would have made it to Billie as quickly as he had if Aiden hadn’t called him. “Hi, Bree.”
“Oh, Quinn, I’m so sorry. I got here as soon as I could.” She hugged him and Quinn glanced at his friend, questioning the emotional moment. Aiden shrugged.
“How is Billie?” Aiden asked.
“Banged up and cranky.”
“Billie, cranky?” Bree said, breaking the hug. “She must be hurting.”
“She’s putting on a good front, playing tough. But I sense she’s in a dark place.”
“And probably not only because of the fall,” Bree said.
Quinn studied her for a second, trying to figure out the meaning of her words.
“We’ve become friends,” Bree explained. “So I know a lot about her past, her marriage, stuff like that.”
Quinn wondered what “stuff” she knew about him.
“I’m so glad she activated the locator beacon and I got the emergency text,” Bree said. “She almost didn’t get the device, but I insisted.”
Quinn studied the twenty-seven-year-old search-and-rescue K9 team member. “Did you know she was going into the mountains by herself?”
“I did,” Bree said.
“Why did you let her go alone?”
“She’s an experienced hiker,” Bree offered. “She knew what she was doing.”
“That’s not the point,” Quinn said.
“Billie is a grown woman. She’s not your little sister,” Bree said. “She’s extremely capable. She’s joined the SAR team and last month helped locate an Alzheimer’s patient who went missing.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“She said you two hadn’t spoken in months. Anyway, she needed to go into the mountains for—”
“Closure, I get it,” he said, a little impatient.
“Really, Quinn? Because I doubt you’ve ever sought closure for any of your brief relationships.”
“Bree,” Aiden warned.
Her sharp words stung, but were not untrue.
“I’m going to see Billie.” Bree brushed past the men and went into the E.R. examining area.
“Sorry, man, she can be snappy when she’s worried about a friend,” Aiden said.
“It’s okay, I probably deserved it.”
“A few SAR members have been texting me about Billie, wanting to know if they can visit, bring flowers or something.”
“Maybe when we get her home. Right now she needs peace and quiet.”
“So, what happened? She’s a solid hiker.”
Quinn looked at Aiden. “She was assaulted.”
“What?”
Quinn led Aiden to a visitor waiting area where they could speak privately. “Some guy on the trail threatened her. In an effort to get away it seems she fell off the trail.”
“She must have been terrified,” Aiden said.
Quinn’s gut clenched at the thought. “She’s not safe, not until we find out what her husband was into.”
“My cousin Tyler is a sheriff’s deputy. Want me to call him?”
“No, Officer Vanguard already took her statement, but thanks.”
“Are you staying with her?”
Quinn glanced down the hall toward the examining area. “Yes, even if I have to camp outside her hospital room.”
“You should ask to stay in her room tonight,” Aiden suggested.
“She’d never allow it.” Quinn glanced at his friend. “I think it’s a pride thing.”
“Well, someone’s got to stay with her. Maybe Bree can stay.”
“No. I don’t want to put your sister in danger.”
“You think it’s that bad?”
“I won’t know what to think until I have more information. I need to get my clothes and laptop from the car. Can you hang out here for a few minutes and keep watch?”
“Sure. Go ahead, I’ll check in on Billie.”
Aiden walked away. Quinn didn’t move for a few seconds. Even in a hospital full of doctors and nurses Quinn worried about Billie’s safety.
Now he was overreacting. Her attacker wouldn’t wander into a hospital to do her harm. She could identify him since she’d seen his face.
Which only put her in more danger.
Quinn headed to his car, focusing on the next three steps to achieve his goal. His organized mind had served him well, both in business and the military. He’d created the term the next three to help his staff stay focused on the prioritized projects of the day.
In staff meetings he’d remind everyone about the importance of focus, yet today his focus had been blown to bits the second he saw Billie’s still body lying on the plateau below the trail.
Jogging to his car, he reminded himself that Aiden was a capable man and between him and hospital security, no harm would come to Billie in the next ten minutes, the time it would take Quinn to change clothes.
Quinn had been very appreciative when Aiden offered Billie a job at Echo Mountain Resort months ago. Aiden said the favor was the least he could do considering Quinn designated the barn on the resort property as Search and Rescue headquarters for folks in their part of the county.
Even though Quinn owned the resort, he rarely meddled in Aiden’s management of the business. Sure he’d hoped Aiden would hire Billie. She needed to get away from Quinn and their dysfunctional relationship to start a new life, which she had as a hostess for the resort’s four-star restaurant. Quinn knew firsthand what a gracious hostess Billie could be since she’d planned plenty of dinners for Quinn and his business associates.
But those weren’t the only people he’d entertained at his lake house, and whenever he’d bring a woman to his place, Billie would serve a four-course, delicious meal. She’d smile and explain what ingredients were in the dishes she was about to serve, a smile that never seemed to reach her eyes.
Every time he brought home a date he sensed he was breaking Billie’s heart, even though he’d been clear that he and Billie could never be more than friends.
Quinn got his duffel out of the trunk and slammed it shut. He’d never meant to hurt her. Subconsciously
