Chapter 34

BOOK THREE: PROTECTING HIS PRIZE

Gardiner, Montana, United States

This isn't the sort of danger I signed up for. Xavier Price took a swig of his orange soda as he stared up at the stone arch in front of him. Deep sea dives? Sure. Long treks through the jungle? Anytime. Pirates? Bring 'em on. But not this. Anything but this.

He looked up at the wide stretch of blue over his head. There were only a couple of wispy clouds in the sky above, but despite the bright August sun, a mild chill hung in the air. He told himself that anywhere would feel chilly to him after spending the last few weeks in the Caribbean, that the goose bumps on his arms had nothing to do with the woman who was somewhere on the other side of that arch, somewhere in the wilds of Yellowstone National Park.

He stuck his free hand in his pocket out of habit, his fingers closing around the little wooden figurine he always kept there. The ridges dug into his palm, but he tightened his grip. Bracing himself.

"What do you