and spin her.
Even without our relationship, which was a lot more real to me than fake, it was the most fun I’d ever had with someone doing something so mundane.
But then it ended.
We didn’t have any warning. There was no crunch of tires on gravel, or the sound of the gate banging back into place.
There was just Loren’s cousin Marie, walking out of the woods, sobbing.
Loren ran to the door. Her hand was already on the lock by the time I grabbed her upper arm. “What did I tell you about letting anyone in or going outside?” I asked.
“Not to do it. And Jackson, I get that. But I can’t leave my cousin out there crying. That’s cruel.”
Goddamnit. I should have told her the truth in the car. Then she’d understand why I didn’t want her to go out there.
I had continually fucked this up over and over. I’d been promoted in the military because I made quick decisive decisions, and my men followed them. For eighteen years I’d followed the patterns that I learned in Ranger training that taught me how to assess a situation and make a decision.
It had finally become crystal clear to me that kind of method would never work in a relationship, even a pretend one. Not even when a relationship encountered a problem that seemed more like a battle problem than a romantic one.
I couldn’t fix the past, but I could try to make Loren understand now.
I let go of her arm and stepped back. “Listen, there’s something I need to tell you. You were right yesterday in the Jeep. I should have told you then.”
Loren nodded and stepped away from the door. “Go on.” She opened a cabinet and pulled out a glass.
Relaxing my stance, I moved away from the door so I didn’t look like I didn’t trust her. If she tried to get to the door, I could still block her from here. “Your cousin is here because of her husband.” I held up my hand as her mouth opened. “Keep an open mind. I have reason to believe that Douglas was the reason --”
I never got to finish that sentence, because Loren didn’t intend to get a glass of water. She bolted and ran, going straight out the back door of the cabin. I tried to grab her. I jumped forward, arms outstretched, but I missed her by about two inches. My body hit the floor, and I scrambled up.
Thanks to me, Loren was rushing into something she didn’t fully understand.
I ran after her but it was too late. By the time I got to the front of the cabin, Marie was in Loren’s arms. She was gasping for air and crying hysterically. I patted my pockets, but I didn’t have my gun. Shit. I’d left it lying on the bedroom dresser.
This was no survival mission. I was really fucking this up. I’d somehow made us sitting ducks, and I wasn’t even keeping my weapon with me. Was I still addled from the drugs they’d shot me up with, or was being in love with the person I was supposed to protect messing with my judgment?
I scanned the treeline, but didn’t see anything. Getting my gun was a priority, but I didn’t want to leave Loren alone with Marie. She could have a syringe in her pocket for all I knew, and she could attempt to inject Loren.
If she really had come here for help, I wasn’t letting her in the cabin without a weapons check and a pat down to make sure she wasn’t concealing a knife, gun, or some kind of tracking device.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” Loren said to her as soon as some of the wailing had abated. “Did something happen to Douglas?” she asked.
“He’s a liar!” Maire said in a hoarse whisper. “Everything he said was a lie. He doesn’t have any money. He doesn't even own his car. The bank repossessed it. He’s been living on his family’s name and reputation, but they’d disowned him now, and he’s got nothing.”
“Oh Marie, I’m sorry,” Loren said, hugging her again. Marie sniffled and wiped her face with her arm. “I caught him going through my bank records last week. I should have known.”
“Good job, wife. A perfect performance,” a loud male voice called out.
My blood chilled in my veins as I looked up to see Douglas standing at the edge of my property, holding a long-range rifle.
“It wasn’t a performance, you loser!” Marie shouted at him. “I