Free Starting Over by Marissa Dobson Page B

feet behind them. “Stay back and out of the way.”
    “Who are you talking to? Is someone with you?”
    “Just my dog.” He used the arm of his coat to brush off the door to find the handle. Since this end was sticking in the air, there was less snow built up in front of it, making it easier for him to open. With the snow out of the way, he found the handle and pulled. The door opened without a problem, but the car began to slide forward, the woman inside screaming. “You’ve got to get out now! The tree is breaking.”
    “Damn, you’re still just as demanding,” she shrieked.
    “Who are you?” He squatted, trying to peer into the dark car, but he couldn’t see anything other than shadows.
    “You’ll find out soon enough and I’m not sure you’ll like the idea that you’re the one rescuing me.” She slipped between the seats and grasped his hand when she reached the back.
    He wrapped his fingers around her wrists, just as the tree splintered and fell away, the car going with it. The sound of groaning metal followed, and then the silent snow seemed to swallow the sound as the vehicle slipped into the darkness. He tugged her hand, pulling her out of the car and into his arms.
    The long brown curly hair and shapely body were unmistakable. Liz Hoffman, his Liz.
    Stepping back a few feet, out of danger, he let go of her as if she’d burned him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
    “Is there somewhere I can warm up? I’ll tell you everything, just…please, I’m freezing.”
    He stared at her, remembering their past together. As if transported back there, he could see one of their last fights, just weeks before they were supposed to get married. He had tried to protect her from the second life he was swallowed into, and the best way was to hide it from her.
    “Scott, what about us? All you care about is your clients, but can’t you see that we’re in danger.” Her words played clearly through his thoughts. Fifteen years later and it was as fresh as if it had just happened. She wasn’t talking about physical danger, but at the time that’s what he’d thought. Looking back, he knew she meant their relationship. A week later he had come home to an empty house. No note, nothing. At least not until the next day when the package arrived at the office with her engagement ring and a letter explaining she couldn’t come in second to his job. She couldn’t bear him concealing the truth.
    The mafia connections had cost him a lot but that was the one thing that still pained him. He loved Liz, wanted to spend his life with her. All because he chose to represent that doctor, he lost everything he cherished.
    “Scott, are you listening to me? I’m freezing.”
    “My cabin’s just over the hill. Can you make it?” He nodded the way he had come. The hill wasn’t too steep and it was the quickest route.
    “Yes.” Her teeth chattered.
    “Come on, J.R.” He slipped his coat off and put it around Liz’s shoulders.
    “You don’t need too—”
    “Don’t argue, you’re freezing. Who knows how long you’ve been out here for all that snow to gather around your car.” He paused at the bottom of the hill and turned toward her. “What the hell were you thinking being out in this weather?”
    “I had to see you.”
    “After all these years you decide in one of the worst snowstorms in years that it’s life or death to see me. What could be that important that you’d risk your life?” He couldn’t keep the anger out of his words. She might have walked out on him, but he still loved her.
    “You.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “I’m here to save your life.”

Chapter Two
     
    After hours in the car, Liz had come up with the best way to tell him what she had found out. Instead of using the caution she had planned, she ended up blurting it out as they stood in the middle of the forest, complete targets for anyone who might be stupid enough to have come after him.
    She sat curled in front of the fire