But it's still there.
Well, if I have some of it, some animal instinct, it's telling me that these four men are hiding something, and I intend to find out what.
Just not now. I’ve come here for Zara.
Before I can push further, a door opens down the hallway, and she emerges, far from the downtrodden woman I expected to find.
This woman is positively glowing.
16
LISA
"Zara," I say, weak with relief.
She looks unharmed, which is good for her and for me, and very good for the career I'd otherwise be writing off tomorrow morning.
"Hi," she says quietly, fingers twisting in the hem of a flannel shirt so big on her that it's more like a dress. The sleeves are rolled up to her elbows, and her damp blonde hair hangs in long waves, loose around her shoulders. "Lisa, it's okay. I promise, I'm fine. They've been looking after me."
She looks tired, yes, but underneath all of that, she's glowing. There's no other word for it. She smiles, warm and genuine, and then she glances back at Ben, and the look that passes between them is unmistakable.
Despite the blood, the claw marks and whatever the hell else happened last night, Zara Reeves has a light in her eyes that I haven't seen since Amber disappeared.
Ben reaches out and grabs her hand before moving to stand behind her, then Zara closes her eyes as one massive hand rests on the small of her back, not overbearing or possessive, just letting her know he's there as he whispers something quietly.
Clearly, the rugged loner has taken his orders to care for her very seriously. And while I can appreciate the restorative powers of a roll in the hay with a Lennox, I'm also fully aware of the harrowing withdrawal symptoms.
I hope Ben really likes her and isn't just taking advantage of her presence in his remote cabin for a brief bit of fun.
My eyes drift sideways without permission. Beau is still leaning against the counter with his mug in his hand, and when I look at him, he's already looking at me. Something passes between us that I do not want to examine in a room full of his brothers, and I drag my attention back to Zara before any of them notices.
"Can I talk to you?" I ask her, tipping my head away from the wall of bearded men currently watching us like hawks. "Alone?"
Zara nods, extricating herself from a reluctant Ben, then leads me down the hallway to a small bedroom at the back of the cabin. She perches on the edge of a hastily made bed while I lean against the dresser, her fingers smoothing out the rumpled sheets.
"Is everything okay?" I keep my voice low, studying her face. "Has Ben been good to you? I didn't realise you two were… Beau never said…"
I sigh, unsure how to approach this, especially when she’s got that dreamy smile on her face.
"Are you sure you want to be with him, like that? Just because he protected you doesn't mean you owe him anything."
Zara blinks at me, alarmed, eyes moving toward the closed bedroom door, then laughs.
"No, no Lisa. It's nothing like that. They just… I'm okay, and I really, really like Ben." She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and gives me a genuine smile.
This isn't the scared woman who called me unsure what to do, who's been living on her nerves since her sister's disappearance.
"Ben's been... he's amazing, Lisa." She looks me straight in the eye, letting me know how serious she is. "I know it sounds crazy given everything, but I feel safe here. With him, actually. Anywhere with him."
My insides tighten. I'm thrilled for her. There's no denying he's a hunk.
"I… gosh. That's great, but just… you've been through a lot."
Zara gives me a sympathetic smile. "Lisa, he's a good guy. He loves me, and I love him."
I nod and smile, but something about the whole situation still doesn't sit well with me. Is it the lovestruck look on her face, her absolute certainty when she hardly knows the guy? I'm not sure I'd be capable of taking such a leap of faith.
I push off the dresser and cross the room to sit beside her on the bed.
