She waited for her words to soothe him, praying that they did.
“Skiing? The man isn’t stupid. He has to know there’s no skiing to the north of this border.”
“But he doesn’t know that’s where we’re going,” she said reasonably. “I don’t even know where we’re going.”
She could hear his breathing begin to slow. He shot her a look. She put on her best innocent face and saw him relax a little. Sitting back, she concentrated on the highway ahead as she tried to still her own raucous heart’s frantic beat. Jon had gotten the message. She’d seen his eyes narrow, felt him start at just the one word. Justin. He had to know that not only she knew—but Collin. Jon had to get out of Buckhorn before the mobsters came after him.
Collin turned on some music, nervously switching from station to station. When he couldn’t find one that was static-free, he swore and turned off the radio. She wondered why he’d gotten an older model SUV. With the newer ones, he could have hooked up his phone to listen to music.
Kate felt worry and fear burrow in deeper as she stared at the straight highway stretched out before them with no sign of life for miles. She hadn’t even dared look in her side mirror as they’d left town. Instead, she’d stared straight ahead, telling herself she could do this. She had no choice.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Collin. He seemed jittery and anxious. Whatever this trip was really about, more was on the line than she’d known. Who were these associates in Canada?
What made her furious with herself was how stupid she’d been. How was it that Collin had fooled her so easily? She’d let him into her life, into her daughters’ lives. There was no doubt now that the man he’d turned into in Buckhorn was the real Collin Matthews. That sweet, thoughtful man who’d romanced her and talked her into marrying him didn’t exist. Never had. So why had he gone to all the trouble? Had he ever planned to marry her? Or had it all been about this trip and whatever waited across the border?
“Why?” she asked, suddenly needing to know.
He glanced over at her and reached to turn on the radio again. She pushed his hand away from the dial. “Why what?” he snapped.
“Why pretend you were in love with me?”
He glanced from her to the road again. “Who says I was pretending?”
She shook her head. “Did you ever plan to marry me, or was it just all about this trip to Canada?”
He took his time answering. “I bought you a wedding dress. I was planning to marry you,” he said without looking at her.
“I’m supposed to believe that?”
He laughed. “Why wouldn’t you? You’re a beautiful, wealthy woman.”
“So, it was the money.”
Collin chewed at his cheek for a moment. “That was part of it, I’ll admit it. But not all of it. I guess maybe I was hoping that when we got to know each other better, I could tell you the truth.” He shot a look at her as if trying to gauge how she was taking this. “I would have loved it if we were in this together. I thought you and I could make a hell of a team.” His laugh was bitter. “I actually thought that one day you might write my story.”
She couldn’t believe his arrogance. “Your story? What exactly is your story, Collin?”
He’d heard the edge to her voice. His face darkened. “I should have known you would never understand, you and your self-righteousness. You and your martyrdom. You think you’re the only woman who’s ever lost a husband? The only single mom who’s struggled to make ends meet?”
“Of course not,” she snapped. “I did what I had to do, that’s all.”
“That’s all I do,” he said, looking straight ahead as if unable to meet her gaze.
She scoffed. “That’s your excuse? Let me guess. Rich parents who didn’t pay any attention to you. Borderline alcoholics. Abuse?”
“It doesn’t have to be that dire to feel bad about your life,” he snapped. “Sorry if I don’t have a hard-luck story to share with you. Certainly not one like yours. I grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth. My parents adored me. Well, my mother did. As I got older, my father...well, he didn’t see much of a future for me. When my parents died in a plane crash in their private jet, I inherited everything. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long enough—just as my father had predicted. Happy?”
She shook her head. “That’s your excuse for whatever this is?” She waved a hand toward the white world outside the SUV’s windshield. “What is this? Human trafficking? Drugs?”
“Does it really matter at this point?” he asked with a sigh.
“I guess not.” She shook her head, disgusted...more with him or herself she couldn’t say. “So, you’re a criminal.”
He scoffed at that. “I’m more like Robin Hood.”
“In your dreams,” she said.
The muscles in his jaw bunched. She’d made him angry again. She warned herself of the danger and not just for her. “Still, I don’t understand why you need me now.” She didn’t think he was going to answer. She could see him struggling to control his temper.
“You’re my cover. A man and his fiancée crossing the border looks better than a single man from Texas up here in the winter making a quick trip to Canada and back.” He glanced at her. “You have that hoity-toity look of someone with money, refinement, not to mention that don’t-mess-with-me attitude. You’re perfect for this. You’re above suspicion.”
She couldn’t bear to look at him. Turning her head, she stared out at the sculpted white landscape. It seemed to run on forever. “How much farther is it?”
“A few hours. Take a nap. Daydream about your long-lost dead husband. Just remember what’s at stake. You’re my fiancée.” He reached into his pocket and shoved the diamond at her. “I paid a pretty penny for that. Put it back on. Play your part, and no one gets hurt.”
She took the ring, staring down at it for a long moment before she slipped it back on her finger and closed her fist. “How did I not see what you are really like?”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Collin said. “I hid it well, but deep down, I think you knew.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You sensed it. That’s why you held me at arm’s length for so long. That’s why you probably would never have married me.”
She turned to stare at him, hearing the truth in his words. But she’d let it go this far and had only herself to blame. She’d fallen for his sweet talk and his good looks. “I let you into my family. I introduced you to my daughters. I let you into my bed.”