Page 26 of Chasing the Sun

“It’s a deer, or a mouse, or a stray cat,” I whispered to myself, refusing to let my imagination take over. My feet pounded against the pavement, and my legs burned as I quickened my pace.

Ahead, a soft yellow glow peeked through the trees. My eyes widened, struggling to adjust to the change as light slanted through the forest. The bend in the road obscured my view, and I couldn’t quite make out what I was seeing.

My jaw clenched as my blood cooled. With a sharp turn, the light flicked across my face, and I released my breath with an unsteady laugh.

A freaking car.

Not a vengeful spirit. Not a harbinger of doom. Just good old-fashioned internalized paranoia.

I chuckled again, feeling silly for thinking it could have been anything else. I stepped off the road onto the gravel shoulder as I continued walking. Instead of passing by, the truck slowed.

Without knowing who it was, I raised my hand in greeting. With my head high, I kept walking, but when I heard the vehicle stop, I glanced over my shoulder. White taillights flashed as the truck began to back up.

Curious, I stopped to look at the driver.

The window lowered and Cal’s irritated voice greeted me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Relieved and annoyed, I pasted on a slim smile. A snappy retort was on the tip of my tongue, but I decided Iwasn’t going to let him sour my mood. Instead of engaging, I shook my head and started walking.

Cal’s truck reversed down the road, following beside me as I kept walking. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”

I scoffed. “Says the man going thewrong waydown a curvy road.” I exaggerated the roll of my eyes and pinned my attention forward. If he wanted to wreck his truck because he was stupid, that was his fault.

With a frustrated grunt, Cal slammed on the brakes, then whipped the truck into gear. He pulled forward, turning in a wide circle to stop beside me.

He leaned across the cab of the truck, pushing the passenger-side door open. “Just get in.”

I weighed my options.

One: Be sensible, accept the ride, and avoid unnecessary ghost-related anxiety.

Two: Remain stubborn, walk the rest of the way, and risk becoming the next town legend.

I stared, hands on my hips as I fought reason and temptation. “Why?”

Cal stared out of the windshield. “Don’t make me drag you inside.”

Heat fluttered low in my belly at the way his words surprised me. I shouldn’t like the depraved mental image his agitated growl created.

Feeling defiant, I raised my chin. “That’s kidnapping.”

His mouth twitched like he was holding back a smirk, which only made my pulse misfire in protest. This man had no right being so annoyingly attractive while issuing threats disguised as favors.

He tipped his chin toward me, his rich brown eyes pinning me in place. “Are you always this difficult?”

My lower lip jutted forward as I considered his question. “Probably.” A trait, I decided, that I would take straight to my grave.

When he shifted in the driver’s seat, his legs spread in the most obscenely masculine way, my heart rate jumped. Warm notes ofclean man smellfilled my nose. I didn’t think Callum intended to kidnap and harm me, but honestly, there were worse ways to go.

He didn’t say any more, but his presencedemanded. His heavy gaze sparked something inside me that made me want to comply and refuse all at once.

With a huff, I climbed into the cab of his truck, sitting as far from him as humanly possible. With crossed arms, I sat, pouting, but not totally sure why. A large part of me hated that he’d won our little standoff ... and that I liked it.

When he leaned in, reaching across me to pull the seat belt over my body and secure it at my hip, I held my breath. His face was inches from mine as my eyes floated over the planes of his face.

It was wildly unfair how good he smelled—like cedar, coffee, and bad decisions.

Up close, his lips were lush and soft. His five-o’clock shadow was just long enough to make me wonder what it would feel like against my smooth skin.