Mountain Man's Accidental Surprise - K.C. Crowne Page 0,48

of him. There was a heat in his eyes, but he behaved himself. He helped me slip out of the wet sweatpants and into the dry pair. He slipped the new sweatshirt over my head.

I was surrounded in warmth and softness, and even though the clothes were much too big, I was comfortable.

“There, much better,” he said softly. “Now come here.”

He walked me over to the bed and we laid down. He wrapped those big, strong arms around me, and my head rested against his chest. His heartbeat and breathing calmed me, helping me to focus on the here and now.

Graham

I’m going to be a dad.

I was trying to remain calm for Emmy’s sake, but on the inside, I was a nervous wreck. I’d never thought about having kids. Not that I didn’t like kids, I just wasn’t sure I’d make a good dad. I worked a lot, and I worked in a dangerous profession. It just didn’t seem compatible with fatherhood.

But now I didn’t have much of a choice, and I felt feelings I never expected to feel before. I was excited. I loved the child already, and my feelings for Emmy… well, they were complicated. I knew it was too soon, but I had feelings for her. I’d wanted to protect her before, but knowing she was carrying my child, that feeling was amplified.

No one would hurt her. No one would take her away from me.

“I’m going to try calling Liv again.”

I didn’t say anything, but I perked up, paying attention to Emmy and what she said if anyone answered. But no one did. She dialed the number again with a sigh. And this time, she left a message.

“Liv, where are you? I’m getting really worried about you.”

I had to admit, I was getting worried too. No news from Eli, and he hadn’t come back yet. The fact that he was still out looking for Liv made me think there was no one to find.

Or maybe there was and I had sent my little brother into a trap. Not that Eli couldn’t handle himself. He was ex-military too and was armed to the teeth, but I’d sent him out alone. I should have sent Mason with him, but I felt like we needed everyone here, with Antonio’s target.

“Why do you think she’s not answering?” Emmy asked, her eyes red from all the crying. “No, wait, don’t answer that - I don’t want to know.”

I stroked the hair back from her face. There was nothing I could tell her to make her feel better. I didn’t want to give her false hope or to lie to her, but it wasn’t looking good.

“We’ll figure it out. No matter what.”

“But how can you be sure you’ll save her? If they got her, they could kill her.”

“If they got her,” I stated matter-of-factly. “And that’s still an if at this point. If they got her, they will use her as bait. Killing her would defeat the whole purpose of kidnapping her. They want you, not her. I know that might not help you feel any better, but it’s true. Your friend will be used as bait, and we’ll find her - and then we’ll take them all down.”

“You sound very confident.”

“Because I’ve done it before. More times than I can count, and rarely has it gone differently.”

“Rarely?” she cocked an eyebrow. “So sometimes it doesn’t go the way you expect?”

“Sometimes, sure, but the motives were different. It was more for revenge than wanting to get to someone. Antonio wants you, Emmy,” I reminded her. “He clearly wants you badly, and he wants you alive, so they won’t be storming in with shotguns. He’s smart – he’ll make you come to him. And you wouldn’t do that if your best friend was dead.”

Emmy let out a shaky breath and wrapped her arms across her chest. “I don’t like this.”

“No, of course not, darlin’,” I said, scooting closer to her. “And I’m sorry you’re going through this.”

She leaned against me and closed her eyes as I stroked her cheek.

There was a knock on the door a minute later.

“Yes?”

“Eli’s back,” Sam said.

“Send him in,” I said.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Eli entered the room. He was alone, and the look of defeat on his face brought out a sob from Emmy.

“I didn’t find anyone along the highway,” he announced morosely. “I went up and down, all the way into town, and I didn’t see a car waiting or a woman like you