looking at him, he snapped his mouth closed, making his body loosen.
He moved closer to the door just as a male voice called, “Lucas, it’s Agent Gallagher.”
Lucas.
He’d already forgotten that name.
He frowned as he went to his window and peeked out. The man was standing to the side of the door, in a huge puffy jacket, and boots with fur at the top that came from a type of animal Jak had never seen in nature. No weapon and . . . no car, which meant wherever he’d come from, he’d walked.
“You can trust him, Jak,” Harper said, coming up behind him and putting her hand on his arm. “I do.”
He realized how tightly he’d been holding his body and met her eyes, nodding. When he opened his door, the agent’s gaze went quickly behind him to where Harper was standing. He let out a breath. “Good, you’re here.” He looked at Jak. “May I come in?”
Jak opened the door wider and the agent came in, looking around the cabin as he took off his big coat. “I was concerned,” he said, again to Harper, giving Jak a look that he knew meant he didn’t trust him all the way. Jak could understand that, but he didn’t like this man worrying about the woman he was already thinking of as his own. He wanted that to be his job.
“I’m fine,” Harper said, taking his jacket, and hanging it on the hook on the wall next to where she’d hung hers. Jak liked that she already knew his house, liked that she was acting like she lived there. “Were you looking for me?”
“Yeah. I’ve called you several times. When you didn’t answer, I got worried. I remembered you said you were thinking of coming here.”
Harper frowned. “Oh, I didn’t see that I had any missed calls. The reception is so spotty out here. Maybe your messages hadn’t come through before I moved into a spot where there wasn’t any service.”
The agent gave Jak another look that had something in it Jak didn’t know the name for. It wasn’t a good look though. It told Jak the agent had wondered if Jak had hurt Harper and had come to rescue her if she needed rescuing. Jak had thought he’d had nice eyes in the sheriff building, but now he didn’t like him.
“I’ve sort of fallen down on the job you asked me to do if you’re driving yourself out here.” Harper looked back and forth between the agent and Jak with a nervous smile on her face like she wanted them to be friends.
The agent laughed shortly. “No, it’s okay. I see why you stayed here. I had the deputy drop me at the nearby road and then I walked. It’s like an ice forest out there.”
“Oh.” Harper frowned again. “I hate that you had to do that because of me. Thank you for your concern.” She looked at Jak. “But really, I’m just fine.” She smiled at him and then she blushed. Jak looked at the agent, hoping he’d seen it and knew what it meant.
“I’m actually glad I drove out.” He gave Jak a small smile. “Or walked as the case may be. I wanted to talk to you anyway. I’ve found out a few things that I think you should know about. And, I’m hoping you’ll answer a few more questions.”
“Do you want to sit down?” Harper cut in, leading the agent to Jak’s table. He watched them for a minute as Harper pointed to one of the stools, making sure he was comfortable. That’s where Jak had sat with Harper, and he felt something odd bubbling in his chest. No, not bubbling . . . but . . . he hated that he couldn’t even explain to himself how he felt from minute to minute. Maybe if he could explain how he felt, he could talk himself out of it. As it was, all he had were the feelings. Nothing else.
After they’d both sat, Jak walked slowly to the table, joining them. The agent was watching him, the look on his face not mean and Jak stared back. He knew that if another male stared at him, he could not be the first to look away, or it would show fear. The agent knew that too, he could tell.
“Lucas—”
Harper cleared her throat, giving Jak a look.
“Am I missing something here?”
Jak sighed. He had told Harper his name and didn’t want her to have to lie for him. “I