Before she could know for sure, she needed to get up. But she didn’t need his hand. She scrambled to her feet and slowly stretched out her body. The pain of the fall would catch up with her tomorrow, along with the abuse to her muscles from the ride itself. But this was today . . . “I don’t think anything’s broken.”

“Except for the helmet.” He frowned and stared at the right side of her head.

“What?” She pulled off the helmet and spotted the crack snaking up the back and around to the right. Oh no.

“That could have been your head.” Alex took the helmet from her and examined it. “Proof these things matter.”

Mackenzie glanced back at her bike. Her heart sank. The front wheel was twisted. Great. Just great. Rowan was dead . . . and this . . . tears threatened to spill, but she wouldn’t cry in front of Alex.

“I’m surprised nothing is broken, frankly. The way you went flying, that was spectacular.”

She cut her eyes to him, and yeah, he had a grin. A triple-threat grin. But she didn’t miss the regret and concern behind his eyes.

Did he know about Rowan? Then it hit her. What was he doing here? “Were you following me?”

Alex handed her the broken helmet, then removed his own. He swiped an arm over his sweaty forehead and mussed his brown hair, which was a little curly at the ends. Buying time to consider his answer?

Finally, he said, “Guilty as charged. But it’s not what you think.”

A breeze hit the evergreens, and branches clacked together eerily. “If you mean it’s not that I think I’m standing in a dark forest on private property with a creepy stalker? Then what is it?” Though she was teasing him, really, because she didn’t get creepy vibes from him.

“First, let me draw your attention to the fact that I’m not the only one watching.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ever heard the phrase ‘eye in the sky’?”

Mackenzie took a moment to soak in his meaning. “Are you talking about the thriller or the song?”

He squinted, looking at the treetops.

She glanced up. “You’re not saying there’s a drone up there watching me.”

He stepped closer. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but Hanstech—my father’s company—is a drone software company.”

“And that knowledge doesn’t make me feel any better.”

Her sentiments exactly. She peered up through the treetops again. She hadn’t kept up enough with what was going on at Hanstech—software testing on drones. Was this Nora’s way of keeping tabs on her? She doubted that was the case.

Given the reason she was even in Montana, a chill crawled over her. “What kind of drone? And why? Did you see it? I don’t see anything.”