Dani opened her eyes and sat up. Where was he?
“Theo? Are you out there?” she called out.
Silence.
What was taking him so long?
She had no concept of time or knowing how long she’d been waiting, but based on the pruning of her fingers and the now-lukewarm temperature of the water, it had to have been a while.
They’d planned that he’d come right back and join her, hadn’t they?
Oh, whatever. He’d be back soon.
She leaned back and let her hands dance along the surface of the water, keeping her mind occupied as she waited. But another five or so minutes passed and still no Theo.
Maybe he’d come back and fallen asleep? Hehadseemed really tired.
Her pruney fingers couldn’t take much more, so she got out of the tub and dried off, then grabbed a set of white linen pajamas from a shelf. The man who’d shown them to their room was right—these weren’t made for someone her size. The sleeves were at least four inches too long, and the pants at least six. She rolled them up, then headed into the bedroom.
The empty bedroom.
“Theo?” she said again, even though he obviously wasn’t there.
A sick, sinking ache formed in the pit of her stomach, and her heart rate picked up. She needed to find him.
Dani rushed to the door, her hands shaking as she turned the doorknob. The house was silent. Too quiet. She tiptoed down thehall, making her way downstairs and peering into each room she came upon. No one was there.
Her jaw started to tremble.No, no, no. They’d taken him. How could she have been so foolish? So trusting? These men gave them no reason to believe them, and she and Theo were so exhausted that they would have believed anything.
And did.
Before she knew it, she was full-on running, calling his name as she searched the house. Looking for him. Looking for anyone.
How could she let this happen? How could she have lost him again?
Tears streamed down her face.
“Juicy?”
Dani spun around, finding Theo peering out a doorway.
“Theo!” She ran over to him and right into his arms.
“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” he said, trying to pull her back to look at her face.
“Wherewereyou? I thought someone had taken you again,” she said through her tears.
“I’m sorry. I was heading back, and then I got lost. But then I found the kitchen so I wanted to bring you something to eat, and I’m sorry. I should have gone back sooner.”
“Don’t leave me ever again,” she cried into his chest.
“I’ll never leave you.”
She finally pulled back upon hearing his words. “Do you mean that?”
“Yes, Juicy. I promise,” he said, cupping her face in his hands and wiping away her tears with his thumbs. “God, you’re beautiful.”
“Even when I’m crying?”
