Wyoming Mountain Escape by Laura Scott (types of ebook readers .TXT) 📗

two connecting rooms. Duncan stayed behind Chelsey as they headed inside, glad that their ground-floor rooms had easy access in and out.

“I’ll park the SUV somewhere safe,” Colt said. “Don’t worry about how long I’m gone. It’ll take me a while to hike back from the resort.”

Duncan walked Chelsey through the connecting door to her room. For a long moment, neither of them said anything, even though there was so much he wanted to tell her.

“I’m tired but not sure I’ll be able to sleep,” Chelsey confided, dropping onto the edge of the bed. “It’s all been so surreal. I don’t know anything about where I’ll be at this time tomorrow.”

He sat in the only chair in the room, across from her. “I wish there was a way you could stay.”

She let out a heavy sigh. “I think we both know that’s impossible. The fact that they followed us to the hotel proves they won’t stop until they get what they want.”

He was very much afraid she was right. “I don’t think they know about the evidence—maybe they believe we were there to get your personal things.”

“Maybe.” Chelsey looked down at the floor. “It’s hard to accept the inability to take personal photographs with me.”

“I can grab them for you,” he offered. “That way if things change down the road you’ll know that you’ll be able to have them back some day.”

“Really?” The offer caused her face to light up. “I’d love that, thanks.”

“No problem.” He hesitated, thinking back once again to his family back in Milwaukee. His dad, who might be marrying Maggie Callahan; his sister, Shayla, and her two kids. “I’ll go with you, Chelsey.”

“What?” She looked confused. “You mean to get me settled? That won’t work, the location has to be secret to the point where Slade is the only one who will know where I am.”

“No, I mean, we can go into WITSEC together. I care about you, Chelsey. You need a friend, and I don’t want to lose you.”

Her mouth dropped open, and hope flashed briefly in her eyes, before she shook her head. “No, Duncan, I can’t ask that of you.”

“You never asked, Chels. I’m offering.” He knew doing this would bring his family pain, but his dad had Maggie, and Shayla had Mike and their kids. They would all go on with their lives.

“Oh, Duncan.” Her eyes filled with tears. “That’s the sweetest offer in the entire world, but I can’t let you do this. I can’t let you give up your family. Mine is gone, so the sacrifice isn’t nearly as great. But your dad and your sister both need you.”

“They’ll be okay without me,” he began, but she abruptly cut him off.

“No, Duncan. I’m not going to let you do this.” She jumped up from her perch on the bed and moved away. “I need to get cleaned up. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

He stared at her for a long moment, trying to read between the lines. Was she refusing because she didn’t care for him? Or because she didn’t want him in her life?

Before he could try to clarify, she went into the tiny bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Leaving him little choice but to return to the room he was sharing with the guys, his gut filled with dread, his heart heavy.

All too soon, Chelsey would be leaving him forever. The same way Amanda had. Only Amanda had died, while Chelsey was making a conscious decision to go.

And there wasn’t anything he could do to change that.

Chelsey collapsed on the edge of the closed lid of the toilet, her hands shaking as she hung her head.

That Duncan would make such a selfless offer was mind-boggling. And worse? She’d wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms and accept his sacrifice.

Refusing him had been one of the most difficult things she’d ever done. But she also knew it was the right thing to do.

Her feelings for Duncan were difficult to decipher. She might be falling in love with him but didn’t trust her feelings. She’d made a hasty decision with Brett and look where that had landed her.

Right in the middle of this mess.

Yet spending time with Duncan prior to the wedding had shown her the truth about her feelings toward Brett. She’d been very attracted to Duncan. So much so, she’d realized how much she cared about Brett as a friend, not as a husband.

But Duncan had served in the army, and it was his nature to be a protector. And he’d done an admirable job guarding her.

She wouldn’t be here if not for his expertise.

There was also the fact that if she hadn’t agreed to marry Brett, she wouldn’t have met Duncan again. He’d come to stand up as Brett’s best man. Duncan hadn’t come to Wyoming specifically to see her.

Foolish to think Duncan had fallen in love with his best man’s bride. Duncan was too honorable for that.

No, the best thing she could do for Duncan was to let him go. Allow him to return home to his family, friends and career.

She loved him enough to give him the life he deserved.

What was left of the night dragged on forever. Chelsey woke up almost every hour and finally gave up trying to sleep at about six in the morning. The sky was beginning to lighten, several puffy white clouds floating across the sky, although a darker rain cloud hovered over the Grand Tetons.

She’d taken the bullet-resistant vest off last night and was doing her best to replace it over her dark blue cotton shirt when she heard a light rap on the connecting door.

“Come in.” She turned in time to see Duncan step over the threshold. “Hey. I could use some help here.”

He set a bag of food on the table, then came over to adjust the vest. “I brought breakfast from the fast food place across the street.”

“How did you know I was awake?”

He shrugged, avoiding her gaze. “Heard you