Page 34 of Vanished in the Mist
“Well,” Shanna said. “I can see why Peyton hasn’t moved out of her parents’ house yet. If I lived in something this sweet, I’d never want to leave.”
“It’s stunning, for sure. But I’d rather struggle not to capsize in hurricane swells than have to tackle that steep, narrow road up the mountain every day. Can you imagine making that drive in ice and snow?”
“Actually, yes. I do live in West Virginia.”
“Touché. Your house is at the top of a mountain, too?”
“It would be, if I had the type of money to afford it. But looking up from the foothills isn’t exactly a hardship. And I can drive up the mountains anytime I want for that top-of-the-world feeling. Let me guess, you live right on the water in Charleston?”
“When your bread and butter involves boating, it’s the sensible thing to do.”
“Tell you what. If you ever visit me in the winter, you can close your eyes while I drive us to the best sightseeing elevations.”
“And if you visit me in Charleston, I’ll…” He hesitated, remembering her most deep-seated fear. “I promise not to take you anywhere near the water.”
She rolled her eyes. “You live on the water. What are you going to do, waste money on a hotel just because of my ridiculous phobia?”
He took her hand in his and pressed a kiss against her knuckles. “It’s not ridiculous. Even if you never tell me the cause, or don’t even know why you’re afraid, the fear is real and nothing to be ashamed of. I would be more than happy to wine and dine you at the most expensive accommodations Charleston has to offer, miles from the coast. You’re worth it.”
She stared at her hand in his, her eyes suspiciously misty.
He grinned. “Did that sound as sappy to you as it did to me?”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “A little. But it’s still the best pickup line anyone’s ever tried on me.” Her smile faded. “If only you lived in West Virginia.”
He squeezed her hand and let go, not voicing what they both were thinking.
If only he didn’t live near the one thing that terrified her, the one thing he relied on day in and day out to earn a living.
Hoping to get them back on track, he motioned toward the house. “I don’t see any cars. But I doubt they park on the street or even in the driveway with that four-car garage off to the right.”
“There’s only one way to know for sure.” She jogged across the road and started up the walkway toward the house.
Kaden swore and hurried to catch up. In spite of her earlier speech about being glad her ex wasn’t in Mystic Lake, he’dheard the wobble in her voice. She wasn’t convinced that the police were right, that Troy hadn’t been outside of their cabin. Until Kaden knew for certain, he’d play it safe and assume the creep was in town. Which meant sticking close to Shanna so her ex wouldn’t get a chance to hurt her.
He scanned the bushes along the home’s foundation as they climbed the porch steps. The bushes made great hiding places for someone up to no good. But in an exclusive area like this, odds were that a cowardly stalker ex wouldn’t risk being seen. There were security cameras on every porch, every garage. No one was coming up this mountain road without being caught on several security videos. Hopefully Peyton wasn’t one of the ones keeping an eye on those videos and wouldn’t know they were there.
When Shanna rang the doorbell and the musical chimes played a tune, she burst out laughing. “AC/DC? ‘Highway to Hell’? Do you think the parents know?”
“If they do, they’ve got a great sense of humor.”
“If they don’t, I’ll bet their daughter secretly laughs every time someone comes to visit.”
After a few more rings and several knocks went unanswered, Shanna’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. “Our plan to try to catch Peyton off guard is a bust. No one’s home, not even her parents. Or the maid. Or the butler.”
“My, aren’t you the snob,” Kaden said. “I doubt they have a butler.”
She laughed. “Maybe not.”
The sound of a car engine coming up the gravel road had both of them turning.
“Blue Mazda,” Shanna announced.
“Peyton. If she sees us, she’ll probably turn around and take off.” He motioned toward the bushes beside the porch steps.
“Oh, heck no.” She held up her hands as if to ward him off. “I’m not hiding down there with all the creepy-crawlies.”
“Then we’d better run.” He grabbed her hand and they took off across the wrap-around porch, not slowing until they rounded the corner at the back right side of the house.
