He only stays in my arms for a second, before making a screeching noise and jumping away, disappearing among thetrees. Lightning flashes again and I heave myself to my feet, leaning against the tree.
“Wait! Albert!” I call.
“Peaches! Where you hiding?” That deep growl of a voice sends a wave of relief straight through me. I can barely stand as I start waving, wondering where Declan is and if he can see me.
“Here! Albert found me!” I call, my voice cracking.
Another flash of lightning illuminates the broad, burly figure striding confidently through the trees. He’s completely at home out here and it’s as if he owns these woods.
“Are you hurt?” His brow wrinkles in concern as he closes the distance. Albert scampers around his feet.
I shake my head. “No. But I feel stupid. And I’m wet.”
He reaches me and pulls my body against his. “Tell me what you’re doing wandering in the woods like this. You’re exposed to the elements, gorgeous. People get lost out here.”
I can’t speak, overwhelmed for a second.
He takes off his jacket, wrapping it around me.
“You’re coming home with me and Albert. I don’t know where you were headed, but we can talk about it once you’re not soaking wet.”
My voice is small. “I was trying to get home.”
“Last night was that bad, huh?” He looks down at me, wrapping his arm around my waist so he’s almost carrying me across the muddy ground.
I can’t help smiling. “Last night was the opposite of bad.”
“I went searching for you. Started to get worried when you weren’t at your aunt’s or at your cabin. Albert was trying to tell me the whole time, but I was too dumb to pay attention.”
Albert chirps at the mention of his name, then runs ahead. The trees are less dense as we walk on and then we’re back on the path.
“For future reference, you need the left hand path. Leads back right past your cabin.”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure I want to come out here on my own.”
“Oh, you’ll get used to it. I’ll teach you how to navigate without a map. These woods have all kinds of markers you can follow. It’s much harder in a storm, of course.”
I sag against his body, suddenly overcome with exhaustion. “Can we rest for a moment? I’m tired.”
Declan shakes his head. “No. We need to get inside.” He swings his arm under my legs, lifting me to his broad chest. I want to tell him he can’t carry me all the way back, but I know he won’t listen. Instead, I bury my head into his skin, drinking in his woodsy, fresh scent. I can’t get enough of it. He smells like home.
Once we’re back at his cabin, Declan runs me a bath. He leaves me to get in and I lie there, surprised at how much dirt comes out from my trek through the forest. He’s left me a fluffy red towel and an enormous bathrobe. I put it on, staring at myself in the mirror. I have a scratch on one cheek and my eyes are still red.
I come out of the bathroom and he brings me a cup of coffee, guiding me to the sofa. He grabs a blanket from one of the beds and wraps it around me, then makes me eat a donut. He doesn’t let me talk until I’m finished.
“Feel better?”
I nod. “I think the sugar helped. Look, Declan. I’ve been so dumb.”
His lips quirk upwards into a grin. “Not as dumb as I was, not listening to what my genius raccoon was trying to tell me about the woman I love.”
My heart beats faster. “What did you say?”
“The raccoon part? Or the woman I love part?”
“That part.”
Declan takes the cup from my hands and puts it down on the table.
