“But I don’t know you,” I breathe, my voice barely a whisper. “Someone tried to kill me. They ran me off the road, making me crash. And I’m just supposed to trust you?” I squint at him, then flick my worried gaze to Merelyn. Her expression dulls. “I’m not supposed to be here. I-I was supposed to be on a plane back to Texas!” My stomach turns as memories of the text messages I received on the road come back to my mind. What if he’s still out there? “I think I'm going to be sick.”
I stand quickly.Too quickly, as stars dance in the distance, all around the cabin.
“I can’t be here. I need to leave. He might find me here! I have to go.” I beeline toward the bedroom door, not caring if I feel like I’m going to faint. My knees wobble underneath me as I skitter across the floor in socks. I look down to see I’m in an oversized dark green one-piece gown that reaches just above my knee.
“Who is he? What are you talking about? Stay in bed!” Merelyn advises as she clutches her cane.
“You’re freaking out. Calm down,” Gavin adds.
“Yes, because miraculously, I’ll calm down just because you say to. I don’t think that’s how it works.”
Gavin jumps out of the chair, his cowboy boots thud thunderously against the wooden floor as he races toward me. Still, he’s on the far left side of the bedroom, and it gives me an advantage over him so I can beat him to the door.
Luckily enough, it’s only a few feet away. Before the older woman can push me back down onto the bed or grab my arm, I twist the black knob and stumble out of the room. That's when I realize I'm in a cabin—made with rock and wood everywhere.
Eight-point antlers on the walls. Photos of nature, birds and animals, flowers, waterfalls, and the aurora lights are framed. I bypass the living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, holding on to the fireplace for balance.
“Sit down, stubborn small woman. You’re going to hit your headagain.” Gavin is on my heels, and as soon as I feel his hand coil around my bicep, I’m sliding my arm out of his hold. The next thing I know, I’m in a kitchen with a large marble island.
“I’m fine. Just fine!”
“You’re not fine. But hey, be my guest. Open that door and see if there’s a taxi parked a mile away by the closed gate, because yes, no one can get onto my ranch without me opening it for them.”
I find the front door, and I manage a weak smile on my sore, bruised face. Looking down my body, I re-analyze my stupidity and impulsiveness.
Shit. He’s right. What the heck am I doing?
Standing at the front door, I chew on the inside of my lip as my blood continues to throb in my ears wildly. My head is pounding viciously. The stars are multiplying by the second, and I don’t have my wallet or even shoes. I look down at my feet and wiggle my toes slowly.
Pivoting on my foot, I face him, out of breath. My chest rises and falls faster. In the kitchen light, he looks…handsome. Too handsome.Of course, he’s hot. And I hate how I notice his beauty. Attraction ignites like a wildfire when we lock eyes. I physically feel my cheeks flush as he holds my gaze. Blinking slowly, I run my fingers across my temples, nervously, breaking contact. The air between us hums and sparks…or maybe that’s the fire’s crackles coming from the living room. I don’t know.
All I know is that I need to really calm down and lie down.
I’m being stupid. Merelyn and Gavin are only trying to help me, and freaking out isn’t going to help my situation.
“Look, I’m sorry,” I apologize, shaking my head.
“Don’t be. You’ve been in an accident. Get some rest, and we’ll talk more,” he tells me softly, his hand reaching for mine. I stare at it like it’s going to bite me, yet his soft blue eyes bleed honesty. He wants to help me, I can see it in the way he waits for consent to touch me—to take his hand. There’s something about the way he talks and keeps his gaze on my face, clearly trying to figure me out without asking too many questions.
He’s a gentleman.
“Nothing makes sense to me right now and?—”
The corner of my vision darkens, my hearing slowly going silent as I fall into shadows. The last thing I feel before I’m out is Gavin’s arms wrapped around my legs and head.
CHAPTER 7
CORALINE
Screaming.
Someone is screaming so loud it makes my stomach flip upside down. The scream you hear in horror movies. A terror-filled scream that makes blood drain from your face.
As my fingernails claw deep into the thin white sheets, I realizeit’s mewho’s screaming. Then, I’m facing the wooden ceiling, sucking in large breaths vehemently, as though I’ve been drowning. My lungs burn, thirsting for air.
All I can do is yell from the horror that fuels my veins. My blood runs cold, but my skin is clammy. This feeling of being chased gnaws at my heart and soul, leaving me trembling and covering my mouth. I pull at it as I try to stop screaming, but nothing changes. I don’t recognize my surroundings, which makes everything feel a thousand times worse.
Suddenly, the door explodes open, but I’m too afraid to look at the intruder. I stay screaming, frozen with terror. I’m afraid to move because I fear the man from the wreckage will come back and finish what he started. It’s irrational, but I can’t thinkstraight right now with so much uncertainty hovering over me like a hopeless cloud.
