“Lead the way,” I murmured to his back.
A falter in Gabriel’s step is the only indication he hears my attitude. Brief and short, and quickly rectified, but it’s there. He takes strides much longer than I can naturally keep up with to get to the cabin door. The rest of the building seems to disappear into the thick tree line behind the house as though, like him, it has emerged from the forest by some magical accident and shouldn’t be here.
Yep, I definitely came to the right man to fix my little problem.
I swivel back to check the clearing around the cabin but all that’s there are the tools of a workman: a half cut log pile; a fire pit area that’s seen recent use and has been swept clean. Lanterns hang at intervals on trees that I walked through, hidden in the boughs. Each is attached by an electrical cord that has to be solar powered all the way out here. For a man who is dead set on zero visitors, Decker sure knows how to create a mood, and I haven’t even seen the place lit up yet.
But I can sure imagine how pretty this place must look after dark.
Not a single cobweb is in sight. The cabin and its surroundings are cleaner than most suburban homes. I wrap my arms around myself, ignoring the ache in my chest.
“I’ve got coffee. It’s not half as shit as you imagine. None of it is.” Gabriel’s voice softens a fraction on that last part.
I turn my attention back to him. “Thank you.” My voice catches.
“I wouldn’t use those words with me, honey.” His hand flexes on the heavy door with its many locks.
I study them and close the distance into his space, taking in the size difference between us in full. Out of the sunlight, beneath the oversized eaves of the cabin that match him, the difference is?—
Well, huge. Like him. He stands a least one and a half times taller, dwarfing me. I shiver as I run my hands over the shiny locks that look as though they’re serviced regularly.
“Are bears good at working keys out here?” I mutter, tracing the locks with my fingertips.
“I told you I don’t do visitors.” His short answer makes sense.
The locks don’t.
I nod anyway. “You mentioned coffee.”
“So I did.” He jerks his head sideways, gesturing for me to head inside. “Follow the hallway and head upstairs.” His lips quirk beneath his beard. “I’ll lock up.”
“You… Upstairs?” I blink.
“Follow the hallway, honey. There’s only one way to go.” He leans into my space, pressing a large hand to my lower back and gives me a little push. “In you go.”
Warm spreads across my back followed by tiny shocks. I trip over the threshold to the music of his laughter, and stumble into the dimness beyond. The door closes as he mutters to himself.
I reach for a wall, finding one. That gives me relief as I wander along the hallway, my eyes adjusting to the odd light just as my feet find the first step.
And my mind begs the question: if the locks aren’t for keeping bears out, who or what are they keepingin?
Refusing to give grace to the panic brewing in my gut and the fear that the monster I’ve left outside is lesser than the one at my back, I climb the stairs. Coffee will fix everything.
And it had better be damned good, as promised.
CHAPTER THREE
ELENA
My legs hate me. That’s the only message that gets to my brain as I climb the stairs that seem to go on forever. My hand trails the smooth banister that winds through what feels like the inside of a huge tree trunk—for all I know, that’s exactly what it is. Why shouldn’t my mountain man also double it down as a tree god in his spare time? And then I see the light at the top of the stairwell. It’s a literal hallelujah moment. I could cry.
Actually, I could probably crawl.
My knees wobble as I lean forward, reaching for the glowy part that looks like opening at the end of the stairs. I really am ready to drop and haul my body up step by step. What I told Gabriel earlier—that I was sick of walking and ready to stay forever—wasn’t exactly a lie. I do need to plant my butt and hiking was not my favorite thing. My body isnotmade for exercise of any type. Okay, maybe one thing. But that’s about it.
“Not just yet. You can make it, honey.” Gabriel’s deep tones wrap around me along with his hands as he physically hauls me up the next step and the next. “Six more to go.”
“It feels like an eternity,” I grumble. “Why can’t you stay on the ground like everyone else?”
