Page 17 of Enticed by the Mountain Man
I frown, stepping closer. My name is written across the front—neat, deliberate. The handwriting is so familiar my stomach flips.
No. No, no, no. My pulse kicks hard as I tear it free and unfold it.
You can’t just disappear. We need to talk. You owe me that.
The words blur. The world tilts a little. I grip the edge of the truck to steady myself. He found me.
I don’t remember walking back into the cabin. I just know my hands won’t stop shaking as I shove clothes into my duffel. Jeans, shirts, toothbrush — it doesn’t matter what I grab, only that I have to go.
The door opens behind me.
“What the hell are you doing?” Graham’s voice is low, rough, edged with something sharper.
“I have to go,” I blurt out, shoving the zipper closed.
He steps into the room, his eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about?”
“I shouldn’t have come here. I thought I was safe, but—” My breath catches. “He knows. He found me.”
Graham looks from me to the bag, then to the folded paper on the counter. He picks it up, reads it once, twice, his jaw tightening with each word.
“He came here?” His voice drops an octave.
“I don’t know. I didn’t see him.”
His eyes flash dark. “Maeve.”
“I can’t stay, Graham. If he followed me here…” I trail off, fear taking over.
“The hell you can’t.”
“I can’t put you in danger!”
He steps forward so fast I stumble back. His hands land on my shoulders, firm but not rough. “You listen to me. You’re not running. Not this time.”
“Graham.”
He shakes his head. “You’ve been looking over your shoulder for too long. You came here for a reason. I’m that reason.”
The words hit hard. “You don’t understand. He doesn’t stop. He won’t leave me alone.”
His tone is quiet but full of fire. “I’m not letting him within a mile of you.”
Tears blur my vision. I hate that he sees it, that he sees me falling apart.
“Hey,” he says softly, his thumb brushing my cheek. “You don’t have to be scared anymore.”
“I am scared,” I whisper. “I’m terrified.”
“I know.”
He pulls against his chest, no hesitation, and I melt into him. His heartbeat thunders under my ear.
“It’s okay,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you.”
My breath shakes, uneven, the panic spilling out in pieces. “What if he doesn’t stop?”
“Then he’ll answer to me.”
