Arctic Christmas Ambush by Sherri Shackelford

Author:Sherri Shackelford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-09-06T20:57:29+00:00

* * *

The surface of the water bubbled, and Shane caught a glimpse of Kara’s pale hand.

He circled her wrist and heaved her above the surface. She gasped and clawed at his arm.

Though weighted by her saturated coat, he managed to haul her out of the water. He lifted her against his chest. The warm water steamed as it met the frigid temperatures.

She strained away from him. “It’s Finn. We have to help him.”

“No.” He strode toward the indoor enclosure. “We can’t help him.”

“We have to,” she demanded, her eyes wild and unfocused.

“Kara, listen to me. You’re wet.” He spoke calmly, keeping her tightly against his chest. “We need to go inside.”

Moisture seeped through his gloves.

“What if...”

“We can’t save him. It’s too late.”

He didn’t know if it was his words or the sharp snowflakes peppering her face, but something must have permeated the fog of her panic because she suddenly stilled.

She lifted her stricken gaze to him. “We can’t leave him.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Shane said gently. “I promise. But I have to take care of you first.”

Her face was ashen, and her teeth chattered. He’d known immediately that Finn was dead. Kara probably had too; the shock of the past few days was just wearing on her.

When they returned inside, one of the attendants glanced up from folding a stack of towels. He took one look at the water dripping from Kara’s coat and immediately straightened.

The man gestured toward a bank of doors. “The dressing rooms are equipped with showers. I’ll find some dry clothes.”

“Call the front desk. Tell him we need a security team at the mineral pools.”

Kara reached out a hand. “Did anyone else come in or out that door?”

“No.” The attendant replied. “No one. I’ve been here the whole time.”

Shane adjusted her in his arms. “Let’s get you warm and then you can tell me what that was all about.”

The tiled shower of the dressing room featured a bench and Shane carefully set her down. He turned on the shower and worked her free from her coat. The water soon warmed, and he moved her beneath the spray.

A discreet knock signaled the arrival of the attendant with a stack of clothing in his outstretched hand.

Shane recognized the soft pink-and-gray plaid from the hotel spa. “Thanks.”

“There’s a pair of slippers on the bottom and a robe on the hook by the door.”

The man turned and pulled the door closed.

Kara huddled beneath the warm shower. Some of the color had returned to her cheeks.

“Okay,” he said. “What happened?”

She caught his gaze. “I think someone pushed me.”

“Are you sure? I didn’t see anyone.”

“I didn’t either. But I felt something.”

He stabbed his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have brought you. I thought you’d be safe. How could he have known where we were in time to lie in wait? I don’t get it.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I imagined it. Everything happened so fast.”

“Or maybe you didn’t. Maybe he saw us leave.”

“But how did he get to the pool without anyone seeing him?”

“We have to search your room.

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