Page 29
“Subtle, Anastasia,” Garrison says with a laugh.
“What’s subtle?” I ask.
“Olive green is Ryker’s favorite color,” Katelyn says.
“What? It is!” Anastasia feigns shock, and my cheeks heat.
She’d done it on purpose. Why? Because she knew Ryker didn’t want to help me? Suddenly, the room feels a whole lot smaller, and I have to take a deep breath. The idea of being used to manipulate anyone doesn’t sit right with me, even though I can see that Ryker is clearly unbothered.
Or is he?
“Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.” Anastasia bumps my shoulder with hers. “Ryker just tends to be stubborn, and I know that he needs a little push sometimes.”
“A push to help me?” I ask, trying to keep my tone level. “If so, then I guess I should be thanking you.”
“Something like that, but no thanks necessary. Oh, Momma, let me help with that.” She gets up and leaves the table, so I take a sip of my water while Garrison and Katelyn fuss over their young child.
Lord, please help me through this dinner. Please grant me the courage to face whatever is before me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
“Dinner was nice,” I tell Ryker after we’ve stepped into his cabin. It’s nearly nine at night, and I am both stuffed and surprisingly relaxed.
“Momma Knox’s cooking is unmatched.”
“So she’s Anastasia and Zane’s mom?”
He nods.
“Yet you all call her Momma Knox.”
“She’s kind of adopted us into her family. Garrison and Sawyer were both raised in the foster system, and Weston doesn’t talk to his mom.”
“And you?”
He takes a deep breath, his gaze hardening. “She died.”
“Oh, Ryker, I’m sorry.”
“It’s been a long time, but thanks.” He locks up the house behind me and presses a button that activates the alarm. “Don’t open any doors or windows, or it’ll go off.”
“Okay.”
Ryker crosses over toward a wardrobe in the corner and withdraws a long shirt and a pair of sweats. “I don’t know that they’ll fit you well, but they will be comfortable to sleep in. The bathroom is right there, so you can get changed. There are spare toothbrushes beneath the sink.”
“Thanks.” I take the clothes and smile at him, all while my heart begins to hammer as the realization about tonight finally settles in. I’d been so distracted that I hadn’t given any thought to tonight’s arrangements.
Why hadn’t I considered this?
I’m sleeping in a remote cabin near a complete stranger, who I also happen to find so incredibly attractive. Then there’s the fact that he’s managed to distract me even during the most confusing time of my life.
Whether that’s a good or bad thing is yet to be seen.
What if—no. I shove the what-ifs aside. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have done it already. It’s not like there haven’t been ample opportunities. With that in mind, I turn and head into the bathroom, then shut the door behind me.
Before changing, though, I pause to study the bruising on my face. I’ve avoided looking at it since Ryker and Zane pointed out that they didn’t think it was due to the accident.
While I can’t say I’ve spent a whole lot of time studying bruises of those who came into the ER after a fight or assault, I can say that I’ve seen my handful of car accident victims.
And they’re right.
