Page 24 of Paths

Crew – Done. I’ll get with Asa. He was still at the camp working and was waiting in the wings with the men in case we needed them. He heard it all and might already be on it.

I leave it at that, not in the mood to answer any questions about me being here with her. When I go to her bedroom door, she’s still sitting there, looking shaken by what just happened.

“So,” I begin, startling her in the process.

“Quit sneaking up on me.” Her face is troubled, etched with anxiety.

“You knew I was here. I’m not sneaking up on you.”

“Still.” She sighs and rubs her face. “Stop it.”

“Anyway,” I keep on and move into the room to stand in front of her. “Never thought to ask if you were engaged. That would’ve been an interesting question.”

She looks up quickly with big eyes, telling me she thinks I’m absurd. “I’m not engaged.”

“Not everyone agrees with that.”

She stands, coming almost toe-to-toe with me to defend herself. “We were on and off for almost three years. It was more off than on—for me at least—but I officially cut off the engagement a year ago. Something…” she swallows and tries to finish, “something happened and it was the last straw. I was done.”

“Hey.” I reach up and tuck her still damp hair behind her ear. Keeping my hand there, I lift her chin to look at me and lower my voice. “Relax. He’s gone and won’t be back.”

She grabs my wrist firmly and it’s easy to see the fear in her eyes. “He will. Now that he found me, he’ll be back. He’s relentless, he’ll never leave me alone. It’s why I left when I did.”

I pull her close, liking the way she fits against me. Her body pressed up against mine was like nothing I have ever experienced and I have to fight from getting hard.

“Grady?” she calls, her voice muffled in my chest as she fists my sweatshirt in her hands.

I rub her back. “Hmm?”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. Now he won’t only be after me, but you, too. I have a feeling I just dragged you into my nightmare.”

I close my eyes as I breathe in the fresh scent of her hair, burying my face there. She’s tense, not like earlier when I had my mouth on hers, so I press my lips into the side of her head. “Don’t worry, I can handle it. If he comes back, I’ll know. I don’t want you to worry, especially not right now.”

“Why did you come, anyway?”

I sigh, thinking how best to answer. Now isn’t the time to tell her about the surveillance system, even though I’m not sure when would be a good time to tell a woman she’s been under heavy security for months, not to mention that I’ve been watching her. “I was out for a walk to get some air. I heard your voice and knew something wasn’t right. You need to relax and not think about it. Can I get you something?”

I feel her breath against my skin, her warmth spreading through me.

“Like what?” she mutters.

Keeping her where she is, I shrug. “I don’t know. A carrot?”

A single laugh erupts, her body moving against mine. “A carrot?”

I grin into her hair. “Yeah, a carrot probably makes all freaks like you feel better, right? Maybe some fungi? Or, I could just get you a drink. Bourbon, coffee, tequila, gin? You probably have some juiced spinach sitting around here somewhere.”

She tries to push away from me, but I only let her go enough where she can look up. Shaking her head, her face is still distressed. “You don’t have to stay, I’ll be fine. I’ve dealt with Weston for a long time, I’ll figure something out.”

“I’m not leaving after what just happened. Tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you.”

She grips my arms and bites her lip.

“Maya? Spinach or wine?”

“I have a bottle of wine in the fridge.”

I tip my head and lift an eyebrow before turning to make the short trip to her kitchen, muttering, “I’m glad it’s not juiced spinach.”

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