Sunset Flare Read online

  Darn it, she needed to stop thinking like that. He was smooth and confident too, slipping his hand around the back of her head and digging his fingers through her hair and into her scalp, lifting her and greedily taking in more of her. He tasted delicious, smelled wonderful, felt amazing.

  Her hands moved to the hem of his shirt and his body arched giving just enough space to slip hands under the material and run her fingers along the taught muscles that had been taunting her dreams for nights.

  Rock hard solid.

  But what else could he do living in the woods alone? She may not have gotten access to his folder, but she had overheard Anton telling Marc all about Gunner’s log cabin in the woods and how he’d turned into a reclusive hermit after he’d gotten involved in some bad deals.

  What deals?

  Anton hadn’t elaborated as Marc went into vague details about Corbin living in the woods, too. Bonding time between family members she hadn’t wanted any part of, but may have been purposely eavesdropping on.

  “Over there!” A loud holler pulled Izzy out of the hazy lust-filled bubble she’d been wrapped up in and back to the present: where they were, what they were doing and what they were supposed to be doing.

  Shoot!

  “There’s two of them!”

  Busted. Crap!

  Izzy shoved Gunner. “Get off. We have to go. Now!”

  He looked stunned as he rolled on his side. She sat up, and just as quickly jumped to her feet. When he didn’t move, she hit him out of his daze saying, “We need to run before they get a picture of us and it goes viral. Come on.”

  That comment rapidly transferred him to his feet. Sometimes her social media status caused nuisance in her life. On a general basis, she enjoyed the attention, only giving them the parts of her she wanted to expose, but as of right now, it was nuisance with a capital N.

  Bobbing lights flashed around twenty-feet away, zooming through the trees, but, thankfully in the opposite direction of the river which meant they had a head start.

  “Let’s go.” Izzy grabbed his hand and started running. She let it go once they hit the trail and were headed back to the canoe.

  “Why do they want your picture?” Gunner shouted, keeping right at her side. A strange “no one gets left behind” moment made her giddy and warm inside. He could easily outrun her to the boat.

  “It’s a long story.”

  “One you should have shared before we got here,” he huffed.

  She glanced over her shoulder as the group crested the hill, pointed their beams in their direction and starting down the hill after them.

  They were fast. Like the energizer bunny. This would be the last time she chose their camp vicinity. But, then again, making out hadn’t been wise either.

  Izzy grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bush. Next year she might leave everything in the bush and send them on a scavenger hunt. Today was cutting it close...too close. However, she liked the rush of excitement pulsing through her, the thrill. As long as they didn’t get caught. This was the one secret she had that no one knew about and she didn’t want to share it with the world.

  Clearing the brush, they ran to the dock where Gunner immediately started untying the rope.

  “Can you swim?” Izzy pulled the plastic, seal-proof bag she always carried on these trips, out of her pocket.

  “There!” they yelled. “At the docks.”

  Izzy dropped her phone in and grabbed his out of his back pocket.

  “Hey—”

  He reached for his cell, but she’s already tucked it away and yelled, “Jump!”

  “We can’t leave your canoe. They will track it to you.”

  Izzy frowned. “I stole the canoe.”

  “What?”

  “Technically, I planned on borrowing it, but now that we’re abandoning it, well, I sort of stole it.”

  “You’re joking?”

  She stared.

  “You’re not joking.” He cursed. “You’re seriously not joking!”

  “Don’t yell at me. I needed something to throw them off the trail, but if we stand here discussing it we’re going to get caught. Jump and swim to the other side of the river. There’s a dock over there we can hide under. Understand?”

  She didn’t wait for his reply. He’d grasp the concept after she jumped into the water. And she did exactly that.

  Chapter Fourteen

  JUMP?

  Stolen canoe?

  Gunner’s conclusion: this Caliendo was insane. But, hot damn, the woman sure knew how to kiss.

