He held Terra’s gaze, then shifted to someone behind her. A woman hiked up the trail and stopped at the Rocky Mountain Courage main plaque. She wore Army-green cargo pants and a light jacket. Her eyes flashed around the memorial, then flicked to the three of them and snagged on Alex.

No . . .

What was she doing here?

Tall, slender, and athletic. Long, brown layered hair that emphasized her big hazel eyes and a dimpled grin he could never forget, though she wasn’t grinning now. He took her in, but then his gaze bounced back up to her eyes. Still luminous and captivating and alluring. Scary too—when she looked at him, he got the sense she was reading his mind, even his mail. He’d last seen her in DC, and now, suddenly, she was here.

During their one day together three years ago when she’d come to DC for an interview with the DSS, she’d mentioned being from Montana too. The next day, Alex left for his overseas assignment but hadn’t forgotten her.

Mackenzie . . .

How could he ever forget such a beautiful name that went with such striking eyes?

He stared . . . And she was staring back. Was Providence sending him a message? Alex took a step to make his way to her, but . . .

The earth rumbled beneath his feet—almost undetectable. Nothing unusual about that here in Montana, with up to ten small quakes a day. It reminded him of the life he’d left behind. The slight tremor passed in seconds, but not without leaving damage when a crack split the chunk that remained of his father’s stone plaque.

“Ah, Alex. I’m sorry.” Terra crouched and reached for the chunk that had fallen. “I barely felt that tremor, but the rest of the stone was probably already weakened.”

“Leave it,” he said. “It’s not like you can fix it.”

Using her cell, she took pictures of the cracked stone. “We’ll fix it, alright. We’ll find who’s responsible.”

He crossed his arms and glanced back to Mackenzie. She was gone. He should have approached her and said something. At least she’d recognized him too, except he had the sneaking suspicion that seeing him here was what sent her away.

Looked like he had two mysteries to solve.

THREE

With a white-knuckled grip on the wheel, Mackenzie dragged in a ragged breath and steered up the long drive toward the log cabin constructed in the side of a mountain. It blended in with the surrounding natural backwoods setting. Dad’s idea. Her older brother, Rowan, had taken up residence in the house and become CEO of Hanstech after Dad’s death—had it really been twelve years ago?

Palms sweating, Mackenzie parked near a copse of trees about fifteen yards from the front entrance, giving herself a chance to work up her courage and rehearse her words.