Page 20 of A Midlife Vanishing Trick

“I told you to stay away from him,” Celine reminded her.

“I know,” Allison replied, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. “I just ... I couldn’t help it. I know it’s been four years, but is it so crazy to still be attracted to him?”

Especially since he’d returned looking more like a steamy snack than ever. If it weren’t so serious, she would have drooled a little at the thought.

“No, and that’s exactly what I was worried about,” her friend said. “You can’t forget that he left you, girl. You can’t just let him come back into your life and seduce you.”

“Did he reallyleaveme, though?”

There was a pause. “What?”

Allison bit her lip. She’d been giving it some thought for a while. What were the odds that Stanley had been telling the truth when he told her he hadn’t actually abandoned her? All she remembered was that he’d rode out on his horse, and she’d never heard from him again. According to him, he’d somehow ended up in a place called Frost Mountain and had been stuck there for years.

She remembered the scars she’d seen covering his torso. And what about the shaggy hair? Or the fact that he was practically twice the size of the man she’d lost four years ago? That wasn’t the kind of change you got from running away from your wife to find peace someplace else. If anything, it looked like he’d been struggling to survive.

A chill traveled down her spine. “What if he weren’t lying about where he’s been all this time? What if he really got lost and was trapped on that ... that mountain for four years?”

Her friend sighed again. “Are you suggesting that because you think it’s a reasonable explanation or because youwantto believe he didn’tchooseto walk out on you four years ago?”

Chapter Seven

A Drink With Lara Croft

The next couple of days went by quietly. Stanley carried on in the barn, tending to the horses and taking occasional rides on Betsy. He spotted Allison a couple of times, but it seemed she was doing her best not to acknowledge him. After what had happened in the barn with her, he couldn’t quite blame her.

He knew that his being back in Torpe was bringing up conflicting feelings in her. On the one hand, she was still as attracted to him as he was to her. He’d seen—andfelt—it the other day. On the other hand, the fact remained that hehaddisappeared for four years. Whether he’d meant to or not, he’d hurt her, and he couldn’t just expect her to come jumping into his arms, no matter how badly he wanted that.

How long would it be before all of this was behind them? She still didn’t believe he’d been on Frost Mountain. Hell, she hadn’t even let him explain himself before she’d walked out on him. He swallowed, stroking the mane of the horse he’d been tending to. Was this the end of his marriage?

In fact, the marriage might as well have ended for her years ago. Four years was a long time. He’d spent that time thinking of her, wishing with every fiber of his being that he could get back to her, yet doubting he ever would see her face again except in his locket. But at leasthehad known what happened. She didn’t, and she’d had to deal with the confusion and pain of not knowing whether he was dead or alive or whether he’dlefther.

She couldn’t have been waiting for him for so long. At some point, she’d probably given up. And all he’d done by returning to her was reopen the wound his disappearance had caused.

He sighed. “Goddamn Frost Mountain.”

You’ll pay for what you’ve done.

The words swept through his memory just then, and he ground his teeth together.

Great.

He had more than one problem to worry about, and one of them wanted him dead. He shook his head at the memory. He’d known Johan barely a few days before he’d found himself back on Earth, but he knew enough to understand just how ruthless and relentless the man could be.

If Johan wanted him dead, the least he could do was brace himself for a fight that might be his last.

His stomach growled. It was afternoon, and he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink. For now, at least, he could use some water or orange juice.

A thought occurred to him. Given the current circumstances, it seemed completely insane, but Stanley wasn’t in the mood to care right now. Before he could stop himself, he stepped out of the barn and stared straight ahead at the ranch house. A drink from the kitchen couldn’t hurt.

He made a beeline for the house. He spotted Aaron and Julian on the way but paid little notice to the looks of surprise on their faces as he neared the front porch. He climbed the steps two at a time. The front door was unlocked. Was Allison at home? He looked around until he spotted the truck.

She was probably up in the bedroom. Without another moment’s hesitation, he stepped into the house, heading straight for the kitchen. It wasn’t until he reached the doorway that he heard the sounds coming from the kitchen and realized how wrong he was.

I should have known.

Allison stood with her back to him, chopping food on the counter. She had on another of those sundresses that didn’t quite obscure her curves but instead teased him with the promise of easy access. She didn’t bother looking up as hewalked in, but judging from her demeanor, she sensed his presence.

“Julian?” she said. “Is that you? I told you I’d get back to you later about the feed.”

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