She tightened her hold around Cavemans waist and pressed her body against his as they bumped along the dirt road with more potholes than she remembered on the way out. Perhaps because she noticed them more this time because she wasnt the one in control of the steering. Either way, she held on, her thighs tightly clamped around his hips and the seat.
By the time they arrived at her cottage, she could barely breathethe fact having nothing to do with the actual ride so much as it did with the feel of the mans body pressed against hers. She was almost disappointed when he brought the vehicle to a standstill next to her gate.
Grace climbed off and opened the gate. The distance between them helped her to get her head on straight and for her pulse to slow down to normal.
He followed her to her house. Well take my truck. Grab your purse and whatever else youll need.
When she opened her mouth to protest, he held up his hand.
You promised. He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest again. Where I come from, a promise is sacred.
Her brows met in the middle. Where do you come from?
His frown disappeared and he grinned. Montana.
Caveman started toward the house, Grace fell in step beside him. Is that where you were before you arrived in Grizzly Pass?
His grin slipped. No.
She shot a glance his direction. A shadow had descended on his face and he appeared to be ten years older.
Where did you come from?
He stared out at the mountains. Bethesda, Maryland.
There was so much she didnt know about this man. Thats a long way from Montana.
Yes, it is. He stopped short of her porch. Ill be in my truck when youre ready. Before she could say more, he turned and strode toward the corner of her house.
For a moment, Grace allowed herself the pleasure of watching the way his butt twitched in his blue jeans. The man was pure male and so ruggedly handsome he took her breath away. What was he doing hanging around her? Since she was being forced to ride with him to the clinic, shed drill him with questions until she was satisfied with the answers. For starters, why did he call himself Caveman? And what was the importance of Bethesda, Maryland, that had made him go from being relaxed and helpful to stiff and unapproachable?
Caveman disappeared around the corner.
Grace faced her house, fished her key from her pocket and climbed the stairs. She opened the screen door and held out the key, ready to fit it into the lock when she noticed something hanging on the handle. It rocked back and forth and then fell at her feet.
She jumped back, emitting a short, sharp scream, her heart thundering against her ribs. With her hand pressed to her chest, she squatted and stared at the item, a lead weight settling in the pit of her belly as she recognized the circular band with the rectangular plastic box affixed to it.
It was the radio collar for the wolf shed been looking for earlier that day, and it was covered in blood.