  “They’re going to jump!” The shouts from the wound up troupe sounded closer, diminishing the distance between them.

  Gunner took one last glance over his shoulder at the shadows cutting the path toward them. Izzy had left him no other alternative. He jumped.

  The cool water swallowed him whole, dragging him into the pit of desolation where he’d once lived. For a brief moment, time stood still, pulling him into that darkening part of his life when he wouldn’t have bothered swimming to the surface, wouldn’t have wanted to, wouldn’t have cared if he never breathed a breath of fresh air again.

  Surprisingly, he discovered, today wasn’t that time.

  Gunner broke the water’s surface, sucking in the warm summer evening air, and appreciating what he’d once given up. Life. It had been so long since he’d felt alive. He would have enjoyed the moment more if camera flashes didn’t pull him back to reality.

  “Over there!” Voices shouted. “I see them!”

  Flashlights flickered between flashes, threatening the life he finally appreciated.

  Izzy’s voice surfed the waves to him, exposing her hiding spot under a dock. Gunner swam across the wavy river, ducking under the short dock to join her. Hardly enough space allowed room for only their heads to bob above the water’s surface.

  Gripping the docks edge with one hand, he scrubbed his free hand over his face, rubbing the water away from his eyes to focus on the dim lights from across the river. The beams hardly touched the middle of the river, so they were safe under the wood slats hiding them. The disappointed voices carried across the water until he heard them give up and head back to camp.

  “That was close,” Izzy whispered, both hands also latched on the dock’s edge. Her heavy breathing changed into hysterical laughter. “That was the closest I’ve ever been to getting caught and I’ve been doing this since high school. Figures the first time I don’t bring Abby and I’m almost busted.”

  “Doing what exactly?” He heard the hard edge of his tone and felt the tremor of fear pulse through his body. Living alone in the woods hadn’t brought on these levels of stress. He had felt safe there.

  Sure, the alarm system around the perimeter helped ease his nerves and, when fear did grip his core, the camera system assured him no one was on the property.

  One night out with this woman and his obituary picture had almost been snapped. He wanted—no needed—an explanation.

  “I’ll explain when we’re out of the water.”

  When one of her hands left the dock, he tightly gripped her wrist stopping her. “You’ll explain now,” he growled.

  She shot a quick glance at where his fingers coiled around her wrist before replying. “Threats don’t scare me.” Strength and independence ruminated in her tone. “You want an explanation, try again.” Izzy tugged her hand, but he held the grip.

  “Let’s get something straight, right now. I don’t do pictures.”

  “You don’t do pictures?” He could hear the layer of mockery under the layers of her annoyance.

  “No. You want to drag me on some stupid adventure that gives you some measly thrill in your spoiled life, don’t expect me to smile for a camera, understood?”

  “Oh my gosh, I didn’t want you to come. I didn’t invite you. Stop blaming me because you didn’t get the facts before jumping into my canoe.”

  “Your stolen canoe.”

  “I planned to return it, not that any of this
is any of your business.”

  “Don’t push me, woman.”

  “Push, push, push,” Izzy snickered. “Maybe you can boss around the women back home like this. Do this and don’t do that. Let’s have sex and then no sex. But I am not one of those women.”

  Gunner couldn’t pinpoint what sparked his next move. The rush of the chase, remembering how her lips felt against his, or discovering his longing to stay under the surface of the water had vanished. Whatever the trigger, it launched him to pull Izzy close and continue kissing her where they’d left off. He felt alive—because of her—and, truthfully, he didn’t want the moment to end.

  Her moistened lips reciprocated the kiss, encouraging him to advance his tongue past the seam of her lips. Dipping inside her mouth, he flavoured all the warm areas she offered. Hot and hard kisses stole the night. When her free arm snaked around his neck, he let go of her wrist, giving both arms access to firmly mold their wet bodies together. Her legs wrapped around his middle, bobbing in the water like one. He felt her long fingers dig through his hair, heard a moan ride up her throat when his hand moved under her shirt and as his flesh trailed her spine.

