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Heather
I poured myself a half a glass of wine then leaned back in the one armchair that came with this cabin.
Still floating on the warm sensation that my cousin’s words made me feel, I was glad to recline and sip the last of this cheap rosé I got from the food mart on clearance. I wasn’t picky. I wasn’t choosy. And I also wasn’t a drinker. It seemed apropos though, to toast to myself after the first week of my new job.
I picked up my phone, ready to catch up on watching some shows I’d fallen off of following, but first, I cleared out my texts.
Nance: You start with Phantom Menace.
Nance: Episode I. That’s the furthest back BBY.
I blinked, holding my wine aloft. “What?”
Heather: What in the hell is BBY?
Heather: I told you, I need to tackle my Star Wars ignorance with baby steps.
“Don’t be slinging acronyms and slang at me yet...” I murmured, still smiling anyway.
It felt good to sort of have a friend. Or a friendly coworker. All my coworkers in Chicago weren’t that loyal. How could they be when David was at the offices too?
No. No thinking about him.
Nance: Before the Battle of Yavin.
Heather: Is this a religious thing?
Nance: No!
Nance: FFS. If my hubs wasn’t keeping me busy with this family reunion stuff I’m insist on you having a sleepover so I can explain it all.
My smile widened.
Heather: I’ll hold you to that.
I wasn’t sure about a sleepover. Nance seemed like a grandma. Or an aunt. Familyish sort of friend. I’d have a movie night with her one of these days.
Well, look at that. I am settling in here.
I raised the wine to my lips again but a knock on the door had me flinching and sloshing a couple drops on the armrest.
“Oh, what now?”
I narrowed my eyes as I got up, peeved because I had one guess who this nighttime visitor could be.
If that teen was at my door again... Wanting to ask me to help her break into Roarke’s place... I held back a growl of annoyance as I opened the door. “No.”
She huffed, lowering her shoulders in defeat. “I didn’t even say anything yet.”
“But I know you will. Whatever games you’re playing or crimes you intend to commit, count me out.” I wouldn’t mind an association with Nance. But I wasn’t repeating my mistake of pitying this girl again.
“I just—”
“Listen.” I slipped my phone in my sweater pocket and crossed my arms. “I don’t know who you are, but I know I will not be conned again. I’m in no mood.”
“Jeez. I just—”
“Get. Lost.” She didn’t have a problem bolting last time.
“I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Nope. Not going to work. I won’t cave to a sob story.
“Go back to that cabin you claimed as your own last time.”
She smirked. “My uncle’s? No. He doesn’t want me there.”
“Well, that’s where you’re going. You’re not getting me involved with anything.” And you’re not getting me involved with him.
“Seriously?! What is with people today?” She shouted more curses, sharing any creative string of profanity she could manage as she spun away and flipped me off.
“Hey. Wait.”
She got on the bike to pedal away—in the opposite direction of Roarke’s cabin.
“For fuck’s sake.” I jogged outside, worried again. Guilt that I’d been too firm and harsh. I didn’t know he was her uncle. I didn’t know anything about her, but I was well aware it was cold and due to rain, and she shouldn’t be biking down a dark highway. “Wait.”
She pedaled faster, her chained necklaces and bracelets a jangle of noise I could track.
“Dammit. Wait. You can’t just run off like this and—”
She was gone. She didn’t slow. She didn’t look over her shoulder. Nothing.
Just up and left in a tiff.
I growled, regretting that I’d been so firm in protecting my boundaries. I didn’t want to get mixed up with whatever trouble she had in mind, but I didn’t mean for her to rush away.
Turning back toward my cabin, I hung my head and shook it, annoyed with her and myself.
Only when I set my foot on my front step did I realize that I should be mad at myself.
I put my hand on my door knob and turned it.
Nothing.
I repeated the action and shook the metal handle.
Again, nothing.
“No. No, no, no.”
When I rushed after her, the door must have had enough momentum to close firmly enough and lock.
I was locked out.
“No.”
Over and over, I tried to open the door. Nothing gave. I was screwed.
“Of all the damn bad luck I could get...” I scowled and got my phone out of my pocket.
I texted Eric, asking if he knew if Todd might still be up. When I worried that he might ignore a text this late, I called.
No answer. I left a message anyway, explaining that I was locked out.
I glanced at my car, irked that I couldn’t even rely on that. I couldn’t drive to his house and get help because my car keys were locked in my cabin.
“Fuck it.” I called the number I had for Todd and got no answer. After leaving a similar message for him, asking for a spare key, I paced and hugged myself.
I couldn’t stay out here all damn night. I was already cold. Panic hadn’t kicked in, but as my annoyance simmered, I knew that I wouldn’t freak out.
Because I’m not alone out here.
I cringed, lifting my gaze in the direction of the darkness that would lead to Roarke’s cabin.
He was over there. I had a neighbor, sort of, but I dreaded the prospect of asking him for help.
Branches snapped below a tree, and I jumped at the sudden noise. Just like that, I was scared. If not scared, then alarmed. Maybe I wasn’t alone out here in another sense. Coyotes. Wolves. Even a runaway dog or rabid coon. Any number of wild creatures could be afoot. They often wanted to come close to the chicken coops on farms, and the ranch had several.
I can’t stay out here all damn night...
Mind made up, I quickened my steps toward Roarke’s cabin. It was a long walk, and each step of the way, I tried to come to terms with the fact I was about to ask for him. Asking anyone for help went against my nature. Yes, I was independent to a fault. That was what happened when a neglected kid had to fend for herself and grow up to be an adult who trusted few. And sure, I was also stubborn to a fault, used to doing things my way because, well, I always had because my parents weren’t caregivers in any real sense of that word.
But asking Roarke for help, the man I had a natural instinct to want to push back. Or kiss?
No. No damn kissing. No men. No nothing.
“He probably won’t give a shit and help me anyway...”
I was there though, at his door. The last time I’d stood here, we’d argued and I could have sworn I saw desire burning in his glare on me.
This time, I had to ask for a favor because I could not stomach the beginning threads of anxiety taking root in me. On the walk over, I dismissed the chance that something or someone could be watching me. If it wasn’t an animal, it couldn’t be a person either. We were too remote. This was way out in the middle of nowhere.
David can’t be here. He wouldn’t know to be here.
I would feel better inside, though, so gathering all my courage, I lifted my hand to knock.
Then knock again.
His truck was parked out to the side. He had to be here.
But—
Oh, no.
What if someone is over? What if he’s got a woman over? I winced, debating another walk through the darkness toward another place where someone might help me.
Loud footsteps sounded though, and before I could second-guess myself any further, the door was flung open.
Roarke stood there, rubbing his slightly sleepy-looking face. He gave me a once-over. His brows were lined and the surprise was evident with his frown. Then he narrowed his bright green eyes on me with concern.
“What’s going on?” He gave me another speedy once-over, taking in my appearance. His attention felt invasive, somehow, like he wasn’t just looking at me but committing me to his scrutiny for ulterior motives.
“What?” he repeated.
I tugged my sweater closed and wished I didn’t feel so vulnerable in the cozy pajama set I’d chosen. Glancing at his bare chest and the flannel sleep pants that hung low on his hips, I swallowed and wished he wasn’t so exposed. Just how many muscles could a man have? How rugged and tight could skin stretch over six-pack abs? There was fit and trim and then there was chiseled and lethally hot.
I resisted the pesky flare of desire that lit me up at the sight of Roarke sleepy and shirtless.
It didn’t help that he looked so grumpy...and concerned. About me.
This is a huge mistake.
