Page 3

CHAPTER 3

S ephie followed Taschen into the cabin. The smells of lemon cleaner and pine filled her nose. Kevin trotted inside and set about sniffing every nook and cranny.

Taschen dropped his backpack to the floor, removed his shoes, and shoved his hands in his pockets. The space was inviting, with a large wood-burning fireplace, brown leather furniture, and an Aztec pattern rug and similar throw blanket. There were enough wood accents to remind Sephie she was tucked away in the forest far from anyone who’d want to hurt her. Hopefully.

Taschen cleared his throat. “There are water bottles in the kitchen and a few protein bars and nonperishables in the cupboards if you’re absolutely starving. Otherwise I’ll go into town tomorrow. There’s two bedrooms down the hall.” He nodded toward the small corridor. “The one on the left is a bit more spacious. ”

She slipped off her runners and her bare feet touched the cool wood floor. “I’ll take a water. If you don’t mind, I just want to sleep.”

He gave a formal nod. “Of course, Miss Burgess. It’s after four in the morning. I’m going to crash, too.”

“You can call me Sephie.”

He hooked an eyebrow. “Not Seraphina?”

Distaste wrinkled her nose. The use of her full name reminded her of her mother and the producers of Sera and Me —the only people who refused to call her by her nickname. “No, thank you.”

Keeping her arms wrapped around her waist she ambled through the living room. Her cotton pajama pants fluttered around her ankles with every step. Thank god she’d been wearing a sweater when she fell asleep because she hadn’t been able to grab any clothes while fleeing her apartment. The thin tank top she wore underneath was the only other shirt she had with her.

Making her way past the dining nook and into the kitchen, she spotted a package of water bottles on the counter near the toaster. Pulling one out, she turned. Taschen entered the kitchen. The breadth of his shoulders and staggering height was almost too big, too invasive, for the small room.

He stepped forward and out of sheer instinct she moved backward, bumping into the counter.

“I need one, too.” He grabbed a water bottle, and she watched as he unscrewed the lid and downed half the container. Then he took out a bowl from the cupboard, filled it with water, and set it on the ground.

Kevin raced over and lapped up the liquid.

“Thank you. I wasn’t even thinking. He must have been thirsty.”

“Don’t mention it.” His gaze pinned her to the spot and heat climbed up her neck. There was nothing suggestive about the way he looked at her, not really. But good god his hazel eyes were incredible. The myriad colors were surrounded by a navy-blue ring, and if it weren’t for his watchful curiosity, she’d be happy to get lost in his stare for hours.

Self-consciousness pulled down her shoulders. She didn’t normally care whether a man saw her without makeup, but for some reason, Taschen’s attention unnerved her. In a thrilling way.

She needed sleep. Taschen and all his manliness was getting to her head. “I’m going to rest. Good night.” She whistled and Kevin followed her to the hallway off the living room.

“Night,” he called.

The two bedrooms were across from each other and separated by a bathroom at the end of the hall. She selected the one with a view of the backyard.

After closing the curtains and shutting the door, she peeled back the comforter and scooted between the sheets. Kevin jumped up as though attached to her by an invisible elastic band and snuggled close to her side. She rubbed his silky ears until sleep pulled her into bleak darkness.

***

Sephie woke with a start. She gasped and sat up, her heart racing. Sweat dampened her back. Her mind went into rewind mode.

Hot guy. Cabin. Hot guy. Long drive. Hot guy. Yvette. Needle... Video. Pippa.

Holy hell.

She exhaled and took in her room. Sunlight streamed in through a gap in the curtains. The door was slightly ajar and light spilled from there as well. The clock on the bedside table read 10:14 a.m.

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and sat up. The cozy red fleece rustled but the familiar click of Kevin’s nails hitting the floor didn’t sound.

Fresh fear made her jump to her feet. “Kevin,” she called, followed by a whistle. She’d closed the door last night. She was sure of it. Her puny Frenchie hadn’t learned how to open doors overnight, nor would he jump through a closed window. So where had he gone?

She pulled open the door and moved into the living room. The cabin was quiet other than the hum of the fridge in the kitchen. Where was the bodyguard?

