Page 45 of Lethal Threat

More silence. I get the distinct feeling that I don’t like silence. Probably never have. The urge to turn on the radio makes my fingers twitch.

Every second that passes multiplies the dread that’s coursing through me. Again, I reach the tipping point. “Cole, is this complicated nature of our relationship the reason you don’t live with me in Virginia?”

He nods, just once, and tightly.

Something’s definitely wrong. But I can’t remember.

I fist my hair and tug on my scalp. Damned amnesia.

His expression softens and he looks at me again before refocusing on the swath of light on the road in front of us. “Like I said, this should wait. We’re not going to be able to talk through all of it tonight, and I don’t think that’s good for you. Please, just try to take it easy. Trust me. Okay, sweetie?”

I sigh tremulously.

Trust him.

He’s done nothing but take care of me.

“Okay,” I say as I try to breathe it out. The knots inside of me are tightly coiled and I doubt breathing will help, but it’s all I’ve got right now. I lean my head back on the seat. All the up and down emotion is making my head hurt and draining my energy.

He’s done nothing wrong to make me so edgy. Instead, he’s done everything right. From flying across the country to opening doors and carrying my bag. Feeding me and making sure my apartment was safe before we went inside. Everything Cole has done, since he found out I needed him, has been focused on making sure I’m comfortable or protected.

His hand unclamps from the wheel and reaches across the console, taking my hand in his. When he laces his fingers between mine, I curl my own fingers and hold on tightly.

An anchor in the storm.

The feel of our hands clasped together is familiar, yet so strange.

I can’t imagine what would be happening to me right now if he hadn’t shown up.

Trust him.

Cole is tensely silent for the rest of the drive, but he holds my hand. The entire time, I feel like I’m floating in some kind of weird parallel reality as I look out the window.

I’m dizzy. Maybe it’s all the motion of the day from thesqueaky wheelchair ride, the not-so-fun-house elevator, the false alarm car evasion, the airplane ride, two escalators, to the traffic-dodging drive in the truck.

I’m ready for a solid surface. Namely, a bed.

Not a rock-hard chest. Or muscular arms.No. Definitely not.

No more of Cole’s magnetism tonight. No more until…

Fudge.

However…the thought of curling up in bed with Cole’s big warm body on this cold winter night is too tempting.

The snow’s beginning to fall when we turn onto a narrow gravel path. Motion lights flip on, catching fat flakes in their beams as the truck approaches a cabin.

Holy wow.Cole’s cabin’s a big rustic log structure, right out of a winter fairy tale. The peak reaches majestically into the night sky.

Surely scenting the air with earthy evergreen fragrances. I can smell them in my imagination. Not all my memories are gone.

This is the perfect place for a blind date vacation.Ifyou’re in a reality show.

Is that what this is? It’s starting to feel more and more like it.

I just want answers. Everybody says I need time and to let the memories come slowly.

I say, give me the whole shebang. One fell swoop. System reboot complete.