The Protective Warrior Read online

  The man looked confused. “Um, no. It’s a pretty good incline for this last mile and then you’ll be there.” He studied them. “You camping there?”

  “No.” MacKenzie pursed her lips in the cutest way. “Do we look like granolas who sleep under the stars?”

  “Granolas?”

  “You know, like people who take care of nature and eat granola bars?”

  The man laughed. “I do have a few granola bars and like to sleep under the stars.”

  MacKenzie gave him such a friendly smile, Isaac was jealous. “See? We’re not that tough. We like our beds.”

  The man smiled, wished them good luck, and headed off.

  Isaac couldn’t hold in the laughter anymore. “You can’t offend anyone even when you try to.” You’re just too cute.

  “Yeah.” She shook her head, looking disgusted with herself. “I really wouldn’t want to offend someone. The granola thing just came out. I’m not usually bratty.”

  “Oh? I’m not sure about that. You’ve cussed and offended me a few times.”

  MacKenzie’s eyes narrowed then Isaac started laughing and she joined him. “I guess you like to tease me.”

  “It’s becoming a favorite pastime.”

  She blushed and turned away. “Okay. This mile isn’t going to hike itself. Let’s get it finished.”

  Isaac knew they were really close to the lake, but didn’t tell her. They hiked up the steep terrain that was the last half mile then they crested the rise and surveyed the small lake below them.

  “Well, it’s pretty,” MacKenzie said, “But I’m not sure it’s pretty enough to justify all that hiking.”

  “You didn’t complain … too much. Did you not like the hike?”

  She laughed. “I liked it. It felt great to move my legs.”

  They splashed the cool lake water on each other for a little while then turned back so they could get home before dark. Isaac really enjoyed being around MacKenzie. She didn’t complain, she could tease with him and other people, and she was definitely easy on the eyes. Prettier than any scenery he’d seen and he lived in one of the most beautiful valleys in the world.

  MacKenzie slept even worse after spending a few hours with Isaac hiking. He hadn’t acted like a jerk, far from it. She really liked the way he acted, reminding her of the chill, fun guy she’d known as a teenager when she’d come to visit before. Yet, she couldn’t fall hard and fast for Isaac like she’d done back then. She was an adult, for one, and didn’t need a teenage crush, but the bigger reason was the dangerous situation she was in, and all the lying to Haley and Isaac about why she was here. She’d told Haley she just wanted to escape from the city for a while before school started again. Isaac would probably hate her if he knew she was taking advantage of his sister.

  She smiled wistfully as she thought about Isaac and how he’d helped her relax and have fun on the hike after she’d been so terrified by being alone and a harmless bird rustling the bushes.

  The next day work passed slowly. She met some tourists from Chicago and it was great to chat about her hometown, though she pretended she’d just visited there. Thankfully, she didn’t see Brad at all. She was frustrated that he would blatantly lie to her about what happened with Haley. At least she hoped he was lying because it would be a nightmare if Haley and Isaac were the ones who were hiding the truth. She sighed. Like she was hiding the truth about running from a murderer and crime lord.

  She rushed home after closing up the store, and changed into running shorts and a tank top. Exiting her front door, she came up short to see the huge, handsome man sitting on the porch swing. What would he think if she sat next to him and reached for his hand?

  “Hey,” Isaac said. “You ready for another hiking adventure?”

  MacKenzie pursed her lips and tilted her head. “Yep. And you promised that I could follow.”

  Isaac actually blushed. MacKenzie loved it. She knew he’d been checking her out yesterday and she couldn’t wait to return the favor. He stood and gestured to his truck. “I guess turnabout’s fair play.”

  “I never understood what that meant.”

  Isaac chuckled and shrugged. “In this case, I checked you out, now you get to check me out.”

  MacKenzie laughed and pushed at his side. His very firm side. Of course he didn’t budge. The man was built like a tank. “You’re assuming I want to check you out.”

  Isaac escorted her down the stairs and waved a hand over his body. “You wouldn’t want to miss out on all of this.”

  “Oh, I think I’d survive.”

