Page 6 of K-9 Prime Target

“I missed skiing, and I needed a job. I was running through the money I had saved. This offer, here in this beautiful area, seemed perfect. And when so much time passed with me not doing much more than speaking at a few corporate functions and occasionally having my picture taken or signing an autograph, I thought I was safe.”

“You still are. Nicholson isn’t here.” And Liam was here. She might not appreciate him appointing himself her bodyguard, but he was going to be watching out, all the same.

* * *

Nina hardly tasted the food, too aware of the man across from her. Being with him made her feel so vulnerable—maybe because he knew her better—or had, at one time—than almost anyone else. “Tell me what you’ve been doing since…since Lake Placid,” she said.

“I had a contract with National Geographic in the Galápagos.”

“I’ll bet that was beautiful.”

“It was.” He refilled their wineglasses. “I kept my base in Ireland, but I spent most of my time traveling on different assignments. Most recently, I’ve been in Ukraine.”

“Filming the war?”

“I worked with an aid organization trying to publicize the plight of children there.”

How noble. How awful. “That sounds difficult,” she said.

“It was. But important. But I was looking for something lighter when I heard about this job.”

“You can’t get much lighter than fluff videos to promote a tourist spot.”

“And I knew you were here.” His eyes met hers. Serious eyes, the color between storm cloud and ocean. “But if you tell me to go away, I will.”

“No.” The urgency of that single syllable embarrassed her. “I mean, I’m glad you’re the one filming this. It will make it easier.” She would feel safer with Liam. She could trust him to respect her. To protect her, even, if that was needed. Once, when they were together, he had punched a drunk who had grabbed her backside. One swift movement from Liam and the man was out cold on the floor. “Where did you learn to do that?” she had asked as he led her away.

“A roommate I had at university was a semipro boxer. He taught me a few things.”

“You’re smiling,” he said, after the server had cleared the table and brought coffee. “What about?”

“I hadn’t realized. I was thinking about the time you punched that drunk who tried to feel me up.”

“And that made you smile?”

“I was imagining you in college, learning to box.”

“Not an attractive sight, I promise. I lost far more rounds than I ever won. My roommate pronounced me a failure.”

“Not that night.”

“At least I didn’t fail you.”

No. He had never failed her. She was the one who had run. She looked away. “Whatever you’re thinking to look that sad, don’t,” he said. “Please. Tonight, we’re just two friends having a lovely dinner. Tell me more about Sky, and I’ll show you my most recent pictures of Angel being cute. Tell me your best ski patrol stories, and I’ll share my war stories from Ukraine.”

She nodded. “Yes.” This was what she wanted—what she needed. Something that passed for normal. Safe. The kind of life she had always longed for.

* * *

The next morning, Liam waited at the base of Lift Four for Nina to arrive. The lifts weren’t running yet, and only a few people passed through the area. He wore ski gear, his skis stashed in a rack nearby, and had his camera equipment in a backpack, hoping to film some good shots of Nina on the slopes before the runs grew too crowded.

Nearby, his terrier, Angel, pawed at a mound of snow. The gray and white dog wore a bright pink insulated jacket, her name in gold script on the side. “Angel, come.” Liam patted his thigh.

Angel looked at him, then went back to digging in the snow. Typical.

He spotted Nina crossing the cobblestone plaza, a midsize dog with hair the color of an Irish setter and a red harness trotting at her side. Last night they had rekindled some of the warmth of their previous relationship, trading stories of their lives since those turbulent last days in Lake Placid with an ease that had been as comforting as a warm fire.

But this morning Nina didn’t look as glad to see him. She slowed when she spotted him. “Liam. What are you doing here?”