been gap-toothed and giggling, wearing a party hat. She’d been a newborn who refused to latch on for the first two weeks, and then a toddler who’d refused to stop when Abby tried to wean her. She’d always been stubborn, prone to outbursts, quick to laugh and full of energy. Brooke flipped open the makeup case and rifled through its contents. “Here,” she said, choosing a single item. She tucked the rose-tinted lip moisturizer into Abby’s palm and closed her fingers around it, as if bestowing a precious gift. Abby turned to the mirror and applied it, her throat tight. Brooke came up behind her. “Do you think I need boobs?” she asked, covering her small breasts with her hands. “Absolutely not,” Abby said, appalled. Brooke had a runner’s figure, strong and sleek. “You’re perfect.” “I look like a boy.” “Who told you that?” “No one important.” “Good, because it’s ridiculous.” “Were you flat, before?” “You don’t remember?” Brooke shook her head. Brooke had been twelve when Abby had her breasts done. Too young to notice the flaws Abby had seen so clearly. “I wasn’t flat...I was asymmetrical.” “Like, one big boob and one small?” She adjusted her hands over her chest to demonstrate. “Yes.” It wasn’t the only reason for her augmentation; Abby’s self-confidence had taken a hit during the divorce. If she hadn’t been such an emotional wreck, she might not have gone under the knife, but she was happy with the results. “You have a lovely figure, very proportional. Besides, large breasts are a pain for sports.” “True.” “They also seem to attract jerks,” Abby pointed out. “Why is that?” “I don’t know.” Although her implants weren’t that obvious, Abby worried about the example she’d set for Brooke. Until now, Brooke had never complained about her shape or acted self-conscious. She certainly wasn’t shy about wearing revealing clothes. Abby wondered what had prompted this conversation. “What are the boys like at Berkeley?” Brooke stopped posing in front of the mirror and dropped her hands. She’d steered clear of serious relationships in high school, preferring to concentrate on sports and academics. “They’re hot, rich and smart.” It was a succinct summary, delivered with more cynicism than a girl her age should have. Maybe Brooke had some trust issues of her own. Thanks, Ray. Brooke scooped up a pile of clothes and escaped into the bathroom. Abby hoped her daughter would come to her if she needed someone to talk to. She also wished Brooke had a better male role model. Too often, her father wasn’t there for her. With a frown, Abby left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen. The soles of her shoes made no sound on the lush carpet. When she exited the hallway, she saw Nathan and almost jumped out of her skin. “You scared me,” he said, removing the carafe from the coffeemaker. It took her a few seconds to realize he was joking. “I didn’t know you were up.” “I was trying to be quiet.” He went to the sink and filled the carafe with water, whistling. After transferring the water to the reservoir, he plugged in the machine and turned it on. Abby studied him as they waited for the coffee to brew. He was wearing a faded blue Toros T-shirt with tan cargo shorts and brown hiking boots. The clothes fit well on his body, which appeared to be in fantastic shape. She figured he had to be close to forty, but only his face showed his age. He had thick brown hair, broad shoulders and a trim waist. An outdoor setting would only accentuate his rugged features. It wasn’t fair. Abby didn’t want to “rough it” with a man this attractive. She was going to be sweaty and anxious and unkempt. The idea of trekking through the woods and leaving civilization behind intimidated her. She didn’t like feeling out of her element, out of control. “You must have been a child bride,” he said. She’d heard that one before. It was an odd sort of compliment, but she saw no censure in his expression. “And you were twelve when you fathered Leo, right?” He laughed, shaking his head. “I was nineteen. The same age he is now.” “Were you more mature than he is?” “Maybe, but not by much.” She fell silent for a moment, pondering her own teen marriage. At eighteen, she’d thought she was ready to be a wife and mother. She’d wanted her own family more than anything. Ray had been five years older, and on a fast track to a promising career in medicine. They’d skipped the courtship and gone straight to playing house. “Was the pregnancy unplanned?” she asked, tentative. His brows rose at the personal question. “It’s hard to say that, considering how careless we were with protection. The real surprise was that it didn’t happen sooner.” “Did you want to get married?” “I did, actually. I had to talk her into it. She had reservations about the amount of time I spent traveling with the team.” Abby couldn’t blame her. She imagined a young, beautiful Lydia, taking care of a baby by herself while Nathan “the Storm” Strom hit home runs in front of a roaring crowd. Lydia had gotten the short end of that stick. When the coffee was finished brewing, Nathan grabbed a cup and handed it to her. “Thanks,” she said, disconcerted by his proximity. “Isn’t this cozy,” Brooke said as she walked in. She was wearing a red tank top, frayed denim short-shorts and sturdy hiking boots. Her long hair was braided under a baseball cap. “You two should get revenge on Lydia and Dad by hooking up.” Abby stepped back from Nathan too quickly and spilled coffee over the rim of her mug. “Brooke!” “What?” Nathan coughed into his fist, as if covering a laugh. He found another mug on the shelf and busied himself with the coffeemaker. Abby set her cup aside and wiped the floor with a paper towel, her cheeks hot. “Coffee?” Nathan offered Brooke. “No, thanks.” He must have preferred it black, because he left without adding any cream or sugar. “Ladies,” he said, winking at Abby. Brooke gave her a triumphant smile. Abby opened the refrigerator, half hoping she could crawl inside and die. “I can’t believe you said that.” “Relax. He thought I was joking.” Abby took out a carton of soy milk and a jar of orange juice. “Should I make breakfast?” “Definitely. Be domestic.” Abby rifled through the utensil drawer for a spatula. “You can scramble eggs,” she said, pointing it at Brooke. They cooked almost a dozen eggs, along with turkey bacon and wheat toast. Nathan came back for a plate. Leo also roused from his slumber. He was dressed casually in basketball shorts and a T-shirt that said High Life across the front. Nathan’s gaze darkened with irritation when he saw the marijuana logo. Abby could cut through the tension between them with a knife. Nathan had said that Leo didn’t like him. It appeared to be true. He was polite to her and Brooke, seemingly indifferent toward his father. After breakfast, Leo helped Brooke with the dishes while Nathan walked outside to make business calls on his cell phone. Abby perused the local newspaper, which must have been delivered with the groceries. She found a disturbing story about Echo Lake. A few years ago, a group of teenagers had hiked there for an afternoon swim. When it was time to leave, one of the girls hadn’t returned to shore. Divers searched a portion of the lake but were unable to recover the body. She was presumed drowned. Abby read the article out loud to Brooke and Leo. “You’ll have to be careful swimming. There are obstacles in the water. Sunken logs.” “We’ll use the buddy system,” Leo said. Brooke handed him a plate to dry. “Stop reading that stuff, Mom. You’re going to get all worked up.” Abby flipped through the pages with a sigh. Near the back, there was a photo of a smiling young woman hugging a terrier mix. Both were missing. She was last seen at a pet store, buying a leash for the dog. Maybe she’d gone hiking. Pulse racing, Abby returned to the Echo Lake article and noted the victim’s name. Then she picked up her cell phone and did a quick search for the drowning victim’s name plus the missing girl’s name. They were connected, but only as former residents of Monarch. Both were young, blonde and pretty. Curious, Abby looked for more information about missing girls and women in the area. There were dozens of articles about the college student who’d been murdered on the Pacific Crest Trail. He’d been shot in the chest with an arrow from a crossbow. His girlfriend—young, blonde and pretty—had never been found. If Abby hadn’t seen the first two women in the same newspaper, she might not have noticed the similarities. She skimmed the other articles for evidence that law enforcement officials were investigating a link between them. They weren’t even trying to find the drowning victim. The woman and the dog could have gone anywhere. Forest rangers and volunteers had combed the woods for the college student’s girlfriend, to no avail. What if all three women had fallen prey to a killer? Abby didn’t voice this concern out loud. It was far-fetched, she supposed, and Brooke would accuse her of