  He hadn’t planned anything further than ravaging her mouth like high school kids hiding under the bleachers. Izzy pulled away first, looking damn sexy. Breathless, a glaze over her eyes, and strands of her damp hair clinging to her face. When her legs slid away, he wanted to gather them back up and own her mouth again. He might have, too, but before he knew what was happening, her open palm sent shocks of pain through his cheek.

  “That wasn’t code for sex you...you...Italian goon,” she shouted at him.

  Gunner cursed, flexing his jaw and rubbing his cheek. “I didn’t hear you complaining, popsicle.” His smart-alecky remark only further pissed her off.

  “Consider this my complaint.”

  “You were practically pulling my pants off.”

  “You’re a pig.”

  “When I’m this hot for you, your insults are a turn on.”

  She shoved his chest before dunking under the water, and disappearing below the soft waves they’d made.

  Gunner closed his eyes momentarily before following her, deeply inhaling and obtaining control over his body’s reaction to her touch. And not only her touch, but the way she made him feel...alive.

  He climbed onto the rickety wood dock—there was absolutely no way boats were using this dock any longer—and darted into the woods after her. She stood waiting.

  Both her cold look and the cool air on his drenched body slapped him with the reality of the situation. He’d kissed her again. He needed a muzzle.

  “There’s a cabin not far from here.” Izzy pulled a flashlight out of the bag holding his cell phone captive. On top of being furious about this whole situation, the seal-tight bag which he hadn’t given any thought to prior to this moment, disclosed her intention to jump.

  The glowing beam between them lit the damp hair clinging to her silky glistening skin. He swallowed hard when her tongue swept over her lips, licking away water droplets. The cool breeze sent a shiver over her slender shoulders. Reaching out to rub his hands over her arms was out of the question, so he remained rooted while she sent eye-daggers at him.

  “Follow me.” Short, to the point, and displeased. Did she think he was dancing on rainbows over what had transpired? The kiss may have indicated otherwise, but anger still rooted in his gut at what could have happened if they’d been caught. His identity would’ve been revealed too early. Even if Anton followed through with his promise, Gunner planned on keeping a low profile, which included no social media.

  “Or don’t,” she added. “I don’t actually care what you choose to do from this point. I didn’t ask you to come along with me and whatever illegal shit you’re into that scares you from flashing your face in the public eye, frankly, I don’t want to be a part of.”

  “I’m not scared.”

  But he would take, steal or burn any physical evidence that showed he remained alive.

  Izzy rolled her eyes. “Sure you aren’t. Don’t worry. No one will find you here. We’re out in the middle of nowhere land.”

  “No one’s looking for me.” He didn’t want to give her any ideas or drag her into his dirty past. The less she knew about him, the better for her. For both of them.

  “If you say so.” Izzy turned and stalked off.

  Smart, too. Observant and sassy.

  He liked her.

  Great, just bloody hell, freaking wonderful.

  Those troublesome feelings he’d managed to avoid for years were ramming their way back into his thoughts. He would push them down. He would destroy them before he gave into those feelings.

  Chapter Fifteen

  THEY WALKED A half hour through thick brush, Izzy lighting the path with her flashlight. Branches snapped back at Gunner. He tripped over roots, and walked through plants he hoped didn’t belong to any poisonous family.

  The trees finally opened up onto an overgrown property. Gunner silently hoped they were finally home free. Or cabin saved. He could only make out parts of the property where Izzy flashed her beam of light. Overgrown grass, a broken swing set, and finally, a cabin that looked nothing like the rescue security he’d envisioned, came into view.

  An abandoned house that looked ready to collapse with crumpling wood, broken shutters and peeling paint stood before them.

  “Remind you of home?” Izzy called over her shoulder, her voice dripping in sarcasm.

