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familiarity, almost a sense of déjà vu, before recognition hit her full force. She didn’t just feel as if she’d been there before, she realized. She had been there. They had spent a week here the summer before she became pregnant with Toby. There was a cabin across the lake that belonged to one of Connor’s pals on the force. She and Joel, along with Adam and the woman he was dating at the time... Laura... Lauren... Lenore, that was it. The four of them had come up together, and although his date had bailed out at the last minute, Connor had joined them for the last four days of their stay. Alone.
    Gaby felt her face heat at the memory of those long-ago days and then came a rush of anger.
    â€œYou bastard,” she shouted in his ear, wanting to make sure he heard her over the noise of the engine and the wind.
    Connor jerked his head away, telling her she had been heard, all right. He slowed as the road narrowed and bent sharply, following it around to where she could now see the corner of the cabin. The only dwelling for miles around, it was exactly as she remembered it, built of dark, rough-hewn logs and shielded by trees, with a large wraparound deck designed to take full advantage of the view of the lake.
    Connor turned his head just enough to talk to her. “I take it you finally recognized where we’re going,” he shouted over the noise.
    â€œI recognize it, all right,” she replied stiffly. “Why on earth did you bring me here?”
    She felt him shrug, and he let up on the throttle enough to make shouting unnecessary. “I needed someplace to bring you. This was available... and out of the way. And safe.”
    They came to a stop on the crushed-stone driveway next to the cabin, and she wasted no time climbing off and putting some distance between them.
    â€œSafe?” she asked, unconsciously rubbing her legs. They felt numb from the long ride. “What do you mean, safe?”
    He hesitated. “I mean that I needed a place where no one would think to look for you, and where, if anyone does come looking, I can see them before they get here.”
    â€œYou make it sound like we’re hiding out, for heaven’s sake.”
    He shrugged. “I guess that about sums it up.”
    â€œFrom whom?” she demanded.
    He unfastened the canvas knapsacks and carried one, along with his helmet and other gear, up the steps to the deck without replying.
    Gabrielle followed, stopping at the bottom of the steps. “From whom?” she asked again. “Answer me, damn you.”
    He turned, his expression one of grim resignation. “I’m not absolutely sure. Yet. But I’d say Adam is as good a bet as anyone.”
    â€œAdam? Are you joking? Or have you completely lost your mind?” She laughed shortly. “What am I saying? Of course you have. If you were sane, none of this would be happening.”
    Connor continued toward the door of the cabin. “Want to grab that other knapsack and bring it inside with you?” he called back to her.
    â€œNo.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared at his back as he walked away. “No, I do not want to carry the other knapsack inside. I don’t even want to go inside. I don’t want to be here, especially not with you, and I refuse to do one more thing to cooperate or make your life easier. I plan to fight you every step of the way and make things miserable for you until you let me go. Do you hear me?” she asked, her voice reaching a crescendo.
    He had disappeared inside. Now he returned, crossing the deck with a familiar long-legged amble that suggested he was a man who didn’t hurry for anyone or anything. Even his walk was annoying, thought Gaby. His expression, as he reached for the final knapsack, had become blasé.
    â€œWhat were you saying?” he asked.
    â€œI said,” she replied through gritted teeth, “that I have no intention of sharing that