obsessing over nothing, which Abby did often. She continued to browse for clues, mapping the distances between the pet store, hiking trail and lake. They were located within a twenty-mile radius. When Brooke clapped her hands for attention, Abby glanced up, startled. Brooke and Leo had finished with the dishes. Nathan had just come back inside with his cell phone. Leo was sitting on the couch, disentangling the cord to his earbuds. “I’m calling a family meeting,” Brooke said. Leo snorted at the announcement. “We’re not a family.” “For the next four days, we are,” she said, gesturing for Abby to join them. “Bring it in, Mom.” Nathan sat down on the couch next to Leo. Abby took the space beside Nathan. Brooke’s assertion that they were a family, if only for a few days, made Abby’s chest tighten with an unknown feeling. It was a warm sort of discomfort, like...longing. She hazarded a glance at Nathan, whose throat worked as he swallowed. He wasn’t immune to the lure of togetherness, either. He seemed to want to repair his relationship with Leo. Abby understood that desire; her life would be empty without Brooke. “Say goodbye to your cell phones,” Brooke said. “They aren’t going to work in the backcountry, anyway.” “What about emergencies?” Abby asked. “I have one with GPS, just in case. But I’ll keep it turned off to save batteries.” Nathan set his phone on the coffee table. “Fine.” “I need my music,” Leo said. “Don’t you have another player?” “Not with me.” Abby didn’t want to give up her phone, either. She was ten times as attached to it as her makeup case. Her cell phone was her crutch, her comfort, her only connection to civilization. The last time she’d left it behind, she’d become physically ill. Abby still wasn’t sure if she’d been seasick from kayaking or if crossing open water had triggered an anxiety attack. “I’ll sing you songs by the campfire,” Brooke said, fluttering her lashes. “Right,” Leo scoffed, but he couldn’t resist her flirty smile. Shaking his head, he placed his phone on the table. Abby had no choice but to follow suit. Nathan was studying her with interest. Stomach churning, she surrendered her cell phone to Brooke. She felt like a police officer being divested of her badge and weapon. “Okay,” Brooke said, clasping her hands together. “I want everyone to wear a hat and drink lots of water during the hike. It’s going to be hot out there. I know we’re all at different fitness levels so I’ll try not to go too fast. Don’t be afraid to ask for a break, Mom. Tomorrow will be more difficult if you overexert yourself today.” Leo squinted as if her sunny enthusiasm hurt his eyes. “Any questions?” Brooke asked. “I have one,” Leo said. “How much coffee did you drink this morning?” “None, smart-ass. I stay away from mood-altering substances.” “You should try that,” Nathan said to Leo. Although Leo and Brooke had been joking around, Nathan’s comment was dead serious. And it didn’t go over well. “Fuck you,” Leo said, rising from the couch. “Don’t tell me what to do.” Nathan rubbed a hand over his mouth, not responding to the provocation. He seemed perplexed by Leo’s attitude. Maybe it hadn’t occurred to Nathan that criticizing his son in front of Abby and Brooke would embarrass him. Abby felt bad for both of them. Nathan obviously had no idea how to deal with Leo, and she couldn’t blame Leo for acting out. He was a troubled kid from a broken home. His father was a recovering alcoholic, his stepfather was a jerk and his mother had probably faked a sprained ankle to avoid conflict. “Chill out, Leo,” Brooke said. “At least your dad is here, making an effort. Mine didn’t even bother to show up.” Abby watched a mixture of emotions cross over Leo’s face. He didn’t want to spend time with Nathan. She suspected that he was being forced to by his mother. Otherwise, he’d leave. Brooke was the only highlight of the trip, but he didn’t have a chance with her because of their family connection. At least, Abby hoped he didn’t have a chance. She assumed Brooke was too smart to get involved with her stepbrother. Leo’s gaze moved from Brooke to Abby. “Excuse my language,” he mumbled. “Don’t worry about it,” Abby said, standing. “She says fuck all the time,” Brooke added. Leo looked impressed. “She does?” Abby glanced at Nathan, feeling her cheeks heat. His lips quirked with amusement. Again, she noted how handsome he was. She admired his concern for Leo, and she liked what she saw in his dark eyes. “Oh sure,” Brooke lied. “It’s her favorite word. Right, Mom?” “Right.” Nathan studied Abby’s mouth for several seconds, his interest clear. She bit her tongue to keep from giggling, aware that Brooke and Leo were watching them. Brooke appeared pleased. Leo’s brow furrowed, as if he couldn’t fathom his father’s appeal to women even while witnessing him in action. “Are we ready?” Abby asked. They picked up their backpacks and headed out the door. The trailhead was only a short walk from the cabin. It was cool and overcast now, but the sky would clear and the clouds would give way to relentless sunshine soon enough. A fine mist coated her face, lending truth to Brooke’s claim that hiking and makeup didn’t mix. The Pacific Crest Trail, which ran from the Mexican border all the way to Canada, was marked with a triangle-shaped sign depicting a green pine tree and white mountains. “Hang on,” Brooke said. “I want to take a picture.” Abby, Leo and Nathan stood in front of the signpost while Brooke propped her cell phone on a nearby boulder. She set the timer and hurried to join them. Instead of posing by Abby, she put her arm around Leo. After the red light flashed, Brooke retrieved her phone from the rock. Abby studied the photo, which had turned out okay even though Brooke was the only one smiling. They looked like a family. The dark forest in the background added a hint of intrigue, as if they were about to embark on a great adventure. CHAPTER FOUR NATHAN SPENT THE NEXT few hours enjoying the climb. Brooke took the lead and insisted on a certain hiking order. She passed Leo the map, appointing him as navigator. Abby followed in third place and Nathan brought up the rear, which gave him a fantastic view of her ass. He wasn’t sure if Brooke had considered this benefit beforehand, but Nathan had no complaints. He liked Abby. She cut to the chase and asked frank questions. He enjoyed watching her expressions as she spoke, and even when she was quiet. He liked the way she was put together, from her long legs to her freckled shoulders and everything in between. He took a drink of cool water from his pack, trying to clear his head. This trip was about reconnecting with his son, not checking out Abby. Making progress with Leo might score him some points with her, but Nathan didn’t need the incentive. He cared too much about Leo to throw away this opportunity to make amends. His game with women was rusty anyway, and Leo had made it clear that he resented the intrusion. Leo didn’t want Nathan here, ingratiating himself with Abby and Brooke. This was Leo’s territory. Leo couldn’t have Brooke. He certainly wasn’t going to sit by while Nathan put the moves on her mother. Fine. Nathan could control himself. He’d been celibate for most of the past three years, so he was no stranger to going without sex. Keeping his distance from Abby shouldn’t be difficult. Maybe she could give him some parenting advice. She’d hit a home run with Brooke. Abby had been kind to Leo, as well. Nathan had noticed that, and he was glad Leo had been polite in return. Lydia had raised their son to respect women. Nathan couldn’t take any credit for that aspect of Leo’s upbringing, unless Nathan’s poor treatment of Lydia had encouraged Leo to be a better man. As a father, Nathan had made a lot of mistakes. He’d been gone most of the time. The first few years had been tough. They’d traveled to many of his away games as a family, but Lydia had hated being on the road with a baby. By the time Leo was in elementary school, Nathan had become a top-ranked major league player. He was in high demand for endorsement deals and charity events. His relationship with Lydia had been solid. She didn’t love his career focus, but she enjoyed the perks of being a successful athlete’s wife. Then he got injured, and everything fell apart. Although his shoulder had healed quickly, he didn’t have the same snap to his release or power in his swing. He worked out like crazy, pushing himself harder than ever, but it was no use. His body had too much wear and tear. He was washed up at age thirty. Around the same time, Lydia had suffered a miscarriage. She’d become depressed and withdrawn. He didn’t know how to fix things between them, so he’d focused on saving his failing career. The team he’d helped take to the World Series let him go. Lydia refused to uproot Leo by following Nathan to Detroit, and then to Cincinnati. He couldn’t sleep at night. He’d started mixing his pain pills with alcohol. It was difficult to pinpoint