Free Gone Too Deep by Katie Ruggle

should’ve told me you needed a wilderness guide to find your dad.” Joseph’s voice made her jump and wipe hastily at her cheeks before turning. It was one thing to bare her soul to the silent George, but she couldn’t stand to be that vulnerable in front of Joseph. “I work for an outfitter during hunting season, so I do this professionally. Here, let me see.”
    When he reached for the map, she automatically jerked it out of his reach. “No… I… That’s okay.” The thought of being at Joseph’s mercy in the middle of the wilderness made panic rise in her throat. “I’ll figure out something.”
    â€œIt’s already figured out.” This time, Joseph leaned over her shoulder to grab the map. “I’m taking you. I’ll even offer you my friends and family rate. We’ll track down Baxter and bring him back, safe and sound.”
    â€œNo.” How does he know Dad’s name? Has he been researching me? Her fingers tightened as she twisted, holding the paper out of his reach. She was reluctant to let Joseph even see the map. A mental image of him aggressively hitting on her the whole way to the cabin, of sharing a tent with him and his roving hands, flashed through her mind. The thought was horrifying.
    He caught her arm, tugging her toward him as his other hand extended toward the map. Before he could grab it, George locked his enormous mitt around Joseph’s bicep and hauled him back several feet. Joseph let out a yelp, releasing her as he stumbled to catch his balance.
    â€œWhat the hell, Holloway!”
    George didn’t respond except to place his bulk between Ellie and the other man. Relieved to have a buffer—especially such a big buffer—blocking the incredibly persistent Joseph, Ellie peeked around his arm. Joseph looked furious, his eyes narrow and his lips tight. The two men stared at each other for a long, tense moment while Ellie held her breath. Finally, Joseph gave a forced laugh, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender.
    â€œDidn’t know you’d already volunteered for the job,” he said, sending a fake smile in Ellie’s direction. She resisted the urge to duck all the way behind George. “Since when have you started babysitting tourists?”
    George didn’t say a word, but something in his expression made Joseph back away from them. When he was several feet away, he dropped his hands and turned to leave the training room.
    â€œUm…” When the big man didn’t look at her or respond, she cleared her throat. “Mr. Holloway, does this mean you’re going to be guiding me?”
    He finally rotated until he faced her, but it was a long time before George answered. Although his beard hid the lower half of his face, his eyebrows were mashed together. Ellie wasn’t sure if he was annoyed, bewildered, worried, or some completely different emotion. All she did know was that his brown eyes were very striking, and she couldn’t look away from them.
    It could’ve been a few seconds or several minutes that they stood in silence while Ellie barely breathed. Finally, finally , his chin dipped ever so slightly. When his short nod finally sunk into her jubilant brain, she hopped forward and hugged him around the middle. He felt as large and as hard as a tree trunk. Once she realized what she was doing, she jumped back just as quickly.
    â€œSorry! I’m just really glad you’ll be guiding me. So, thank you. Thank you very much. When did you want to leave? I haven’t bought anything yet, except for clothes.” She waved a hand at her current layered outfit. “Nothing like a tent or anything, since I wasn’t sure what I’d need or what you already had or…um. I’m babbling. I’m sorry. I’m just really relieved.”
    His shoulders dropped in a silent sigh. Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out a pen and plucked the map from