Not the first time either. With very little effort he could conjure up the moment when, a few weeks ago, he’d found her a little rattled—right after she’d seen the pictures of the dead Nigerian villagers that Colt and Noemi had found. He got why that undid her now.

Then, he just thought the images were too vivid. He could still hear himself, “Don’t worry. Whoever was after Noemi isn’t going to find us here. You’re safe.”

Oh brother. He rolled back and put his arm over his eyes to shut out the light.

Bad idea, because at once, the old demons edged in. Nuggsy laughing as he cleaned his weapon, his face hidden in the darkness, just the whites of his eyes showing across the fire ring, the savanna around them alive with birds calling, the washboard rattle of insects, the occasional roar of a lion that would raise the hair on all their necks.

Or Elvis humming through the coms “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” as they lay in the bush, sweating in ghillie suits or even just dug into sniper nests watching the camp of an Abu Nidal terrorist leader.

The worst was Vader, whose deep voice still sounded in Colt’s ears when he let down his guard. “Sam, they got the drop on us!”

Okay, now he was getting up. Colt pushed himself off his twin bed, his bare feet cool on the floor. He wore pajama bottoms but went bare chested as he walked out into the hallway, then downstairs.

The sun cascaded into the room in shades of gold and pink and blue. He could go for some of Tae’s spaghetti from last night. In fact, he half expected her to be in the kitchen, making an omelet or bacon or coffee or . . .

Wow, he’d slid into the warm expectation of her in his life, in his world—albeit temporary—way too easily. Especially for a guy who had purchased a new duffel bag after leaving his in Africa.

He started to boil water and filled up the French press his father used to make coffee, then walked to the window to stare out at Denali. “Dad was afraid you were going to actually attach to one of the climbing crews and head up the mountain.” Dodge’s voice found him. Nudged him.

Maybe he always had one foot out the door, even from the beginning.

His gaze tracked to the wreckage of Dodge’s beloved Piper, now pushed to the edge of the tarmac. They’d used the plow attached to the pickup and the four-wheeler to remove all the debris, working late after dinner. He hadn’t realized how late until he went inside and discovered the house quiet.

Tae had stopped by on her way down to her cabin, but he’d been on the four-wheeler and lifted a hand to her. Something about her expression, the way her gaze lingered on him . . .