the exact moment his drinking had gotten out of hand. The third trade, maybe. The strikeout that killed their play-off hopes. The infield error in the last inning of his last game. At twenty-eight, he’d been one of the most celebrated baseball players in the league. He had more money than he could spend. Five years later, it was over. He had no hope of getting another lucrative contract. To say he went on a drinking binge was an understatement. He’d pretty much just stayed drunk. He hadn’t known who he was, outside of baseball. He’d been drafted at eighteen. He’d never gone to college. His self-worth was all tied up in the game. After more than ten years of people telling him he was a superhero, he’d believed it. And when his fans thought he was shit, he internalized that, too. A commotion ahead startled him out of his reverie. Brooke and Leo had hiked around a bend, past a group of tall pine trees. Nathan heard the deep voice of a stranger, along with Brooke’s friendly hello. Abby hurried to catch up. Nathan followed close behind, more curious than concerned. There were two men blocking a fork in the trail. Leo stood silent next to Brooke, his shoulders square. Her body language was more relaxed; she didn’t consider these men a threat, even if Leo did. Both strangers were scruffy and unkempt. Their long hair was incongruent with the military-style fatigues they wore. The man in front of Brooke had grimy hands and a thick beard. His companion was younger, with the sparse mustache of a teenager. They were hunters, judging by their camouflage gear and backpacks. Nathan found their appearances strange, but he was probably biased against hippie backpackers. What really disturbed him was the avaricious gleam in the older man’s gaze, which faded as soon as he saw Nathan. “Is it this way to Echo Lake?” Brooke asked, pointing to the left. The stranger nodded. “Good day for a swim.” Brooke inquired about drinking water sources and they had a short discussion about filtering. When Abby joined them, the older man gave her breasts a quick study before glancing at Nathan once again. Sizing him up as an opponent. “Where are you headed tomorrow?” the man asked Brooke. “Lupine Meadow,” Nathan said. Brooke opened her mouth, as if to dispute him, but she went quiet when Abby gripped her elbow. “That’s a nice area,” the man said. Abby murmured goodbye and continued down the path with Brooke and Leo. Nathan stayed behind. It was part protectiveness, part male posturing. His instincts told him to stand his ground instead of scurrying along. The men had a strange, earthy smell. Not marijuana or stale sweat, but something else, like wet fur. “Any luck hunting?” Nathan asked. “Caught a few quail,” the man said, his eyes twinkling. “With what?” “Traps.” Maybe that was the odor he’d detected: fresh game. Nathan didn’t care if they were poaching, growing pot or playing Jesus. The boy looked scared and guilty. As long as Grizzly Adams didn’t mess with his women, Nathan had no beef with him. “Have a good one,” Nathan said, nodding goodbye. The older man stared at him for a few seconds, not moving. Nathan was reluctant to turn his back on him. The grungy teenager broke the spell by starting down trail. Nathan and the other hunter left the scene in unison. Freaks. Abby was waiting for him nearby, her mouth tight. She didn’t ask any questions. Sound carried in the forest. Nathan walked beside her, glancing over his shoulder at regular intervals. They caught up with Leo and Brooke as the trail narrowed into a steep incline. “Are we really going to Lupine Meadow?” Brooke asked. “No,” Nathan said. “Why did you lie?” Leo seemed surprised by her na?vet?. “Because that guy was looking at you like he wanted to eat you.” Brooke turned to her mother for confirmation. The fact that she hadn’t picked up on the stranger’s demeanor raised a number of red flags for Nathan. Thank God he had a son instead of a daughter who seemed unaware of her own beauty. When Abby didn’t say anything, Brooke flushed and continued hiking. For the next hour, they ascended a series of switchbacks that made conversation difficult. It was a tough climb, even for Nathan. His shirt grew damp and his pack felt heavy on his back. Leo kept up with Brooke better than Nathan figured. Abby was also a trouper. They reached the top of the first mountain and paused to take in the view of Echo Lake, nestled in the valley below. It was a gorgeous blue oval, surrounded by white granite rock formations and tall pine trees. “Let’s have lunch here,” Brooke said. It was a good place to stop. Nathan could keep an eye on the trail, though he doubted the strange duo had followed. They shrugged out of their backpacks and sat in the shade of a sturdy oak tree. Nathan was sweating like crazy. So was Leo. Abby looked hot and bothered in an attractive, post-orgasmic way. Brooke didn’t even appear winded. She passed out a lunch of mixed nuts and oranges. “This is our only fresh fruit for the trip, so enjoy it.” They did. Nathan was ravenous. He tried not to notice Abby’s ample chest or her hollow cheeks as she sucked on an orange slice. She’d be stripping down to her bathing suit soon, so he needed to get a grip. Think about something else. “Lydia tells me you’re a runner,” Nathan said to Brooke. She took a sip of water, nodding. “Long-distance or sprint?” “I do the 800 meter, which is considered medium-distance. Also the 100-meter dash.” “What’s your time for the 100?” “11.7.” “No shit?” “No shit.” That was fast. Half of the boys on his roster couldn’t beat her, and some of them were major-league bound. “Did you get an athletic scholarship?” “It was part athletic, part merit.” Nathan arched a brow at Leo, who was on academic probation at Humboldt State University. Leo had maintained a 3.0 GPA in high school without exerting much effort, so Nathan knew he could do better. “You don’t pay my tuition,” Leo said, defensive. That was true. Ray and Lydia were funding Leo’s studies. “I’m impressed by the achievement, not the cost savings.” Abby touched Nathan’s elbow. It was the same gesture she’d used to keep Brooke quiet. “Do you play any sports?” she asked Leo. “He surfs,” Brooke said. This was news to Nathan. “Really?” “We stopped by Mavericks after Christmas,” Brooke said. Nathan felt the blood drain from his face. He’d never been to Mavericks Beach, but he’d heard the waves were huge. Not for amateurs. Abby let go of his elbow. “You didn’t.” “We did,” Brooke said, smiling. “Leo gave me a ride to Berkeley, and I wanted to check out the waves. I stayed on the beach while he went surfing.” When Nathan pictured Leo paddling out into a raging sea, pressure built in his chest. “Why would you take such a stupid risk? What if you’d gotten held under, and Brooke drowned trying to save you?” “She wouldn’t have come in after me,” Leo said, rolling his eyes. “The waves were only ten or fifteen feet high that day, and there were other surfers in the water. It wasn’t that dangerous. I didn’t even catch anything.” Nathan wiped his hand over his mouth. Sometimes he could still taste the cool bite of a gin and tonic. He recognized cravings for what they were now. He was better at identifying stress and other triggers. His emotions always ran high with Leo. There was no one he cared about more, no one who could make him as scared or angry. Nathan had to learn how to communicate with his son, and he was terrified of failing. He took a deep breath, thinking back. His interactions with Brooke had been effortless. Why couldn’t he talk to Leo that way? “I can’t wait to go swimming,” Brooke said. “I’m melting in this heat.” Nathan used the hem of his shirt to blot his face. It was too hot to yell at Leo. He didn’t like feeling this way, tense and unhappy, but he couldn’t flip a switch to change the past. He couldn’t make his son love him again. They hiked the short distance from the top of the mountain to the shore. The lake was even more beautiful up close, crystal blue and fresh-looking. The entire area had been carved by glaciers, which had left giant pools in the granite. There was a sandy beach on one side near an island of towering boulders. “I bet I can climb those rocks and dive off,” Brooke said, shrugging out of her backpack and placing it on the sand. “Don’t you dare,” Abby said. “The water’s really deep, Mom.” “We should test it first,” Leo said. “Depth can be deceiving.” Brooke listened to Leo, rather than her mother. “Okay.” The four of them sat down to unlace their hiking boots. Brooke tugged off her shorts and tank top, revealing a striped bikini. “Hurry up,” she said to Leo, who seemed to have forgotten what he was doing. Leo fumbled to remove his high-tops and lame T-shirt. Nathan resisted the urge to glance at Abby as she undressed. It would be rude to stare, hoping for a wardrobe malfunction. He imagined her breasts jiggling as she pulled her shirt over her head. Not looking also seemed weird—he wasn’t a horny teenager, incapable