  Isaac opened the passenger door for her. “Ouch. What if I wouldn’t?”

  MacKenzie placed a hand over her heart. “Isaac Turnbow. I didn’t know you were capable of flirting.”

  He leaned in and MacKenzie hoped and feared he would kiss her. She had no idea what was developing between them or even if she should let anything develop. Yet, there was something about Isaac that drew her in. It wasn’t just his good looks or strong body. She wondered if she’d misread him and his intentions. Now that she was getting to know him better, he was fun to tease and seemed almost humble and uncertain of where he stood with her.

  “I’m capable of a lot of things.” His eyes dipped to her lips then focused in on hers again. Those green eyes. They killed her.

  MacKenzie wanted with everything in her to see exactly what he was capable of, but she forced herself to turn and climb into the truck instead. His expression would’ve been comical if her heart hadn’t been thumping so hard and her disappointment so strong at not kissing him again. The long lashes framing his green eyes dipped as if he was shocked and hurt by her not continuing the flirtation, but she needed to slow this desire down or it would steamroll her. He still hadn’t said anything about remembering her from before and she didn’t need a relationship right now.

  “What are you two ya-hoos doing tonight?” Trevor appeared next to Isaac.

  MacKenzie laughed. “Isaac’s showing me the local beauty.”

  “You’re the only beauty I see around here.” Trevor pumped his eyebrows.

  MacKenzie laughed louder as Isaac grimaced. “Dad. Really?”

  “What? I can still teach you a thing or two about flirting.” He lowered his voice. “You get a girl that pretty in your truck and don’t get a kiss you’re a lily-livered loser.”

  Isaac shut the truck door and lowered his voice so she couldn’t hear his response. She sat there trying to decide whether to laugh at Trevor or be half-terrified, half-dreaming that Isaac would prove he wasn’t a lily-livered loser.

  They drove north of town and up Washington Gulch, parking next to a small private reservoir. Walking across the paved dam, they turned onto a dirt road. Isaac held the gate open for her, but MacKenzie paused at a sign warning that black bears were in the area and how to prevent an encounter or what to do if a bear attacked. MacKenzie swallowed, ready to run back to the safety of the truck. “Um, Isaac? I put perfume on before we left.”

  His cheek crinkled as if he was fighting a smile. “I noticed. You smell great.”

  Her eyes widened. “What if a bear thinks I smell great?” She’d wanted to smell nice for Isaac, never thinking of a bear being drawn to her. The city girl wasn’t prepared for bears.

  “We’ll run up the trail and get sweaty then they won’t come near us,” Isaac said.

  “I’m serious.” MacKenzie glanced over the instructions again. “Fight back if the bear attacks? Yikes. Where are you taking me?”

  Isaac smiled. “Don’t worry. I can protect you from a bear.”

  “How are you going to do that?” Isaac probably was big enough to take on a bear, but bears had claws and sharp teeth. She shivered at the thought of seeing one.

  “They don’t like noise and I can scream really loud.”

  “Oh, I feel all kinds of safe now.” She was trying to tease, but her heart was beating hard and fast.

  “If that doesn’t work, you just run faster than me. The bear will be
too busy chewing on my guts to catch you.”

  MacKenzie’s stomach dropped and her palms started sweating. She’d run after Agent Klein had been shot and wondered if she could’ve helped him if she would’ve stayed. No way would she leave Isaac if a bear attacked. She’d fight with everything she could find.

  They walked side by side up the dirt road and she tried to follow Isaac’s lead and not be concerned about bears but enjoy the peaceful scenery. Aspen and pine trees lined the edges and it was a beautiful walk, not too steep, so she didn’t have to act like she wasn’t winded while trying to catch her breath like yesterday’s hike. It was warmer this evening and she wondered how far they were going to hike. She’d loved the hike yesterday, but wearing Haley’s shoes had given her a blister on her heel.

  Sooner than she expected, they crested the hill and the dirt road turned to a single-wide path. A long, skinny lake framed with cascading pine trees stretched out before them. “Oh, this is gorgeous. What’s it called?”

