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She tips her shoulder, showing me the bag on her back. “I’ve come to the rescue.”

Instant relief floods through my system. An answered prayer. I don’t know if I’ve ever received one of those before.

The look on my face must be all the permission she needs, because she bounds toward me. “I don’t usually wear much makeup, but I have a few things.”

“I would kill or die for just a hint of mascara,” I tell her.

“Then you’re in luck.” She pulls out a purple tube and hands it over without looking at me. She continues to dig in her bag.

“If I looked like you, I wouldn’t need makeup either.”

Her head snaps up. “What? Are you kidding me?” She reaches out and runs a piece of my hair through her fingers. “You’re breathtaking. The copper color of your hair is so unique, and my god, look at your eyes. A shade of green that would be nearly impossible to recreate with the mix of my palette.”

She runs the pad of her thumb down the side of my nose, trailing it lightly along my cheekbone as if measuring everyfreckle. The way her gaze intensely brushes across my skin makes me pull back a little bit. The tiny action is enough to break the spell she seems to have fallen under.

She laughs, covering her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m an artist. Sometimes achingly beautiful things pull me in.”

“Um, I’ve never been described that way.”

Her head tips side to side like an owl as she continues to stare at me. “Can I show you?”

“How?”

“Let me paint you.”

The way her eyes continue to roam over me makes me feel exposed in an oddly good way. “Now?”

“Sure. Why not? Brody and I are staying here tonight, and it doesn’t look like there’s much else to do. I mean, I didn’t see a TV or anything.”

She’s absolutely right. There isn’t anything to do out here but think. Something I’d like to stop doing, if only for a minute.

“Come on. It will be fun.”

This is the strangest of days, but if anything this woman offers a buffer between me and the two men downstairs. I give her a tiny nod.

“Perfect. Let’s get you in the shower. I’ll take care of everything. I’m going to tell Brody to set my paints up outside. The timing is going to be perfection.”

I jump up as she jogs down the stairs. “Wait! I don’t even know your name.”

She gives me a big smile. “Daisy.”

Her personality certainly speaks of a fresh, comfortable spring day. However, her appearance promises something mysterious, unsettling, maybe even a little dark. The combination is impossible to resist.

“I’ll be right back.”

What did I just agree to do?

Chapter Eighteen

Ash

Ilisten to Brody’s new “friend” lay out her plan.

“So, what do you think?” she asks us, folding her arms across her chest.

I look to Brody to answer. He knows her better than I do. “You think you can open her eyes?”

“I know I can. She’s gorgeous.”