of acting cool. So he waited until he thought it was safe and... Gulp. Her suit wasn’t as skimpy at Brooke’s, but her body made it sexier. Or maybe he just didn’t see Brooke the same way because of her age and relationship to Leo. Abby was a mature woman, fair game for ogling. Her simple blue bikini accentuated her figure. She had pale skin and mouthwatering curves. “Ever heard of manscaping?” Leo asked. The question interrupted Nathan’s perusal. It took him a second to realize Leo was referring to the hair on his chest, which narrowed to a strip over his abdomen. Nathan had never heard any complaints from women about it. He glanced at Leo, noting that he had the smooth, sculpted torso of a male model. “You wax your chest?” “No. I don’t have to.” “But you’re saying I should?” “Totally. Body hair is disgusting.” “My mom likes it,” Brooke said. Abby jerked her gaze from Nathan’s stomach. “Brooke!” “What? You do.” She waded into the lake. “I think it’s kind of sexy, too. On guys.” Smiling at Leo, she dived into the water and swam away. Nathan figured Brooke was being outrageous to tease Leo, who frowned at her retreating form. Abby escaped the awkward situation by submerging herself in the lake. It was cold, judging by her little shriek. Nathan didn’t know what to say to his son, as usual. Although Brooke’s provocative comment had put him in his place, Nathan couldn’t just let it go. Leo had been combative and disrespectful too often. His bad attitude sparked an equally negative reaction in Nathan, prompting him to needle Leo further. Hooking his arm around Leo’s neck, he said, “Just keep shaving your balls, pretty boy. They’ll drop soon enough.” Leo shoved him backward. “Fuck off!” Nathan stumbled into the shallow water, his heart pounding. He wanted to duke this out, physically and emotionally. Wrestling wasn’t a good way to communicate, but it felt better than doing nothing. So he threw his arms around Leo in a maneuver that was half tackle, half hug. Leo rewarded him with another hard push. Then they were both in the lake, splashing and grappling. The cold shock invigorated him. Nathan tried to gain the upper hand, but Leo was a slippery sucker. His son elbowed him in the stomach and kicked him in the thigh. Nathan grunted in pain, scrambling for a better hold. His foot scraped against a sharp rock as they waded into deeper water. Leo broke free and retaliated with a swift punch in the mouth. Nathan’s head rocked to the side. He fell into the waist-high water and let himself sink. The urge to fight left his body. It was a well-placed hit, but probably not full strength, and nowhere near a knockout. Good one. Nathan didn’t plan to stay under for more than a few seconds. He just wanted to avoid a second blow. To his astonishment, Leo came after him. He put his arms around Nathan and hauled him upright. “Dad!” Nathan found his footing and turned to gape at Leo, who’d clearly been worried. About him. His throat got tight and tears flooded his eyes. Nathan swiped a hand down his face, laughing suddenly. “You were faking,” Leo accused. “No,” he said, tasting blood. “You laid me flat.” “What the fuck is so funny?” “You thought I was drowning.” Nathan didn’t know why that was funny, but it was. Maybe because he’d been horrified by the thought of Leo drowning at Mavericks. Maybe because they were both fools, and it felt good to act stupid with his son. “You’re an asshole,” Leo said, but he was smiling. Still chuckling, Nathan swam into the deeper water. Leo followed, dunking him for good measure. Nathan returned the favor. He knew the issues between them couldn’t be solved by an afternoon of horseplay. But for now, at least they weren’t angry. When he caught his breath, he noted that Abby and Brooke were watching from a distance. Although the altercation had ended on a friendly note, it hadn’t started that way, and women tended not to approve of such shenanigans. Nathan didn’t, either. He’d removed players from his team for brawling. “She thinks you’re an idiot,” Leo said, following his gaze. “What does Brooke think of you?” “The same.” Nathan dunked him again, not caring at all. CHAPTER FIVE ABBY HELD HER BREATH as Brooke dove off a twenty-foot boulder. She hit the water with a gentle splash and stayed under for several long seconds. Abby watched, her heart racing, until Brooke resurfaced next to Leo, who’d been waiting for her. Grinning, he gave her a high five. They were both daredevils, egging each other on. Leo had gauged the depth of the lake and deemed it safe, with one exception. There was a large rock about six feet underneath the surface on the left side. Leo treaded water above it while Brooke jumped, and vice versa. They were using the buddy system, as promised. That didn’t mean Abby could relax. She tensed every time Brooke was airborne, imagining worst-case scenarios. She knew Brooke well enough to anticipate increasingly dangerous feats. Leo had started with short leaps and cannonballs from a smaller boulder. Now Brooke was high-diving. Backflips would be next. Sure enough, Leo scrambled to the top and attempted a forward somersault. He didn’t quite get his legs straight before he hit the water, which concerned Abby. But he came up to the surface quickly. Brooke twined her arms around his neck in a manner that would invite a kiss from any interested, available boy. Leo did something underneath the water that made her squeal and swim away. Abby glanced at Nathan, who was lounging on the narrow beach beside her. He hadn’t blinked an eye at their reckless jumps or flirty touching. Then again, he’d also laughed when his son punched him in the face. “She has no sense of caution,” Abby said, feeling obligated to explain Brooke’s behavior. “That’s why she was surprised you lied to those men. She notices attention and creepy looks on occasion. But she doesn’t anticipate danger, and she only sees the good in people.” He rested his forearm on a bent knee. “That’s a nice quality to have.” “It terrifies me.” “I don’t blame you.” Abby appreciated the acknowledgment. Ray had always denied there was a problem. “She got knocked out during the San Diego earthquake. I’ve always wondered if the head trauma changed her. Ever since then, she’s been more adventurous, more ambitious.” He studied Leo and Brooke for a moment, his brow furrowed. She got the impression that he found his son lacking in comparison. Maybe, as a former pro athlete, he had higher expectations than the average parent. “Should I talk to Leo?” “He’s done nothing wrong.” “To be fair, neither has she.” Abby was glad he didn’t think badly of Brooke. Her daughter seemed determined to be a matchmaker. Abby’s cheeks heated at the memory of the body hair remark. Although Abby had no particular preference either way, his chest was delicious. He looked strong and fit, with hard muscles and a flat stomach. He didn’t have that much hair, just a lightly furred area on his pecs and an intriguing trail down his belly. “I hope those hikers didn’t follow us,” she said, tearing her gaze away. “I kept glancing over my shoulder, and I didn’t see them.” Abby wished she had her cell phone. She could have taken an incognito picture of them and done an internet search. This lake was the site of the drowning. Her fingers itched to scroll for information about local runaways and hunting accidents. Brooke climbed the boulder and prepared to dive again. Abby stifled a gasp as Brooke took a running leap off the edge and spread out like a flying squirrel. About halfway down, she tucked into a smooth somersault and plummeted into the lake. Abby didn’t unclench her fists until Brooke broke through the surface. “You know what you should do,” Nathan said. “What?” “Try it.” “Jumping off?” The corner of his mouth turned up. “There’s only one cure for fear of the unknown.” Her pulse pounded at the thought of taking that plunge, sinking into the deep. So far, the trip had been full of triggers. Strange men in the woods, physical altercations, extreme stunts. Everything made her uneasy, from the thick forest to the wide expanse of open water before her. “Is it that obvious?” “Your discomfort, you mean?” She nodded. “Not really. Ballplayers learn to read body language and facial expressions. We have to anticipate a player’s next move.” “Does it work with Leo?” He touched the sore spot on his lip, rueful. “Apparently not.” Nathan appeared to have instigated the fight. Despite this brief lapse in maturity, she still liked him. At least he hadn’t traded punches with Leo. Somehow, the macho shoving match had broken the ice between them. Men. Abby frowned on Nathan’s methods, but she could relate to what he was going through. She understood how it felt to be torn apart. He also seemed aware of his own failings and desperate to improve. That was appealing to her. The fact that he was handsome, well-built and observant didn’t hurt, either. He might not have a clue about communicating with his son, but he knew how