  “Thanks.” Isaac grinned as if he’d created the picturesque spot. “Meridian Lake, but the locals just call it Long Lake.”

  “Long Lake fits. Not much of a hike though,” she teased him, secretly relieved they weren’t going nine miles today.

  “I know, but we did a big hike yesterday and I figured it’d be fun to do something different.”

  “We’ll see.” She winked at him.

  “If you don’t love it, we’ll hike Snodgrass to make up for it. The trail’s just over there.” He pointed to the east.

  “Glad to know I have options.”

  “As long as those options are with me,” he murmured. He gestured for her to go ahead. She mulled over his comment as they walked on the path above the lake. They reached a spot where instead of greenery going right down to the water’s edge there were some spots with black gravel where people were hanging out or swimming.

  “Hey,” a redheaded young man with broad shoulders and an even broader stomach called out to MacKenzie, as he floated on a black inner tube. “How’s it going?”

  “Good. How’s the water?” she called back.

  “Not as fine as you,” the man drawled out then laughed too loudly. “Ask me another one.”

  Isaac stepped up next to MacKenzie. “I’ve got one. Why don’t you shut that mouth?”

  “You know what?” He paused. “I think I will.” The man cackled. “Isaac Turnbow. What are you doing, you big stud?”

  Isaac chuckled. “I’m doing great. How are you, bro?”

  “I take it you know him?” MacKenzie asked under her breath.

  “Kyle. Went to high school together. Good guy, just really loud.”

  “I wouldn’t have hit on the pretty lady if I knew she was yours,” Kyle said.

  “Wish I believed that,” Isaac retorted.

  “Come swim with us.” The redhead gestured to his group of friends.

  “Think we’ll find our own spot.”

  “Good plan. I’d keep her to myself too.” Kyle raised his beer can in a salute and leaned back on his inner tube.

  MacKenzie shook her head and kept walking. Isaac led her to an area on the north end of the lake where they could hike down and get close to the water. Isaac removed his shoes, socks, and shirt then gave her a warm smile before running and diving in.

  MacKenzie watched as he surfaced, his dark hair thrown back from his face and his skin glistening with the water. He was truly a beautiful man.

  “Are you coming?”

  MacKenzie couldn’t resist. It was going to be weird to swim in her clothes, but it was actually above eighty today, which in Crested Butte meant blazing hot, and the water looked inviting. The handsome man waiting for her in the water looked even more inviting. She untied her shoes and stuffed her socks in them. She walked to the water’s edge in her tank top and shorts, wishing she was a boy and could shed her shirt too.

  She walked in, and as soon as her toes hit liquid, she jolted. “That’s a popsicle!”

  Isaac chuckled. “Mountain lake.”

  “Maybe I’ll just stick my sore feet in and watch you swim.”

  “Come on, that’s no fun.” Isaac arched an eyebrow at her.

  “Cold water isn’t my definition of fun.”

  “It’s not that cold. You get used to it quick.”

  MacKenzie shook her head, not trusting his judgment on the matter. Isaac swam her way with sure strokes, the muscles in his arms sleek and strong. She watched, mesmerized. It was only when he stood in waist deep water, and then started running her way, that she realized she was in trouble.

  MacKenzie gave a small gasp and rushed for higher ground. She stubbed her toe on a boulder, crying out in pain. Isaac was by her side in seconds. He swept her off the ground. “Are you okay?”

  MacKenzie’s breath came in short puffs. She was pinned against Isaac’s well-defined chest and couldn’t form a coherent thought. His skin was smooth with the rounded muscles pressing against her arm.

  “I, um, my toe.”

  Isaac’s eyebrows lifted.

  “Stubbed it,” she managed.

  “The water will make it feel better.” His lips curved up in a tempting smile.

  “No!” MacKenzie shook her head. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Isaac ignored her and ran into the water until he was thigh deep. MacKenzie wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and held on. If she was going under, so was he. Isaac grinned and instead of throwing her, he leapt with her in his arms. They plunged under the water and the shock of the cold had MacKenzie sputtering and flailing her arms. She broke from his grip as they surfaced. The water was up to her neck, but only to his chest. It was so cold she could already feel her arms going numb.