  Gunner’s log cabin back home looked nothing remotely close to this discarded shack. The walls were solid logs, the inside well insulated and fully upgraded with perks that included internet installation which gave him access to monitor the people who’d skin him alive if they discovered he was still above ground.

  “How do you know I live in a cabin? In the woods?” He hadn’t told her.

  “I’m a Caliendo. I know things.”

  His blood boiled. What else did she know about him? Did she know who he was? Did she know people who would pay an entire Manzedi collection for his head? Was this a set up?

  His eyes took in every bush and overgrown spot as Izzy said, “I overheard Anton telling Marc.” He relaxed...a bit.

  She stopped on the back porch steps, and leaned against a railing that looked ready to collapse under her weight. He prepared himself to catch her if the wood broke, but then thought maybe he would let her fall simply to knock the vanity out of her.

  “I didn’t plan to jump,” she said. “I take supplies along in case I have to jump.” She dug his cell phone out of the plastic and passed it to him. “We’re on Caliendo property,” she said. “But...” She swiped her phone and he did the same, coming up with no signal. “There’s no signal here and it’s a three-hour walk back to the resort or any road, for that matter.”

  “What are you saying?” He already knew.

  “If we hike tonight, I think we will most likely get lost.”

  They were stuck here for the night.

  Unbelievable.

  Gunner didn’t accept a night in the woods, forced to sleep in a demolished cabin with a woman his mouth wanted nothing more than to kiss breathless again.

  “I’m going to try and get a signal,” he grumbled, walking away.

  “Don’t get lost,” she called after him. “And pick up some twigs and logs for a fire. I’ll check the house for matches...or something to light it with.”

  Inside that shack? Where the walls silently promised to swallow her with its demise.

  A quick perimeter check determined no sign of a signal, digging deeper irritation in him.

  Son-of-a-bitch.

  Anton would already be in a fury tonight, but by morning he would be down right pissed off. After tonight, Gunner might as well mention to his mentor that he’d been off kissing a Caliendo. Anton wouldn’t buy the truth, because sneaking into a camp to drop off supplies, swimming through the lake and sleeping in a crumbling cabin sounded more fictional than Gunner sleeping w
ith Izzy.

  He was screwed.

  More so because he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t come out of this without sleeping with Izzy.

  Gunner’s shoes snapped branches and reminded him of his initial reason for doing a perimeter check: to scope for signs of life. He didn’t trust anyone, including the woman he couldn’t erase from his mind.

  When his reconnaissance came up empty, he swiped a handful of branches to start a fire. Not that he needed warming up, his body burned to touch her again. Stuck under the stars around a flaming fire—although Gunner wasn’t the romantic type—sounded like a recipe for lovemaking.

  Walking back to the cabin, he tore off his wet t-shirt. He heard a car engine roar to life. Lights followed, glowing from the front of the house.

  What the hell?

  Gunner broke into a full run, rounding the cabin and catching sight of a car reversing. And who was sitting in the driver’s seat? Izzy.

  She flashed him a devious smile as she shifted into drive.

  Popsicle planned on leaving him there. Like hell!

  Gunner darted directly into the car’s path, forcing Izzy to slam on the breaks. The tires spit up dirt and he winced as the vehicle halted inches from his legs. This woman was more trouble than she was worth.

  He bent over and slammed his palms off the hood, vibrating painful spasms through his hands. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Get out of my way, Gunner.”

  “Or what?” He considered that baiting her might not be his best choice of combat.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” The vehicle inched forward.

  Gunner didn’t back down, taking obvious steps back as she pushed at him. Straightening his body, he folded his arms across his chest, staring down. She had two options: reverse without crushing the trunk on the tree behind her or run him over.

  “This is your last warning.”

  “Plan on leaving me here, Popsicle?”

  “Stop calling me that!” Her head whipped from side to side over her shoulder, assessing the distance to the tree. She groaned—more like roared—then looked back at him.