to please a woman. Shivery intuition told her that. She inhaled a sharp breath, drawing his attention to her chest. Her nipples pebbled against the wet fabric of her bikini top. He returned his attention to the lake. “I need to get back in the water.” It was hot. Sweat trickled between her breasts. “Come on,” he said. “I’ll jump with you.” “That sounds more dangerous.” “Okay, I’ll go first, and you can jump to me. I’ll be right there.” The granite island loomed in the close distance, taunting her. She could climb up with Nathan and brave the unknown. Or she could sit on the sand, wallowing in heat and anxiety. “You really think it will help?” “Sure. Most fears are based on inexperience and unfamiliarity. Our imaginations conjure all sorts of scary, but unlikely, scenarios. As soon as you jump, you’ll realize it’s not that bad. Then you can relax.” She smiled at his pep talk. “So this will be a quick, natural tension reliever?” His eyes darkened. “I can think of a better one.” So could she. He looked interested enough to pounce on her at the slightest provocation, but they couldn’t just wander off into the woods for a quickie. Even if she’d been willing to engage in a naughty fling, their kids were here, and encouraging a man like him would only lead to trouble. He was too charming, too sexy. Too risky. Brooke and Leo headed toward the rocks for another turn, spurring her into action. “Okay,” Abby said. “I’ll try it.” “The jump?” “Yes, the jump.” He seemed surprised by her agreement. Cliff-diving was a sport for wild teenagers like Leo and Brooke, not women her age, with skittish temperaments. Maybe she was avoiding the greater danger—Nathan himself. She stood, brushing the sand off her bottom. His lean physique made her feel self-conscious about her figure. He was extremely fit, without an ounce of spare flesh. Although she was on the slim side, she wasn’t young and perky anymore. Her stomach and hips were softer. Her thighs had more jiggle. He watched her wade into the lake, his neck flushed. “Splash me.” “Why?” “For luck.” She’d never heard of such a thing, but she splashed him. The water hit his face and shoulders, trickling down his chest. He shook it off like a dog and lumbered to his feet. Vanity had her wondering if he’d been overheated—aroused, even—because of her. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d given a man an inappropriate erection. Hiding a smile, she ducked under the icy water and swam to the cluster of boulders. Brooke and Leo were already jumping from the opposite side. Abby hauled herself onto the lowest boulder, with some difficulty. The path to the top was wet. She used the same handholds and footholds that Brooke and Leo had used, her mouth pursed in concentration. It was an undignified climb in a bathing suit, with Nathan right behind her. If she’d known a hot guy would be staring at her butt in broad daylight, she might have gone tanning or had her cellulite zapped. She reached the plateau, breathless. “I didn’t enjoy that.” “I did.” Abby laughed, accepting his help to stand up. A wave of dizziness struck her as she peered over the edge. “Oh God.” “What are you doing?” Brooke yelled from below. Nathan kept a firm grip on Abby’s hand. “What does it look like? We’re jumping.” Leo put two fingers in his mouth and whistled to cheer them on. Brooke was less than thrilled. “Be careful,” she said with a frown, as if uncomfortable with the role reversal. “I’ll try not to break a hip,” Abby said. Nathan smiled at the joke, squeezing her hand. He’d been wrong about the power of her imagination. Reality was worse. It looked so much higher from up here. The distance to the water made her stomach flip. She felt like she was standing on the roof of a skyscraper. “I can’t do it,” Abby said. “Sure you can. I’ll go first. When I call out to you, jump. If you wait too long, you’ll overthink it.” Brooke swam to the underwater obstacle with Leo and gazed up at them. “Don’t push me,” Abby said. He let go of her hand. “I can’t feel my face.” “As long as you jump away from the boulder, you’ll be fine,” he said. “Keep your arms and legs straight.” She was about to tell him not to leave her when he did it. He just leaped off the edge like it was nothing. His body hit the water, arrow-straight. When he resurfaced a few seconds later, he was grinning. “Come on,” he said, swimming backward to give her some room. “You can do it.” Abby didn’t want to. She pictured herself fainting and dashing her head against the rock. “I have to sit down.” “Don’t sit down. Jump!” She looked for a way out, her shoulders shaking. The path they’d climbed would be difficult to descend. More dangerous than jumping. Leo gave her a thumbs-up signal. Brooke clapped a hand over her eyes. Nathan wagged his fingertips forward. Abby jumped. She was only airborne for a few seconds. Then she hit the water with a hard splash. It penetrated her eyelids and rushed in her nostrils. Panic bubbles emerged from her throat. After sinking deep, she clawed her way to the surface, gasping as she broke through. Brooke swam to her side, excited. “Mom! You did it!” She had done it. And she never wanted to do anything like it again. “How was it?” Nathan asked. “Horrible.” His smile faded. “You didn’t think it was fun?” “No.” The three of them seemed baffled by Abby’s response. Tears stung her eyes. She turned and swam to the narrow beach, collapsing on the sand. Nathan joined her. “I’m sorry,” he said, chagrined. “I thought you’d enjoy it.” She put a towel around her shoulders, still shaking. “I feel like a jerk.” Abby didn’t blame him for trying to help her. Maybe she was beyond hope. She practiced her steady breathing and positive visualization techniques. The sun warmed her wet hair. After a few moments, she calmed. And she noticed a change. The next time Brooke dived off the edge, Abby didn’t freeze up as much. She knew the drop wasn’t deadly. She’d survived it. “To be honest, I’m surprised you even climbed up there, let alone jumped,” Nathan said. “It was pretty scary.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “It was.” “You’ve got balls, lady.” “I feel better.” “You do?” She nodded. “I didn’t like it, but I’m glad I did it.” He studied her with a quiet sort of admiration, as if seeing her in a new light. His regard for her went deeper, slipping below the surface. He was attracted to her for reasons other than the way her breasts looked in a bikini. She thought about his offer to relieve her tension the old-fashioned way and realized then that it would never happen. They couldn’t have a no-strings sexual affair. The strings were already there. A scream rang out across the lake, startling her. Abby scrambled to her feet. Her damp towel fell off her shoulders. Nathan rose with her. “What was that?” Leo and Brooke were treading water near the boulders, so the cry hadn’t come from either of them. It sounded like a woman. Another shriek followed, high-pitched with terror. “Someone needs help,” Brooke said. She started swimming toward a thatch of trees on the opposite side of the lake. Abby covered her mouth with one hand. Her first instinct was to tell Brooke to stop, and the reaction shamed her. She’d always taught her daughter to help others, especially other girls. She went out of her way to do the same. But this was different. It was a threatening sort of unknown. An icy fear gripped Abby’s heart and wouldn’t let go. Leo accompanied Brooke with no hesitation whatsoever. Nathan waded into the water, cursing under his breath. He swam toward them, his strokes sure and swift. Abby couldn’t just stand there, frozen and helpless. She dove in and started swimming. Although Brooke had an early lead, Leo was the strongest swimmer. He caught up with her near the middle of the lake and pulled ahead. Nathan showed his athletic prowess by passing Brooke and continuing after his son. They were all scared. The race to the other side was no friendly competition, no fun adventure. Leo climbed out of the water first, his chest heaving. Nathan was right there with him. Brooke arrived shortly after. Abby concentrated on steady strokes, trying not to panic. By the time she stumbled onto the shore, Nathan and Leo were arguing about what to do. They stood in front of the thick copse of pine trees, faces tense. Panting from exertion, Abby walked toward Brooke. “Stay here,” Nathan ordered Leo. “Fuck, no,” Leo said. “I’m going with you.” Nathan reached down and picked up a heavy stick. Holding it like a baseball bat, he entered the forest. Leo found a fist-sized rock and went with him, ready to strike. Neither of them appeared to consider bringing along Abby or Brooke. Abby rested her palms on her knees, winded. She didn’t approve of them creeping into the forest like white knights, armed with blunt objects. They had no idea what was going on. A woman in pain or danger would respond better to other women. “Did you try calling out to her?” she asked Brooke. “No one answered,” Brooke