Zack was sure that the FBI agent was keeping secrets from him. Of course, he didn’t expect Whitney to tell him every detail of her life, but she had clammed up right after their salads had been served, and she’d been remarkably quiet since then.

Now, as they drove toward the woods in the dark, he tried to think of an interesting topic to discuss. But the more he watched the town disappear behind them, the more he worried that she didn’t know where she was going. No way did he want to get stranded out here. The one thing he knew about Maine was that they had black bears and moose... both of which could kill a person if the animals were angered. He wasn’t a hunter, but he’d certainly fight for survival. The only time he came to Maine – which wasn’t often – was to stay at the tourist attraction, Mary’s Bed and Breakfast.

These woods looked nothing like the little town he’d taken some of his dates to for a romantic weekend. He wouldn’t know what to do in the woods if something were to happen to him or Whitney.

When she turned off the main road, unease settled deeper within him. The woods were thicker, and the dirt road appeared a little muddy as if there had been a rainstorm sometime today. Driving in the mud with his mother’s car didn’t exactly seem like a safe way to travel.

“Hey, Whitney? Do you know where you’re going?”

“Yes. I’ve been here several times.”

She kept her eyes on the road ahead, her fingers wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. Although her face appeared to be calm, her white knuckles made him question her facial expression.

“Does your stepfather know we’re coming so late?” he wondered.

She chuckled lightly. “Zack, it’s only eight o’clock. That’s not late.”

“I know. It’s just so... dark.”

“That’s because the clouds are hiding the moon.”

“Do you still know your way?”

“Yes.” She peeked at him before returning her gaze to the road. “Will you stop worrying?”

“I can’t help it.” He shrugged.

“Tell me, Zack.” She glanced his way again before looking back at the road. “Are you an outdoorsy kind of guy?”

“Of course, I am. Put me on the beach and I’ll stay there for months. Or,” he looked at the window at the trees growing thicker by the second, “put me in Switzerland at a ski lodge and you’ll have to drag me off the snow-packed mountains.”

“Have you ever gone camping?”

“Sure. I was a boy scout when I was young.”

She laughed. “Oh, really? Do you remember anything about what you learned?”

“Hmm...” He tapped his fingers on the arm rest of the door as he tried to remember what he’d learned. “I have started a fire before. I’ve even chopped wood.” He looked back at her. “I could probably even tie a square knot if given some rope.”

“I’m proud of you, then.” She smiled. “At least you remembered something.”

He leaned toward her and bumped her with his elbow. “But I probably wouldn’t remember how to set up a tent.”

She laughed again. He realized he liked the sound of her voice when she was lighthearted this way. It made him grin.

“What about you? Were you ever a girl’s scout?”

She nodded. “Yes, and I could sell you cookies once a year.”

He threw back his head and chortled joyfully. “What do you know... Agent Whitney has a sense of humor after all.”

She tossed him that look where she rolled her eyes at him and her mouth thinned in a straight line. He was getting to know her expressions quite well and they hadn’t been together for very long. But he enjoyed trying to read her, only because most of the time he was correct.

“Ha-ha-ha,” she said slowly. “I have a sense of humor. Just because I don’t show it all the time, doesn’t mean I don’t have one.”

“Hey, I know you want to be this tough FBI agent,” he shifted toward her on the seat, studying her profile, “but you might as well loosen up now that we’re both in hiding. If not, you’re not going to enjoy this fun adventure.”

She gasped and glanced at him with wide eyes before snapping her attention back to the road. “Why should I enjoy myself when a hitman is after us?”

He leaned over closer to her, smiling. “Because, seeing you smile and hearing you laugh makes the day brighter,” he said softly in her ear.

She sucked in a fast breath and peered at him again. Her gaze dropped to his mouth and her face relaxed.

“We might as well make the day the best we can, especially when we don’t know how long it will last.” He winked.

He knew the squirrels were running the wheel in her head a little faster so that she could figure out what he was saying. But then she shook her head and looked straight ahead. Seconds later, she cussed and yanked on the steering wheel. He fell against her. She pushed on the brakes and the car came to a stop.

His heart accelerated as panic grew inside of him. He swung his focus to the windshield. Whitney had run off the road and nearly smashed into a tree.

Groaning, she rested her head against her hands that were clutching the steering wheel as if it was a floating device and she was drowning. Her breaths were ragged. Silence filled the car. Zack wanted to accuse her of not paying attention, and yet he was the reason she’d become distracted.

After a few minutes, she blew out a gush of air from her mouth and straightened. She reached for the door handle and wrapped her fingers around the knob.

He grasped her arm, stopping her. “What are you doing?”

