Mountain Secrets Elizabeth Goddard (life changing books to read .txt) 📖

you for covering for me. I meant to...well... I meant to talk to you first and get myself an actual invitation.”

“I guess I should have invited you. I didn’t think it was appropriate. Or that you could leave your job.”

Oh yeah. That. If she only knew.

“So why did you come?” In her eyes, he thought he saw that she was searching, wanting to know a deeper truth. One he couldn’t admit.

“The reason you gave them. I’m not leaving your side until this is over.”

“But how will you catch my attacker if you’re on the boat with me?” An odd look washed over Jewel’s face, and the moonlit sparkle in her eyes vanished.

“I thought getting away was the answer, but as soon as you made plans to leave, I realized that your attacker might follow you. I’m going to keep you safe just like I said.”

She scoffed a laugh like she didn’t believe him. Didn’t trust his ability to protect her.

Or was it that she knew he didn’t have all the information?

“What haven’t you told me, Jewel?”

“I haven’t told you thank you.” She smiled. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Jewel stood and moved to the rail to look out over the waters of the Inside Passage. He followed her and leaned against the railing next to her.

The only thing to make the moment more perfect would be to see the aurora borealis.

Yeah. This was definitely the hardest thing he’d ever done. Beautiful woman at his side on an amazing Alaskan cruise, and his senses were heightened to her every breath, her every look, her every smile, her shimmering gaze. But not fifty feet from them stood a dangerous man. Colin didn’t want Buck to be her attacker. But he also wanted to catch the person who’d tried to kill Jewel and had succeeded in killing Jed.

He watched Buck with Meral in the shadows at the bow. What a strangely precarious situation he was in now. Here to protect Jewel from a killer while he protected himself from Jewel.

God, You have a way of testing us, putting us through trials to make us stronger. But right now I feel weak. And maybe that’s Your plan. But doesn’t mean I have to like it.

And he didn’t like this familiar feeling. Like he was right back where he had been before, trying and failing to protect a woman he cared deeply about from a man set on killing her.

And this time, they were all together like one happy family on the boat ride of their lives.

ELEVEN

The room was spacious, but Jewel still felt trapped. Jewel sat up in bed against a couple of pillows and held another wrapped in her arms as if it could protect her.

How was she supposed to get any rest on this opulent yacht in this crazy situation, which was both dangerous and awkward? It was as if she had jumped from the proverbial frying pan right into the fire. And not only where her life was concerned. When Colin had showed up just in time to fend off the strange vibes coming from Buck, her heart had been instantly in jeopardy.

More pressing was her physical being—her life. Every creak of the boat, every sound, had her on edge. She couldn’t possibly close her eyes, much less sleep.

Colin was down the hall in his room, but he might as well be back in Mountain Cove for all the good his presence would do if she were attacked. She still ached from the previous attempts on her life.

Oh, God, what was I thinking to do this? Is Buck the man who attacked me or not? She couldn’t decide. Her imagination was working overtime.

Except. An image projected across her mind.

The way Buck had stood there in the hallway, his wide stance. Hadn’t she seen that stance before—above the water on the ledge?

Jewel climbed from bed. Standing, expanding her lungs would help her catch her breath. But after several tries she realized she was hyperventilating. Breathing too hard and fast and getting too much oxygen. She’d never experienced this before. Her life had never been pushed so close to the edge. Though she didn’t have a paper bag to breathe into, she could use her hands. She cupped her palms over her mouth to balance out the oxygen with carbon dioxide.

A sound from the hall drew her attention.

She stood still, listening.

Footfalls?

Her doorknob twisted quietly.

Though her door was locked, the fact someone wanted in still terrified her.

Lord, help me!

Jewel ran to the table next to the bed and grabbed the gun she’d brought on board with her bag. She wrapped her hand around the cool plastic of her 9-millimeter pistol, hoping it would reassure her. But any reassurance was lost with the thought that her attacker stood on the other side of the door.

Trying to get into her room.

But she must face him head-on this time. She hurried to the door that had no peephole. “Who’s there?”

She might as well face him and get it over with.

“It’s me.” Colin’s voice was soft.

What is he doing here? She cracked the door. “You scared me to death.”

“You look like you’re still alive to me.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m sorry to scare you. I was checking your door to make sure it was locked. Now get some sleep.”

She swung the door a little wider and stuck out her head to look in the hallway. “I’m having some trouble with that.”

“That’s understandable after what you’ve been through. But I told you I was here to protect you, so that’s what I’m doing. It’s no different than me staying at your B and B, if you want to think of it that way.” He cracked a half grin, then his gaze dropped. “I’m glad it’s not your policy to shoot first and ask questions later. I’m glad, too, that you brought your own protection.”

She lifted the Glock, trusting the feel of it in her hands. “Don’t worry. I know how to use it. I can take care of myself.” But she