said. They waited at the edge of the trees, dripping wet. This side of the lake was cloaked in shadow, and it made all the difference. The temperature was ten degrees cooler. Abby shivered in the cool air, her skin and hair damp. “How many screams did you hear?” Abby asked. “Two. I’m not sure where they came from.” Brooke wrapped her arms around her body, glancing over her shoulder. Abby studied their surroundings. It was called Echo Lake for a reason. The granite rock formations caused sound to bounce off in all directions. She could have sworn the cries rang out from here, but she wasn’t sure. “Could an animal make that noise?” “Maybe a mountain lion.” “It sounded like a woman.” “Or a girl,” Brooke said quietly. Abby remembered the drowning victim’s age: seventeen. The missing hiker was twenty-five, the lost girlfriend twenty-one. Brooke wasn’t the type to sit on the sidelines. She searched the branches by the shore and picked up two hefty sticks. Passing one to Abby, she tilted her head toward the woods. Abby debated the wisdom of following the men, but she couldn’t stop Brooke from going, and she wanted to stay together. Brooke tiptoed into the foliage, stealthy and silent. Abby crept close behind, wincing as her bare foot encountered a sharp rock. They inched forward, ears and eyes peeled. Abby saw no signs of humans or large animals. She heard no sounds, other than birds chirping and lizards rustling through the leaves. Brooke continued through a small clearing. They were straying too far from the lakeshore, but Abby kept moving. She squinted at a strange shape in the trees ahead. Insects swarmed in a dark cloud. Her nostrils tickled with a muddy, metallic smell. She became aware of a stretching sound, like swaying rope. “Ugh,” Brooke said, wrinkling her nose. Abby pushed past Brooke to see. Her stomach dropped as she examined the gory scene. A full-sized deer hung from the tree, eviscerated. Its entrails lay in a neat pile on the leaves. Blood dripped from the flayed belly, streaking the animal’s dark fur. Nathan and Leo entered the clearing a moment later. When Leo saw the hanging deer, his handsome face went gray. He stumbled away and retched in the bushes. Nathan gave him a disgusted look. “Pull yourself together, Leo.” Abby couldn’t believe he’d criticize his son for getting sick at a time like this. Brooke threw down her stick and went to see if Leo needed help. He shrugged off her attempts to rub his shoulder. “It’s fresh,” Nathan said, inspecting the deer. Abby stepped forward to investigate. “They took the choice cuts and left the rest. That’s illegal.” She noted the missing chunks at the animal’s sides. “Those hikers, you think?” “Maybe.” “What about the screams?” Brooke asked. “We didn’t see anyone,” Nathan said. “Neither did we,” Abby said. “A mountain lion can scream like that,” Brooke said. Nathan nodded. “They’re drawn to the smell of blood.” Abby glanced around the woods, studying the dark shadows as if a big cat might spring from the depths at any moment. “Let’s get out of here.” CHAPTER SIX THE TRIP AROUND the lake took a lot longer than the swim across. As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, the temperature dropped into the 70s. Comfortable for hiking, if they weren’t wet, half-naked and barefoot. Nathan’s shorts were soaked. He’d have suggested swimming back, but they were all cold, and Leo was still pale. Nathan didn’t want him to throw up again. The sight of the hanging deer brought back old memories. Nathan had hunted with his father in the woods of Wisconsin, where he’d grown up. He hadn’t enjoyed the sport. He’d always felt a little queasy, pulling the trigger. Dressing the kill was no picnic, either. He’d never complained, of course. His dad would have cuffed him for whining or showing weakness. He felt disloyal for remembering his father that way, as if being strict was a crime. Maybe it was, in California. Now Conrad Strom was dead and gone. Former military, he’d been tough as nails, unaffectionate and slow to praise. A parent from another era. But there was nothing wrong with a man wanting his son to be strong. Was there? Nathan owed a lot of his success in baseball to his stern Midwestern upbringing. If his dad hadn’t pushed so hard, Nathan wouldn’t have achieved half as much. He’d been drafted into the minor league right out of high school. His father had encouraged him to reach for the stars. Whenever Nathan tried to do the same for Leo, it backfired. This whole situation was a mess. One minute he was palling around with Leo and getting cozy with Abby. The next, he was creeping through the woods with a club, searching for a screaming girl. Maybe he’d needed an interruption. His comments to Abby had been too suggestive. After a few minutes in her company, he’d forgotten his vow to keep his distance. She was just so...beautiful. Her curves made his mouth water and his palms itch. In his defense, he hadn’t gotten laid in a really long time. It was more than that, though. They had great sexual chemistry, but he liked her personality. She had depth. If she’d been vapid or conceited or shrill, his urge to fuck her would have faded already. Instead, it kept growing with every smile he coaxed from her, every laugh that escaped her lips. Damn. She seemed interested, too. He assumed she was single. Her signals weren’t so obvious that he knew he could score with her. With some women, he could tell right away. Others were more of a challenge. Abby was the type he’d have to work for. But never mind that. He wasn’t here to put the moves on Abby. His main priority was bonding with Leo. He wanted to be a better father. When this trip was over and they were back in San Diego, he could call Abby. Unless he kept making a jerk of himself and ruining his chances, which was possible. Anyway, he had other things to worry about. Lawbreaking hunters and strange sounds and gutted animals. Nathan held the tree branch in a firm grip, just in case. He didn’t want to tangle with a hungry mountain lion. When they reached the other side of the lake, he drew in a sharp breath. Their backpacks had been tampered with. Zippers and pockets were gaping open. A few stray items were strewn across the sand. “Son of a bitch,” he said, tightening his grip on the club. They’d been robbed! “Check to see what’s missing.” While Nathan stood watch, the others searched the packs. “My cell phone’s gone,” Brooke reported. Abby’s eyes widened with dismay. “At least it’s my backup, so there’s no information to hack.” “Why would they steal a phone they can’t use?” Abby asked. “They can wipe it and sell it,” Leo said. Nathan narrowed his gaze at the trees along the trail. Those long-haired creeps had drawn them away from their belongings to rob them. He didn’t know who or what had made the screaming sound. This was some sneaky, sinister shit. “My stuff is all here,” Abby said. “I didn’t bring any money.” “I did,” Nathan said. “It was in the side pocket.” She reached into the zippered pouch of his pack and pulled out an empty clip. The wad of cash was gone. “Fuck,” he muttered, raking a hand through his hair. “How much was it?” she asked. “Three hundred.” Leo snorted at Nathan’s stupidity. “There goes our fancy dinner at that four-star restaurant down the trail.” Nathan didn’t bother to respond. He always carried cash for emergencies, and it was a trifling amount. When they were done looking for missing items, Brooke reorganized the backpacks and they put on their discarded clothes. “What should we do?” Abby asked. “We have to make camp,” Brooke said. “It will be dark soon.” Abby studied the trail, her lips trembling. It went without saying that this situation freaked her out. “They’re gone,” Nathan said. “What if they come back?” “They won’t. We don’t have anything left to steal.” This logic didn’t appear to convince her. Nathan tried again. “Fresh venison is worth more than my cash and Brooke’s phone. In this weather, they have to get it to cold storage right away.” “How do you know?” “I’ve hunted before. Meat has to be kept at forty degrees. The nightly lows have been in the fifties.” Abby exchanged a nervous glance with Brooke. “They might have a cooler.” “No. Ice is too heavy to hike in, and it won’t last a day out here. The lake isn’t cold enough, either.” She blinked a few times, close to tears. “I want to go to the cabin.” “Mom,” Brooke said in warning tone. Leo stayed silent, as if he had no opinion either way. “Three young women have disappeared in this area,” Abby said in a rush. “One right here at the lake.” “She drowned,” Brooke said. “They didn’t find a body.” “You’re overreacting! They’re thieves, not serial killers.” Abby flinched at the accusation, crossing her arms over her chest. Her anxiety seemed like a direct response to Brooke’s nonchalance. Abby had to be twice as careful to make up for her daughter’s lack of fear. Nathan fell somewhere in the middle. He doubted the hunters were a serious threat, but