She threw him a glare. “I need to get out and assess the damage.”

“Damage? You didn’t hit the tree.”

“No, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to get the car back on the road.”

Fear made his throat tighten. “Why?”

“The ground is muddy.”

He grumbled under his breath. “Well, don’t go out alone. I’ll go with you.”

She arched an eyebrow. “You? The boy scout who might be able to start a fire?”

His mouth twisted as he stared at her. He wished she’d stop treating him like an imbecile. “All I know is that it’ll be better if we both go out... to protect each other, of course.”

“What do I need protection from?”

He sat back and folded his arms. “You don’t watch many horror films, do you?”

She shook her head and opened her door. “Whatever.” As she climbed out, she turned and looked at him again. “Are you coming?”

He jerked his door open and climbed out. The ground under his feet squished when he walked. Frowning, he shook his head. Just as he feared... they were stuck in mud.

The car sat in front of a tree, but there was enough room for him to move in front of the car and push, and yet, he doubted it would do any good if the tires didn’t have the traction they needed. From what he could tell, the road was a good twenty-feet away... on an incline. Even with help from Whitney, there would be no way to push the car back onto the road.

Whitney growled, stomped to the back of the car, and opened the trunk. Zack met her there.

“What are you looking for?” he asked.

“A flashlight.” She moved their luggage in her search. “I don’t exactly want to continue our journey on foot unless we have a flashlight.”

“What?” His voice rose in volume. “You want to walk?”

She looked at him from her over shoulder. “Greyson, you sound as if you’re afraid of the dark.”

He huffed and folded his arms. “It’s not the dark that scares me. It’s what in the dark that I’m worried about.”

“I can assure you,” she said slowly and demeaning, “there are no axe murderers out here, or any masked men running around with chainsaws.”

“What about a masked man slowly walking toward us with a knife? Yeah, he killed a lot of people in that movie, you know.”

“Zack, be serious.”

“Fine.” He leaned closer. “Do you know there are bears and moose in these woods?”

She sighed and straightened, facing him. “Yes, I’m aware of that, which is one of the reasons I’m looking for a flashlight.”

“Can’t you just call your stepfather and have him come get us?”

“I suppose.” She withdrew her cell and pushed a few buttons, but as she watched the screen, her frown deepened. “No service. That doesn’t surprise me.”

In Zack’s thirty-two years, he’d never been so frightened – even twice when he was shot, he’d not been this scared. Closing his eyes, he tried to decrease the fast spreading panic inside of him. He didn’t like feeling this way. He was a tough guy. He could handle anything. Although convincing his mind of this wasn’t that easy.

He swung back to the trunk. “There’s got to be a flashlight in here somewhere.” The adrenaline pumping through him made his hands shake, but he kept them active as he searched for the flashlight.

“Zack,” she said in a calm voice, touching his arm, “it’s okay. We can use the light from our phones.”

Inwardly, he groaned. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

Taking a deep breath, he straightened, meeting her gaze. “Yeah, we could use that light.”

She closed the trunk and then using the remote, locked the vehicle. “We’re not that far from the main house. We’ll get there in no time at all, and we’ll be just fine.”

She took a step toward the road, but for some reason, Zack’s legs refused to move. She turned toward him, slipping her hand into his. Warmth spread through his body, starting where their palms were touching and their fingers entwined. Her pretty eyes and tender smile gave him the courage he needed.

As they made their way up the slope, he slipped a few times on the slushy mud, but thankfully, he didn’t fall. She slipped too, but only laughed about it. By the time they made it to the road, they were both chuckling over their inability to stay on their feet in the mud.

She acted like she wanted to pull her hand away from his, but he held tight, not wanting to let this comforting feeling leave. Not much was said as they headed down the road, and once again, Whitney acted as though she didn’t want to look at him – just like what had happened in the car.

She was an odd woman. Of course, he had plenty of time to figure her out. At least he hoped there was plenty of time.

“So Whitney,” he said, wanting to hear her soothing voice again. “Tell me about Joe. What’s he like?”

“He’s a good, hard-working man. He knows what he’s talking about, so you’d better listen.”

Grinning, Zack gave her a nod. “You’re acting like I never listen.”

She arched an eyebrow at him, critically. He laughed.

“As I was saying...” Her voice trailed off.

She came to a sudden stop. Her eyes widened. He didn’t like this reaction. It only meant one thing.

Slowly, he scanned the area around them, especially in the trees. The light on her cell lit up a lot of area. The bushes moved. Tree limbs crunched.

Zack’s gut twisted. It was a bear. He’d bet good money on it. How could he protect Whitney at the same time, making sure they didn’t die?