But even as they sat by the fire, burning marshmallows, Colt couldn’t get the words out of his head.

A Russian thug.

Maybe they weren’t as safe as he thought.

Raven had spent most of the evening grilling them on their story. He had added as little as he could—yes, military, Army, was here as a friend.

Tae had filled her in on the rest—her history with Sergei, the attack at the house, and even the recent attack on her houseboat, which had rattled Zoey.

“Do you think they followed you here?”

“I hope not,” Tae said and met Colt’s eyes across the fire.

I will keep you safe. He put as much as he could into his gaze without saying the words aloud.

She drew her pink flannel cardigan, along with her blanket, around her as sparks bit into the sky.

He just about got up, went over to her, and pulled her into his arms.

Instead, Jethro got up, went to the porch, and picked up his shotgun. Handed it to Colt. “I’m assuming you know how to use this.”

“I can figure it out,” he said. “Thanks.”

“Alaska, huh?” Raven said now as she slid a golden-brown marshmallow onto a graham cracker. “Ever see any bears?”

“He killed a bear,” said Tae from the other side of the fire. “When he was fourteen.”

“Really?” Raven wound a string of marshmallow around her finger, stuck it in her mouth.

“It was bothering our cattle,” he said. “My father was gone—he’s a bush pilot, so he was often gone—and my brothers were busy doing something else.” He couldn’t remember why he’d needed to go alone, really.

Just did.

“I tracked the animal into the bush, watched him for three days, and finally set up an ambush. Back then, I could shoot a bear that was a threat to our livestock, and this one had killed a couple beef cows. I brought him home on our four-wheeler.”

“His father has the hide up in the guest room where I stayed,” Tae said. “He tells the story of coming home to Colt being gone and being worried out of his mind.” She looked at Colt. “And then Colt shows up with the bear, like some sort of frontier warrior.”

“I hardly think my father said that,” Colt said.

“No. That was my interpretation. But he was proud of you, despite his fear. I heard it in his voice.”

Huh.

Jethro leaned forward, threw a log on the fire. Sparks jittered into the night sky. “Fourteen is pretty young to bag a bear.”

“Were you scared?”

He looked at Raven. “Probably. I don’t remember. I was all about getting the bear. I got plenty scared when I got home and saw my dad though.” He smiled, again meeting Tae’s eyes.

She smiled back.

Heat shot through him, all the way to his core.