he’d been wrong before. “Whatever they are, they’ll be on that trail. It’s the quickest way back to Monarch. If they think we’re following them, they might get defensive. Camping here is the safest option.” “I don’t know,” Abby said. “My dad and I can take turns keeping watch tonight,” Leo offered. It was a good suggestion. Nathan agreed immediately. Abby stepped away from Brooke and Leo, waving Nathan toward her for a private chat. “I have a bad feeling about this.” “What choice do we have?” “I’m scared,” she whispered. “Don’t be,” he said, his chest puffing up a little. He liked the idea of protecting her. But he also felt conflicted, as if he shouldn’t enjoy the ego boost. One day in the wilderness had turned him into a caveman. “I won’t let anyone hurt you or Brooke.” “What about tomorrow?” “We can look at the map and choose an alternative route back to the cabin.” “Not Lupine Meadow.” “No.” She exhaled a ragged breath. “Okay.” They put on their packs and prepared to leave. If they delayed much longer, they’d be pitching tents in the dark. “Let’s switch up the hiking order,” Nathan said. “Leo should go first.” Leo didn’t have to ask why. He found another good-sized rock to use as a bludgeon. Nathan had a buck knife in his pocket. He hadn’t drawn it on the other side of the lake, and he didn’t pull it out now, but he was glad to have a weapon. Before they walked away, Nathan noticed a small rectangular package on the sand. Rolling papers. Leo saw them at the same time. Guilt flashed across his features, replaced quickly by belligerence. “Are those yours?” Nathan asked. “Yeah. So?” “Tell me you didn’t bring pot with you.” “I didn’t bring pot with me,” he said in a flat voice. He was lying. Nathan could read the truth all over his handsome, grown-up face. “Take off your pack,” Nathan said through clenched teeth, resisting the urge to shove Leo to the ground and rip it from his shoulders. When Leo didn’t comply, Nathan whirled him around and unzipped the front pouch. “Don’t bother,” Leo said, shrugging away from him. “They stole it.” “Goddamn it, Leo!” Leo stepped back another few feet. He still had a rock clenched in his fist. He looked stubborn and rebellious and...scared. He should be scared. Nathan couldn’t remember being this angry with him before. Tenderness and concern were difficult emotions for him to express, but rage rose right up to the surface, spilling over. “What the fuck were you thinking? Were you going to light up after we went to sleep? Share a joint with Brooke?” “Brooke doesn’t smoke weed.” “I did once,” she corrected. “Who gave it to you?” Nathan asked. Her nonresponse spoke volumes. “I only brought it because I couldn’t leave it at home or in the cabin,” Leo said. “I wasn’t going to ‘peer pressure’ Brooke.” He made quotation marks in the air, as if he was talking about something that didn’t exist. “Ray could have you arrested if he found your stash,” Nathan said. Leo shrugged, playing hard-ass. “I can’t believe you’d be so stupid.” His eyes narrowed. “Okay, boozehound.” Nathan felt the insult like a punch in the gut. “You know I don’t drink anymore.” “I know you’re a hypocrite.” They stared each other down for a moment. Leo had put on at least twenty pounds of muscle in the past few years. He wasn’t a kid anymore. Fine grains of stubble darkened his jaw. He’d started shaving. Nathan had missed his transition from boy to man. He’d missed a lot of things. Nathan glanced at Abby, who was watching from the sidelines. She looked sad and sorry and full of sympathy—for Leo. Maybe she thought Nathan was wrong for calling him out like this, but he didn’t know what else to do. He couldn’t ignore the problem and hope it went away. Leo needed help. “Let’s talk about this later,” Abby said. Nathan scrubbed a hand over his mouth, nodding. He remembered his first drink, given to him by his father on a hunting weekend the summer he’d turned twelve. He’d raided the camp for more beer and gotten tipsy as hell. His uncles had laughed as if Nathan was the funniest thing they’d ever seen. He’d always considered that a good memory. Now it was sour, like the taste in his mouth when he was jonesing. Nathan trudged forward until they reached the campsite. Although it was less than a mile from the lake, the uphill climb tired him out. They’d had a long day of emotional stress and physical activity. The campsite was located in a hilly area with a good view of the trail. It had a clearing for tents and primitive fire pits. There was a ramshackle outhouse about a hundred yards from the clearing. Abby grimaced at the sight. “This is great,” Leo said with sarcasm, taking off his backpack. “And to think I wanted to go to the Bahamas.” “Were you expecting a hotel?” Brooke asked. “No, I was expecting a bug-infested shit hole.” “This is a nice camp,” she said. “There probably won’t be many gnats or mosquitoes this far from the lake.” They set their backpacks down by a log in front of the fire pit. Abby stretched her arms over her head while Brooke removed a water filtration system from her pack. They’d passed a rushing creek on the way here. “I have to get water,” Brooke said. “Why don’t you go with her?” Nathan said to Leo. “Why don’t you?” “Come on, Leo,” Brooke said. “Let’s try to make the best of it. I’d be happy if my dad was here.” “Yeah. Too bad he can’t be bothered to spend time with you.” This cracked Brooke’s sunny persona. Her brows slanted downward. “If it wasn’t for your mom and her stupid ankle, he wouldn’t have canceled.” “Leave her out of it.” “I don’t think she wanted to come on the trip.” “For good reason.” “What?” “They’re getting a divorce,” Leo said. Nathan hadn’t heard this news. He glanced at Abby, who appeared as shocked as he was. She sat down on a log in front of the fire pit and cupped a hand over her forehead. Nathan hated the way Lydia had left him, but he didn’t wish another divorce on her. Abby didn’t seem happy about it, either. “Why?” Brooke asked. “Ray’s cheating on her with one of his nurses.” “Wow,” she said, after a long pause. “Karma is a bitch.” “Brooke,” Abby warned. “What are you talking about?” Leo asked. “Your mom cheated with him, too.” He shook his head in disbelief. “My mom walked in on them in his office,” Brooke said. “He had her bent over the couch with her skirt up.” Abby’s eyes widened with horror. “How did you know that?” “I heard you crying to Aunt Ella over the phone. I listened through the door.” “Oh my God,” Abby groaned. “My dad moved out the next day,” Brooke said. Leo looked to Nathan for a confirmation he couldn’t give. He’d never mentioned Lydia’s infidelity to Leo, and he hadn’t been aware of the specific details of the affair. Lydia had told Nathan that she wanted a divorce because she was seeing someone else. When Nathan asked if she was sleeping with him, she’d said yes. It was probably the worst moment of his life, next to the YouTube debacle and his career implosion. Brooke’s bombshell brought back a rush of bad feelings. The image of Lydia in Ray’s office stung, even after all these years. “You’re a fucking liar,” Leo said. “No, Leo. I’m not. And neither is my mom, so you better watch your mouth.” Abby rose to her feet and grabbed Brooke by the arm. “Apologize to Leo. You had no right to hurt him like that.” Brooke pulled her arm from Abby’s grasp. She stared at Leo, seeming conflicted. “She doesn’t have to apologize,” Nathan said. “Leo started it.” Leo turned to Nathan, his dark eyes gleaming. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Nathan wasn’t sure what to say. Lydia hadn’t wanted Leo to know she’d been unfaithful. She’d said he was too young to understand the complexity. After mulling it over, Nathan had agreed with her. They’d settled on a “mutual story,” which was that they just weren’t happy together. It was true, well before Ray came into the picture. Nathan had cursed Lydia to hell and tossed out scathing insults on multiple occasions—in Leo’s earshot—but he’d managed to stay quiet about the cheating. Since Nathan had moved out, his relationship with Leo had been difficult. They hadn’t talked about Lydia or the divorce. Nathan had been bitter and angry, but not interested in dragging her name through the mud. Lydia, in turn, hadn’t taken him to the cleaners. Leo had probably assumed that she’d gotten fed up with Nathan’s drinking. And that was the bottom line. It was the reason she’d strayed. “I’m sorry,” he said, shifting his gaze from Brooke to Leo. He was sorry they had to go through this again. “You were only thirteen.” “I was old enough to hear the truth,” Leo said. “It was a mutual decision, Leo. We split up because I was drunk all the time. I don’t care what happened between your mother and Ray. I care about what you do. