Backwoods
The more you trust, the more you risk…When plans for a wilderness retreat with her teenage daughter Brooke go awry, Abby Hammond reluctantly pairs up with Brooke's stepbrother and his dad, Nathan Strom, for the weeklong trek. The only thing Abby has in common with the bad-boy former pro athlete is that their exes cheated with each other. That…and a visceral attraction that's growing more complicated with every step through the picturesque woods.Nathan's wild-card reputation lost him his career and his family. After years of regret, he's ready to fight for what truly matters–and that includes Abby's hard-won trust. When Brooke goes missing, Nathan knows he's her best and only hope of rescue. But the deeper into the rugged mountains they go, the more dangerous the territory will prove–for their safety and for their hearts.
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The more you trust, the more you risk…
When plans for a wilderness retreat with her teenage daughter Brooke go awry, Abby Hammond reluctantly pairs up with Brooke’s stepbrother and his dad, Nathan Strom, for the weeklong trek. The only thing Abby has in common with the bad-boy former pro athlete is that their exes cheated with each other. That…and a visceral attraction that’s growing more complicated with every step through the picturesque woods.
Nathan’s wild-card reputation lost him his career and his family. After years of regret, he’s ready to fight for what truly matters—and that includes Abby’s hard-won trust. When Brooke goes missing, Nathan knows he’s her best and only hope of rescue. But the deeper into the rugged mountains they go, the more dangerous the territory will prove—for their safety and for their hearts.
Praise for Jill Sorenson
“Sorenson makes her characters realistic, flawed, and appealing. Deftly handled violent action and red herrings rush this thriller to a believable ending.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Edge of Night
“This goes down as one of the best I’ve ever read. Bar none.”
—New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks on Dangerous to Touch
“Taut with emotion, suspense and danger. Sorenson expertly weaves the two stories into a heart-wrenching conclusion.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Edge of Night
“One of the best books of the year…nonstop, heart-pounding excitement.”
—RT Book Reviews on Stranded with Her Ex, Top Pick! 4.5 stars
“[A] high tension romantic thriller...culminating in a page-turning climax. Despite the mystery, the real tension comes from the emotional relationships, full of explosive sex and terrible secrets.”
—Publishers Weekly on Crash into Me
“It was definitely hot. Sooo hot. Jill Sorenson is my new favorite romantic-suspense author!”
—USA TODAY bestselling author Victoria Dahl on Crash into Me
To Stacy
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
ABBY’S ANXIETY INCREASED with every mile she drove away from the main road.
She tightened her hands around the steering wheel, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Only twenty minutes had passed since she’d exited the freeway, but it seemed like longer. Her daughter, Brooke, was sitting in the passenger seat. She yawned into her hand, unfazed by the increasing remoteness and looming trees. At dusk, the branches took on menacing shapes, forming an oppressive canopy overhead.
“You didn’t have to come,” Brooke said.
Abby rolled her neck to relieve tension. “I wanted to.”
“Mom.”
Abby studied her daughter’s pretty face. It was hard to believe Brooke was almost nineteen. She was a young woman now, strong and confident. Abby’s heart ached to look at her. “What?”
“You don’t like hiking.”
“I love hiking.”
“Backwoods hiking?”
Abby made a noncommittal sound. She didn’t like backwoods camping because it meant being cut off from modern amenities, but she’d travel to the ends of the earth for Brooke. “I’ll stay in the cabin. We can go on a few day hikes.”
“You’ll be bored.”
“Never,” Abby said, lifting her chin. She’d brought plenty of reading material, only half of which was work-related.
“Just don’t try to coordinate activities, okay?”
Abby was the wellness director at Seaside Retirement Center in San Diego. She planned exercise classes, therapy sessions and outdoor excursions for the residents. It was a challenging job that required close attention to detail. Brooke had often complained of Abby’s tendency toward scheduling every moment. OCD, she called it.
“You won’t even know I’m there,” Abby promised.
Brooke sighed, shaking her head.
They didn’t discuss the main reason Abby had tagged along. She didn’t trust her ex-husband to show up. He’d canceled last year’s trip at the last minute. Ray Dwyer was a successful plastic surgeon, always running late or flaking out. He showered Brooke with expensive gifts instead of giving her his full attention.
Ray was supposed to arrive tonight with Lydia, his current wife, and Leo, her son from a previous marriage. Leo was about Brooke’s age. The combined families would spend a week at the cabin, hanging out and exploring the wilderness. Brooke got along well with Lydia and Leo. She was an easygoing, well-adjusted child of divorce.
Abby wasn’t so well-adjusted. She’d been coparenting with Ray for seven years, and they were civil. Under normal circumstances, Abby wouldn’t impose on their vacation. She didn’t try to limit his visits or interfere in his relationship with Brooke. He’d taken her to Hawaii two summers ago. Ray was a good father—when he made the effort.
But if something went wrong and Ray changed his plans, which happened all too often, Brooke would be on her own. Abby didn’t want her daughter traveling through the High Sierras by herself or hanging out alone at the cabin. It was easy to get lost in this area, by vehicle or on foot, and there were innumerable dangers. Last fall, a young couple had disappeared while camping in these woods. The boyfriend had turned up in a shallow grave. The girl’s body was never found.
