Free Witness Bares All by Abby Wood Page B

any space to herself since the night
Bryce and Taylor drove her away from the casino after the shootout
and straight to the safe house to live with Donovan.
    Yesterday Donovan informed her that their
current location had been compromised, but she knew the truth. He’d
wanted someone around to keep them apart. She was growing too
dependent on him. There was no danger. He only wanted to stop their
sexual affair.
    “Oh.” She stopped. The most beautiful river
lay in front of her, and on the bank a deer and her baby were
drinking at the water’s edge.
    “They come down to the river every
afternoon, along with bears and elk. I think I could watch them all
day long.”
    Josie turned and found Jolene standing
beside her. She crossed her arms. “I didn’t hear you following
me.”
    Jolene laughed. “Yeah, well…I’m sneaky like
that.” She shrugged. “Donovan was coming after you, but I told him
I’d bring you back.” The woman stepped in front of her and faced
her. “Are you okay? I’m not usually this nosy, but I know the guys
can be pretty intimidating. It’s all those G-man hormones…they
bounce off each other.”
    “G-man?” She chewed on the inside of her
cheek.
    “That’s what I call the guys on Tony’s
team.” She winked. “It’s a much easier title to say than Federal
Bureau of Investigations Special Agent.”
    Josie lifted the corner of her mouth.
“You’re right about that.”
    “I take it you’ve been sleeping with
Donovan…”
    She raised her brows, but something about
the woman had her nodding. “I’m that transparent?”
    “No.” Jolene rubbed Josie’s bare arm. “I’ve
just been in your shoes. I know the look. It’s hard not to fall for
them. They’re like the last of the alpha males.”
    Josie shrugged. “It’s all one-sided though.
Donovan…Agent D is all business, all the time…well, except when
he’s screwin’ me.” She tried to hold the tears back, but after
staying strong and having no one to talk to, the friendly
conversation undid her resolve. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be blabbing
about my troubles.”
    “Aw…” Jolene reached out and wrapped her
arms around Josie. “You’re going to spend a week here with us, and
we’ll talk more later. Right now, let’s get you back to the house
before Donovan has all of the G-men stomping down here with their
guns drawn.”
    She let Jolene turn her
around. She lifted her head and pulled back. Donovan stood in the
path frowning. Uh oh.
    “I was coming back. I just wanted to see
where the trail led…” She shut her mouth. That sounded like a lie
even to her.
    Donovan ignored her excuse for running off
and nodded to Jolene. “Thanks, but I’ll bring her back.”
    Jolene squeezed her arm before walking back
up the trail. Josie stared at Donovan. “I’m sorry. I know I
shouldn’t—”
    He held up his hand. “It’s okay. You don’t
have to explain” He stepped toward her. “Let’s walk.” He motioned
off to the side. “We’ll leave the deer to enjoy their moment.”
    They strolled down the river in silence. Her
head spun with questions. Why wasn’t he taking her back to the
cabin? Did something happen and he was trying to give her the bad
news? Maybe she’d pushed him too far.
    Unable to take the suspense any longer, she
touched his arm. “Donovan, stop, please.” She dropped her hand.
“What’s going on? There’s something wrong, isn’t there?”
    He shook his head. “It’s not what you
think.”
    “Well, I’m thinking the worst.” She wrapped
her arms around her waist. “Is it about the trial?”
    “No.” He held out his hand. “Let’s sit
down.”
    She moved over to the
grassy knoll overlooking the river and waited. Donovan sat beside
her and gazed out to the water. Please,
don’t break my heart…
    “I want to apologize.” He turned toward her.
“I’ve treated you unfairly.”
    She drew her legs up and laid her head on
her knees. Her anger melted away. It was so easy to believe