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I looked down at the paper in my hands as my heart pounded rapidly in my chest.

"Damon's never been serious about a woman in his life," Dylan continued. "But whatever's going on with you two, has nothing to do with a contract. It's real for him."

My throat tightened, and for some reason, I found myself sharing my deepest fears with a man I’d had a half dozen conversations with in my entire life. "He's a flirt."

Dylan laughed. "Yeah. He is."

"He’s never had a serious relationship."

"True."

"He doesn't know what he wants."

Dylan tilted his head. "Funny. Because from where I'm standing, you're the first thing he's ever been completely sure of."

I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. My phone buzzed. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Nine fifty-five. My departure alarm. Thank God.

"Right, that’s me." I shoved the contract into my purse. "I need to get going or we’ll miss our flight."

Dylan smiled, but it didn’t quite meet his eyes as he stepped aside. "Drive safe."

"I will. Thanks."

With my mom nowhere in sight, I headed up the steps of her cabin, grateful for the excuse to escape.

I knocked on the door. "Mom?"

Nothing.

I knocked again.

"Mom, it's me."

Still nothing.

I checked my phone. Our last text was her sending me pics before the wedding in her dress, asking if she should wear nylons or not. I tried to call her. I could hear the phone ringing in the cabin, but she didn’t pick up.

She knew we needed to leave by ten. We'd talked about it last night. None of my family had mentioned seeing her this morning, and my Auntie Bev, who she’d shared the cabin with, had taken a red-eye.

I tried the handle. Locked. A strange sensation crawled up my spine. I tried her phone again. I heard it behind the door.

I turned. "Dylan?"

He was a few yards away and turned. "Yeah?"

"Do you have a key to this cabin?"

"Sure. Why?"

"My mom isn't answering." Panic bled into my voice.

He was already moving. Within seconds, he'd unlocked the door.

"Mom?" I called as I stepped inside.

And then I saw her. Lying on the floor beside the bed. For one horrifying second, my brain simply stopped working.