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But what do I know? I trusted Kevin, too. How did that work out?
She was stuck. She couldn’t go forward, and she absolutely couldn’t go back.
“Ma’am, I’m getting pretty soaked out here. Are you ready to go to the resort? I’m going to need to put a little gas in your car, okay? I’ll go get my gas can.”
The wind howled and swirled, the trees already bent over with its force. It was almost raining sideways, and in just the few minutes that they’d been talking the weather had become even worse.
“Yes. Yes, of course. I’ll follow you. I’m sorry about you being so wet. I’m really sorry.”
“I was already wet so it’s fine, but the wind is about to take my head off. Now stay inside your car and roll up the window. No sense in both of us being out here. I’ll have your car going in a jiffy. I’ll pull in front of you, and you can follow me to the resort. It’s not far. Just a few minutes. I was heading there when I saw you.”
It was just one night. Then she could be on her way.
She was going to go out on a limb and trust this police officer. She didn’t have much of a choice.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t have made a mistake.
She’d already made so many.
* * *
In Grant’s career, he had encountered far too many people in abusive relationships. He’d been trained in domestic disputes, and he had de-escalated many “disagreements” in that time. They had run the gamut from yelling matches to one partner almost being killed by the other.
Mia Gamble was scared. She was running from someone, of that he was sure.
He hated that he’d had to threaten her with jail, but he couldn’t have her gallivanting around in a hurricane. She wasn’t much safer sleeping in her car, either. A branch could fly through the air and hit the vehicle, and flash flooding was a distinct possibility.
She was far safer in a warm, dry hotel room. The resort was running with a skeleton crew at the moment, but at least she wouldn’t have to worry about being a casualty that would be on the news tomorrow.
He was sure that the resort was jam-packed but he knew good and well that the family suite would be available. He was going to give that room to Mia Gamble. She’d be secure there until she could get on the road in the morning.
He could always go to his own home on the property and sleep there. If his brothers needed him, he could also sack out on the couch in his oldest brother’s office. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d done it. It was actually pretty comfortable.
He had a change of clothes at the resort, and he could take a shower in the spa facilities which were currently closed due to the storm.
Mia had followed him to the resort, and he’d indicated that she should park in the employee parking lot at the back of the main resort. There were plenty of empty spaces, and if someone was on her tail, that wouldn’t be the first place they’d look. It was also under a canopy and loaded with cameras. As sheriff, he took the safety of their guests and staff seriously.
He didn’t do the day to day running of the property, but he was still part owner and responsible.
“This is the employee parking,” she said, when he’d parked his own SUV. She was standing next to her car, a large backpack on the ground next to her.
Hell, this was probably all she had in the world after running. His throat tightened at the thought of her stuffing a few belongings into the bag and driving away as fast as she could.
“He won’t probably think to look for your car here,” Grant said. “And there are lots of cameras on this area, as well.”
He still didn’t know who “he” was, but it was clear that it was someone she feared.
Relief flooded her features and her shoulders sagged.
“Yes, you’re probably right. Thank you.”
“Let’s get you inside so you can relax a little. We’re going in the employee entrance. Did you see his car out front?”
She shook her head, and even tried to smile.
Now that she wasn’t trying to run straight into a storm, Grant could actually see her clearly for the first time.
Young. Younger than he’d thought in the beginning.
