Page 90 of Glimmer in the Darkness

“I’m not putting you in danger.”

“I didn’t come up here—”

“You were shot yesterday. You have a huge lump on your head and bruises all over your body.” Gently, he traced the one on her shoulder, visible thanks to her tank top, the last of her clean clothes. “I love that you want to save Ella. I do too. But not if it means putting you in danger. I need somebody down here to listen, to be ready to contact the police.”

“Forget it.”

He shifted so his face was inches from hers, studying her through narrowed eyes.

“I’m not—”

But his lips covered hers, cut off her words.

He slipped his fingers onto her neck, sending tingles down her spine.

She laid her palms on his chest, enjoying the strength she felt there, the steady beat of his heart.

He ended the kiss suddenly and pulled her against him.

Neither of them spoke.

She wasn’t going to be dissuaded by a kiss, but she’d enjoyed it nonetheless.

“I can’t lose you again,” he said.

“I didn’t come all this way to hide. If I’d wanted to hide—”

“If I’m right about who…” He backed away, shook his head. “Scratch that. Whether I’m right or wrong is irrelevant. If the kidnapper is up there, then this is going to be dangerous. I have no intention of confronting him. My plan is simply to learn what I can. That’s it. I’m going to go up the long way, get as close as I can, and listen. If I hear nothing, I’ll get closer, hopefully go inside. If Ella’s there, I’ll get her out and we’ll leave together. If I hear a man’s voice, then I’ll know.”

“I can hel—”

“I don’t need your help.” James took her hands and rested his forehead against hers. “I need to know you’re safe. If you’re with me, you’ll only distract me.”

She backed away from him. “If you didn’t want my help, why did you bring me?”

“If something happens to me, you need to run and call the police. You need to tell them what happened here.”

“How can I do that if you won’t let me get close enough to see who it is? And if you don’t tell me your suspicions?”

He stood, looked over her head. Obviously, he hadn’t thought this through.

“Look,” she said, “I’ll stay out of the way. But this is too far. Hundreds of yards? How will I hear if you call out to me? How will I know anything?”

“I want you far enough away that you’re out of danger.”

“I have a gun, too, James, and I know how to use it. If I stay here, I’ll be far enough away to be of zero use to you. Every moment I hear nothing, I’ll worry. There’s no way I could just sit here and wait. Eventually, I’ll get closer, just to be sure.”

His growl of frustration was uttered so quietly that she almost missed it.

“How about this?” she said. “How about we get closer, within fifty yards. I’ll hide, but from there, I’ll be able to hear if you call me.” And help if he needed her, though she didn’t say that. “I’ll be able to see who you’re confronting up there, assuming anybody’s even there.”

He studied the slope ahead of them, then lowered his head and rubbed the back of his neck. He met her eyes, and before he spoke, she knew she’d convinced him. She worked hard to hide the triumphant smile that wanted to show itself.

“You’ll stop where I tell you and stay hidden?”

Though she didn’t relish the idea of James going up to the cave alone, she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t a little relieved. Truth was, she was terrified to be back here. And having James working to protect her… It wasn’t very women’s-libby, but she liked it. She could definitely get used to it. “I promise.”

“Anything happens to me, you run. You don’t try to save me or rescue Ella. You just run.”