“You know we did.”
Eric sighed. “I wasn’t there.”
“Yes, damn it! I sent two guys out to check for signs of fire. They came back and we fired up the chainsaws and got to work.” Liam’s eyes narrowed, his expression fierce. “Do they have a point of origin yet?”
“Not yet. The DOF is working on it. They plan to share their findings in the next few days.” Eric drew a deep breath. “Until then, I need to pull you off the BLM harvest. Craig can take over.”
“What the fuck, man?” Liam leapt out of his chair, running one hand through his hair. “You don’t believe me? I was born and raised here too. I remember what it feels like to walk away from everything you own not knowing if it will be there when you come back. I was ten the last time, but that’s not something you forget.”
“No, it’s not.” Eric understood the heartache that went hand in hand with fire. His mother often waited until the last minute before evacuating. He’d been terrified they wouldn’t get out in time. His father, who understood the threat a forest fire posed, demanded full custody of him and his sister after the last time. His mother had agreed without a fight, quickly moving in with her latest boyfriend. Of course, it hadn’t lasted long. His dad had passed them back as soon as he met someone new.
“Knowing I’m the reason another kid has to wonder if he’ll lose everything, that is my worst nightmare,” Liam said. “I’d do everything I can to prevent that from happening.”
Eric hesitated. He believed Liam. But he had to remain objective. If it were any other employee, Eric would have sidelined him immediately pending the investigation.
Liam stopped in the center of the room. “I’ve been your best friend since first grade. I have always been one hundred percent honest with you.”
Eric closed his eyes, the guilt like a lead weight in his stomach. “I know. And as your friend, I believe you. But the DOF doesn’t want you working on government land until we’ve cleared this up.”
Liam looked him straight in the eye. “I can’t believe this!”
“I’m sorry,” Eric said. “There’s nothing I can do. We need to play ball with them until we know what happened.”
Liam raised his hand, pointing his index finger at Eric. “Keep Georgia out of this. She doesn’t need to worry about me and this shit. Not right now.”
Eric nodded. “I won’t say a word. But if I were you, I wouldn’t be afraid of her finding out. She’s stronger than you think.”
“You can’t tell her, Eric,” Liam ground out. Eric knew his friend was barely keeping a leash on his anger. “Not about this. I want your word.”
“You have it.”
Liam stormed out, slamming the door to Eric’s office. Running his hand over his face, Eric stood and returned to the other side of his desk. He wanted this mess behind them. Of course, it would disappear only if the investigators came back and absolved Moore Timber of wrongdoing. Even then, putting things right with Liam would take time. And after he told his best friend about his relationship with Georgia? It might take damn near forever.
Georgia. She was opening up to him. Now he had to keep this from her. But he had a feeling she’d understand. Her faith in him felt solid. It was something he could count on. But was it enough? Was she falling for him because her heart wouldn’t have it any other way? That was why he was close to putting his friendship with Liam on the line. He couldn’t walk away from what he felt for Georgia. She was his.
He’d always cared for her. But now it felt as if he were tumbling headfirst over a cliff. He’d made the first leap, but caught himself on a branch. If he let go, if he allowed himself to free-fall into this relationship, he needed to be sure she was right there with him, committed to today, tomorrow, and the day after that.
But he wondered if the woman who’d been running scared from her feelings up until last night could handle words like long-term and serious, or if they’d sound like a foreign language. Sharing her memories didn’t change the fact that they’d happened. And it didn’t make them go away.
Eric shut down his computer, and with it his concerns. It was close to eleven. If he left now, Georgia might still be awake. She’d said she’d wait up, but he hadn’t anticipated working this late.
He locked up the office and headed for his car. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the garage, cut the engine, and climbed out of his vehicle. Briefcase in one hand, he opened the back door.
“Nooo!”
Eric walked into the kitchen and dropped his briefcase. That sound—he’d never heard anything like it. It was part scream, part agony. It echoed against his walls, infiltrating every inch of his home.
He ran for the stairs, taking them two at a time, bypassing Nate’s still-quiet bedroom—thank God—and headed for Georgia’s room at the far end of the long hall. There were no longer words. Just high-pitched, seemingly endless screams.
Questions ran through his head. Had someone broken in? He slowed, steps from Georgia’s door. Should he retrieve his gun from the safe?
The screaming grew louder, and Eric picked up the pace. He didn’t have time to get a weapon. He’d fight the intruder with his bare hands. He’d help her. Save her. There was no other option.
Eric pushed through the unlocked door, ready to fight. But the second he saw Georgia, his hands fell to his sides.
She lay on her bed, twisting and turning, her face damp from perspiration, her beautiful features contorted in agony and fear. She was alone, but that offered little comfort. Whatever was terrorizing her was on the inside.
Chapter Fifteen