He unlocked the door and they walked inside.
The interior was rustic and beautiful. The pine plank floor in the living room was covered with a Navajo rug. The furniture was bold with a Southwestern flair. There were two bedrooms, a full bathroom with a heated tile floor, and two cords of wood were stacked on the back porch.
Within minutes Jake had a fire blazing in the hearth. Because she needed something to do, Leigh made coffee in the kitchen, then joined Jake in front of the fire.
She handed him a steaming mug. “Do you think the plan is going to work?”
He took the coffee and sipped, watching her over the rim. “Rasmussen will jump at any chance to get to you.”
She withheld the shudder that threatened. “What if he doesn’t read the story?”
“The Investigator is widely read. We’ll give him a few days. Ron is going to run the story online, as well. Even if Rasmussen doesn’t read it, someone he knows will probably tell him about the story. I know from the months I hunted him that he’s an information junkie.” Jake shrugged. “If he doesn’t bite the first day, I’ll have Ronald run a different story, citing the same location a second time.”
“Ian is smart, Jake. What if he realizes it’s a trap?”
“Ronald is a good writer. He’ll reveal just enough information for Rasmussen to figure out the location. He won’t make it too easy for him.”
Leigh was tired, but her mind was wound tight. Unable to sit, she began to pace, going through the gauntlet of all the things that could go wrong.
Jake came up behind her and set his hands on her shoulders. “You wear a hole in that rug and we’re going to have some explaining to do to Ronald’s brother-in-law,” he said.
She choked out a laugh and turned to face him. “I’m worried. Pacing is what nervous people do.”
“I’m not going to tell you this isn’t dangerous. But I will tell you that I’m not going to let anything go wrong. I’m sure as hell not going to let Rasmussen get to you. Do you understand?”
“It’s not me I’m worried about, Jake. It’s you. Rasmussen is insanely jealous. He knows that you and I…” Because she didn’t know quite how to finish the sentence she sighed. “He knows we were together. He’s not going to let that go.”
“I can handle him, Leigh. Give me some credit. I’m a trained agent. I know firearms. And I’ve seen Rasmussen’s psychological profile. I’m quite aware of what he’s capable of.”
“He’s a monster,” she whispered.
“He’s only a man. A man with weaknesses just like everyone else. I know he’s going to bite. And I know this plan is the best way to smoke him out of his hole so we can end this.” He squeezed her shoulders. “So you can get your life back.”
The thought bolstered her, but it was only a tiny light at the end of a long, dark and very dangerous tunnel. For the first time since the nightmare had begun, she was more afraid for Jake than she was for herself.
“I can barely imagine what it would be like not to have to look over my shoulder every minute of every day.”
“Once he’s in custody, MIDNIGHT will work in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies to dismantle the remainder of his organization. Once that happens, neither will be a threat to you any longer. Try to keep that in mind, Leigh.”
Standing there looking into Jake’s dark eyes, feeling his strong hands on her shoulders, she almost believed everything was going to be all right.
She jolted when a particularly hard gust of wind shook the cabin.
“Just the wind,” he said softly.
Embarrassed, Leigh laughed. “I’m jumping at shadows.”
“We’re safe until that story runs.” Raising his hand, he brushed a stray hair from her cheek. “You’re safe with me.”
The moment had become intimate. Leigh was trembling, but it wasn’t from fear. It was because of Jake. The way he was looking at her. The way he was touching her. The way her body was responding.
She had vowed she would not let down her guard. That she would not give in to the demands of her body when it came to Jake Vanderpol. But when he dipped his head and brushed his mouth against hers, Leigh forgot all about the promises she’d made to herself and kissed him back.
When he ran his hands over her shoulders and down her back, shivers of delight cascaded through her body.
“Come here,” he whispered.
He didn’t wait for her to comply and pulled her against him. His body was like sculpted steel against hers. Leigh fit perfectly. Too perfectly, she thought dazedly.