  MacKenzie wiped water from her eyes and smacked him on the arm. “You cretin! That’s freezing cold!”

  Isaac backed a step away. “I’m sorry, MacKenzie. I shouldn’t have …”

  “You’re right, you shouldn’t have.” MacKenzie dragged her arm through the water and flung it at him. Isaac caught a mouthful. “And now you’re sorry!” she cried out, laughing and dodging away from him. She swam quickly out into the deeper water. Now that she was all the way in and moving, her body adjusted fairly quickly to the cold water. She loved to swim and savored the weightlessness and the feel of cool liquid against her skin.

  Isaac swam up next to her. “No hard feelings?”

  “No. It feels great.”

  He treaded water and smiled. “I like this no-worries MacKenzie.”

  She returned the smile, though her stomach pitched. What would he think if he knew how great her worries were? Rolling over onto her back, she floated and gazed up at the wide, blue sky and the gray and white streaked clouds touching the pine trees along the mountain’s ridge. Isaac floated next to her and took her hand in his. MacKenzie gently kicked. Isaac couldn’t be more right; she also loved this no-worries MacKenzie, but knew it couldn’t last.

  They swam around the lake for almost an hour then finally made themselves climb onto the shore and let the setting sun dry them as they sat on a patch of grass. MacKenzie’s stomach grumbled, but she snuck a peek at Isaac’s chest and smiled to herself. He was definitely yummier than ice cream.

  “What are you grinning at?”

  “You.”

  “Oh, yeah?” He raised a questioning eyebrow. “You were checking me out, weren’t you, Mac?”

  “Mac?” MacKenzie sputtered.

  “You need a nickname. And you need to admit that you like looking at me.” His green eyes trailed over her, sparkling with a challenge.

  “Mac! Like I’m a truck or a boy or something. You like fighting with me, don’t you?”

  Isaac chuckled. “I like the fire in you, that’s for sure.”

  “You’ll see fire if you try to call me Mac again.”

  Isaac reached over and lifted the wet hair from her shoulder then brushed his fingers across the bare skin of her shoulder. His touch left tingles in its wake. “I think you’ll g
row to like it, Mac.”

  “Well, think again.” But she was hiding a smile. A nickname? Hmm. It added a layer of intimacy. “Am I so masculine you need to give me a nickname like that?”

  “Nothing masculine about you.” He trailed his fingers down her arm and squeezed her hand. “But I’m sure you’ve been called Kenzie by lots of people. I wanted to be different.”

  She pulled a face. “Different is right.”

  Isaac laughed again.

  The sun dipped behind the mountains and MacKenzie shivered in her wet clothes. They slipped into their shoes and Isaac offered her a hand up.

  “You can put your shirt back on,” she said.

  Isaac tilted his head to the side and studied her. “I would, but then you couldn’t check me out as well.”

  MacKenzie forced a mocking laugh. “In your dreams, big boy.” She walked past him to the trail with his laughter following her. Isaac offered her his shirt when she shivered again. The walk back was happily accomplished with his masculine smell surrounding her, no bear sightings, and MacKenzie able to sneak glances at Isaac’s chest when he was looking at the scenery.

  They reached his truck and arrived at his ranch northwest of town before too long. MacKenzie was sad their time together was at an end. She’d enjoyed being with him far too much and where she had looked forward to working at the home décor store to keep herself occupied, now she dreaded it because she couldn’t be with Isaac until after work.

  He rushed around to get her door and escorted her up the porch steps. MacKenzie slipped off his shirt and handed it to him. He tugged it on and smiled. “Smells like you.”

  She bit at her lip, not admitting she’d thought it smelled like him. She knew she looked like a soggy mess, but Isaac’s gaze was warm and complimentary as he turned to face her. “Thank you for going with me, Mac. It was fun.”

  “Everything but your lame nickname.”

  He smiled and took a step closer. “You like it and you know it.”

  She shook her head and arched back to meet his eyes. “You’re much too sure of yourself, do you know that?”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “I wish I was more sure of myself with you.”