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.” Leo looked away, his mouth set in an angry line. Instead of talking things out, he picked up the water bag and strode away from camp with Brooke. CHAPTER SEVEN THIS WHOLE TRIP was fucking stupid. Leo walked to the creek in front of Brooke, keeping an eye out for intruders. He was hungry and tired and annoyed with everything. He couldn’t believe his dad hadn’t told him his mom had cheated. Leo didn’t know what to think. Brooke never lied about anything important, and Abby seemed like the honest type. His mom, on the other hand, had been known to stretch the truth. He doubted she had a sprained ankle, for example. “Shit,” he said, kicking the dirt. For the past six years, he’d operated under the assumption that his mom had left his dad because he was a surly drunk. Now he found out that she’d only told Leo half the truth. He was furious with both of his parents for deceiving him. The reason they got divorced was important. Leo resented being kept out of the loop. He resented Ray for taking his car away, and his mom for backing up Ray. Most of all, he resented his dad for trying to interfere in his life after making a mess of his own. Leo’s recreational drug use was nobody’s damned business. He was nineteen, not twelve. Pot was hardly even illegal. In a few years, it would be sold in every supermarket. Compared to alcohol and other drugs, it was healthy. Leo wasn’t a heroin addict. He didn’t rob banks. He didn’t drive drunk or disrespect girls or brawl in the streets. He was fine, and he didn’t need his dad or anyone else getting in his face about smoking a little weed. It made him happy. Why shouldn’t he be happy? Adults wanted everyone to be boring and miserable, like them. He had to climb on the hamster wheel and become a “productive member of society.” Well, fuck that. This wasn’t even about him, it was about his dad. Mr. Bigshot Pro Baller had decided that drugs and alcohol were evil because he’d made a fool of himself on YouTube. Leo shouldn’t have to get sober just because his dad couldn’t handle his liquor. It was stupid of Brooke to hint that she’d gotten high with him, too. Ray already thought Leo was a bad influence. If Ray learned that Leo had crossed the line with his daughter—in more ways than one—he’d go ape-shit. Ray had threatened to make Leo’s life a living hell if he ever dared to touch Brooke. There were worse things than not having a car to drive. Leo could end up getting kicked out of the house or thrown in jail. Leo knew he’d caused trouble between his mother and Ray. They fought over his bad grades and worse attitude. Was it any wonder that he wanted to escape? There was conflict everywhere he turned. He glanced over his shoulder at Brooke. She followed him in silence, not chirping about the scenery or wildlife for once. He liked her more than a stepbrother should, but her high energy rankled when he was feeling down. It was easy for her to be upbeat; she was perfect. When they reached the creek, he handed her the water bag. “I’m sorry,” he said, his stomach churning. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. He was only an inch or two taller than her, so their bodies lined up in a pleasing way. “It’s okay,” she said, releasing him. “You were upset.” “Do you hate my mom?” “No, I like her. I shouldn’t have made that karma comment. It was mean.” He watched her nibble her lower lip, her blue eyes full of regret. Even Brooke said bitchy things in the heat of the moment. “Do you really think they’ll split up?” she asked. “I don’t know.” It was going to suck either way. Ray was a jerk, but Leo’s mom loved him. “If they do, will you stay in touch with me?” “Of course.” “Good,” she said, smiling. “I don’t want to lose my only brother.” Brother. Right. She bent to fill up the water bag. It filtered inside the collapsible pouch and came out a tube at the bottom, ready to drink. He carried the heavy bag back to camp and hung it on the short tree branch Brooke pointed out. Then she fired up the camp stove and put a pot of water on to boil. Leo was starving, so he hoped the freeze-dried dinners were edible. “Help me set up the tents,” his dad said. Leo rose with reluctance, not interested in another lecture. His dad was pretending to be a concerned parent for Abby’s benefit, but he didn’t really care. The Storm had always been more focused on sports and professional success. Leo would never be good enough to suit him; he’d given up trying a long time ago. His dad studied the instructions and started putting poles together, speaking to Leo only when necessary. The tents were compact and low to the ground, designed for maximum comfort in minimal space. Leo wasn’t looking forward to sharing such tight quarters with someone who could barely tolerate him. “Your mother didn’t want to tell you,” his dad said in a low voice. “She didn’t think you’d understand.” “Did you cheat on her, too?” “No,” he said, his brows rising. “Never.” Leo wished they’d talked about this a long time ago. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference. He’d never forgive his dad for treating him like a disappointment. But knowing this small truth changed Leo’s feelings about him. Once the tents were secure, his dad brought the gear inside and left Leo alone with his thoughts. Brooke wandered over to help him get situated. She showed him how to use the air valve to inflate the sleeping pads. “Do you think they’ll let us sleep together?” she asked. He laid out his sleeping pad. “No.” “Why not?” It was a silly question, so he started blowing into the valve. “Then my mom could sleep with your dad.” Ugh. He didn’t know which was worse, Brooke’s lack of sexual self-awareness or her weird fascination with their parents hooking up. “They’d make a cute couple. I like your dad.” “If you like him so much, why don’t you sleep with him?” She made a horrified face. “Ew, Leo! No.” He finished inflating his sleeping pad, smiling a little. Then he watched her blow into the valve on her sleeping pad with more interest than was appropriate. Brooke tempted and teased him on a regular basis. She did it the same way she did everything, with unfiltered joie de vivre. Flirting was as natural as breathing to her. Maybe she toyed with him because he was safe. They were comfortable together. There was no possibility of a relationship. She meant no harm, but she wasn’t so oblivious that she didn’t notice his reactions to her. He’d gotten an erection once when she’d climbed on top of him. She’d been more amused than embarrassed, tickling him until it went away. He knew she wasn’t a virgin. She’d told him all about her first time, and how her douchebag boyfriend hadn’t bothered to be gentle. He assumed she’d had other, hopefully better, experiences since then. But it was clear that she was still innocent in many ways. She had no clue how much he wanted her. Sometimes that made him angry. Sometimes he wasn’t in the mood for playful wrestling and blue balls. He couldn’t stay angry, though. Being mad at her for flirting was like being mad at her for being beautiful, or being mad at the sun for shining. If he needed space, he could put distance between them. But he never did. Because he enjoyed the attention. God help him, he liked her rubbing on him. They’d never discussed what Leo had done at Mavericks. Leo wasn’t sure she even remembered it. She’d been high as a kite, thanks to him. They climbed out of the tent and pulled on jackets. The sun had disappeared on the horizon, bringing the chill of dusk. Abby and his dad were sitting on the log by the fire pit. While Brooke added boiling water to four meal packages, letting them steep for a few minutes, Leo cased the perimeter of the campsite. He’d lied to his dad about the pot. It was still in his backpack. Leo wasn’t worried about the hunters coming after them. His dad had made a good point about the poached venison. Even so, the remoteness of their location left them vulnerable. As he stared into the dark recesses of the forest, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Troubled, he returned to the others. There was nowhere to sit except on the fallen log in front of the empty fire pit. Leo took a space next to Abby. He didn’t make eye contact with her. He was embarrassed by his contentious relationship with his father. Brooke’s sordid tale about his mother and her father getting busy in the back office didn’t help. Brooke put another pot of water on to boil, humming a cheery tune. She was wearing a fluorescent yellow windbreaker and a blue knit beanie with her cutoff shorts and hiking boots. Her legs were about a mile long, smooth and tanned. Leo hazarded a glance at Abby. She’d put on a gray fleece pullover to ward off the chill. She was pretty, and not that old. His friends would call her a “milf.” He hated it when they said that about his mom. “Brooke tells me you’re a student at Humboldt,” Abby said. “Yeah,” he said. “I like it there.” “Do you have a major?” “International Studies.” Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию (https://www.litres.ru/jill-sorenson/backwoods-39775749/?lfrom=688855901) на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.