The ceiling above her was timbered, high and rustic. A fire crackled in a hearth nearby. She shifted slightly, and a hand gently cupped the back of her head.
“Easy now, little miss,” came a low, familiar drawl. “You fainted.”
She blinked, and her blurry vision cleared to reveal a square jaw, concerned eyes, and tousled dark hair.
Levi.
Levi! Of all people to witness yet another of her meltdowns, it had to be the handsome stranger from the airport.
“Hi,” she croaked, her voice embarrassingly small. “Where...?”
“You’re safe,” Levi said gently. “You’re at Rawhide Ranch. This here’s the lobby.”
Sydney’s gaze drifted beyond him, across the room.
The lobby was spacious and yet seemed cozy, more like a hunting lodge than anything corporate. Large leather chairs were arranged on brightly colored area rugs, offering guests various seating areas in which to relax. The fireplace providing the warmth was not only massive, it was open to what she assumed was another public space. Wide wooden planks and real logs made up the walls. She couldn’t see everything, but what she could gave the impression of welcoming guests to come inside and sit awhile.
Resting against one of the chairs across from her and Levi, arms crossed loosely and expression thoughtful, was a man who looked carved from the same wood as the beams above her head. Tall and broad, with weathered skin, a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard, and intelligent blue eyes.
He gave her a soft nod.
“I’m Derek Hawkins,” he said, voice low and warm like the fire behind him. “I own the Ranch.”
Her lips parted but no words came.
Levi shifted beside her, adjusting the blanket draped over her legs. “You passed out at the gate. Had yourself a proper panic. We brought you inside out of the cold with your bags from the taxi.”
Sydney sat up a bit, the dizziness fading now. Banana was still clutched in her arms. Her fingers grabbed her bunny’s ear like a lifeline.
Derek stepped forward slowly, no hint of menace in his movements. Just calm, steady concern.
“Can you tell us what happened, little one?” he asked gently. “Start from the beginning if you will.”
Before she could answer, she caught sight of another figure sitting quietly in a straight-backed chair across the rug from her.
It was him. Levi’s partner. The same handsome man from the airport. He sat with his legs crossed, and brow furrowed as he watched her with quiet curiosity.
Three complete strangers. And still no sign of Greg.
Her stomach twisted, but she nodded.
Time to face the truth.
She’d been fooled by the man she thought she was in love with.
Chapter Five
Roland
She looked like she might break if the wrong word hit her.
Roland watched as Sydney shifted on the leather couch, her small hands tightening around the ear of her stuffed bunny. The stuffy looked just as exhausted as its owner. Levi still sat close beside her, posture relaxed but alert. His hand remained on the back of the couch, not touching her now, but there. Just in case.
Derek gave her a quiet nod of encouragement. “Whenever you’re ready, little one.”
She took a breath that hitched a little on the inhale, then started to speak. Her accent was soft, clipped in that elegant South African way. But it trembled. And Roland hated that it did.
“My name’s Sydney du Preez,” she began. “I work remotely from home as a virtual assistant. I help a few indie authors with admin and marketing stuff. Nothing glamorous; newsletters, Facebook groups, scheduling interviews. That sort of thing.” She looked at each of them in turn, like she was afraid they’d stop her for not being important enough.