A deep, manly laugh sounded from somewhere outside. Following the noise, she drifted to the kitchen, where the screen door separated her from the backyard. The window was pushed up, allowing a warm breeze to dance on her skin.

A large wooden deck sprawled over part of the expansive lawn. The floorboards appeared freshly stained, and a hot tub sat nestled in the far corner near a picnic table. In the grass stood Taschen in a T-shirt and jeans. He hurled a tennis ball and Kevin raced after it, blades of grass and dirt flying behind him. A smile warmed her cheeks.

As if he sensed her watching... okay, drooling, Taschen turned. “Morning.”

She stepped outside and let the sunshine coat her face. “Did you steal my dog?”

Kevin came tearing back like a boomerang, the ball in his mouth. He dropped it at Taschen’s feet and gave a hearty ruff .

Taschen bent, picked up the toy, and tossed it in the air only to catch it absently. “He was scratching at your bedroom door this morning. I didn’t want him to wake you and figured he needed to go out. Hope you don’t mind.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear. The thick strands felt gritty with leftover terror and tears. The warmth on her cheeks turned to fire. He’d come into her room while she slept. She should be weirded out. Maybe even mad. But instead her belly muscles clenched. “Uh, no. I mean, I was scared when he wasn’t in the room. But I’m glad you let him out. I didn’t even hear him.”

His mouth quirked. “You were pretty out of it.” He lifted a shoulder and gave a boyish grin. “Not that I stared or anything.”

Girl, don’t you dare fall for sexy men with boyish grins .

She almost smiled at the sound of Pippa’s voice in her head. Tears misted her eyes. She rubbed her fingers together. “It’s a nice day.”

“Forecast said it’ll be hot. I don’t suppose you have any other clothes besides what you have on?”

She shook her head.

He gave a single nod. “All right. Why don’t we head into town and get some things?”

“Oh, uh, that won’t be necessary. I’m sure I’ll be on my way home tomorrow.”

He cocked his head. “What makes you say that?”

She let out a loose, uncomfortable laugh. “Okay, I guess I could get a few items. But I’ll only be here a day or two.”

He examined the ball’s thin white rings with his thumb. “I’d like to say this’ll be over that quickly, but someone tried to kill you last night.”

“And I knocked him unconscious. Surely the police got him. If he’s even alive, he’d have been arrested.”

Taschen slowly climbed the steps of the deck then rested his elbows on the railing. He stood less than two feet away, tall, hulking, and, damn him, authoritative.

“Even if they caught the guy, he’s only the face of this. The people who tried to hurt you will do it again.”

She jerked back her head. “I can’t just—just live here.”

He shrugged. “I can’t either. But I can tell you that some of my jobs are over in days, some weeks, some months...”

Indignation spread through her. “You might see me as Miss Moneybags, but I’m not just going to sit here in the woods on some high-paid, low-class vacation while hemorrhaging money to pay for your services. Make no mistake, Mr. McAvery. I’m footing your bill, and I’ll go home when I’m damn good and ready.” She spun on her heel and whipped open the screen door. It banged shut behind her but she was already in the bathroom by the time she heard him enter the house.

Her shoulders trembled as tears coursed down her cheeks. But they weren’t tears of anger. Not even sadness. They were tears of frustration.

Regret pooled in her stomach. She pressed her shaking hands to her cheeks and squeezed her eyes shut. Taschen hadn’t deserved that kind of explosion. He’d done nothing but be of service and she’d just spat in his face.

She still hadn’t processed her grief and guilt around Pippa’s death, but unloading on her bodyguard was unacceptable. She turned to face the mirror. “Oh god,” she muttered.

She looked like a creature dragged from the depths of hell. If grief had a picture in the dictionary and fear had a distinct smell...

She turned on the cold water and splashed her face then finger-combed the strands of her hair. Two minutes later she looked a little less wild.

It’s the best you’ve got to work with right now.

A shower would produce better results, but she wanted to apologize before too much time passed. Opening the bathroom door, she followed the noises coming from the kitchen. Taschen knelt on the floor pouring kibble from a bag of dog food into a bowl.

She froze. Once again, without being asked, without her even having to hint, he’d stepped up. Fresh gratitude washed over her.

He glanced up, his expression calm but his eyes distant. He stood to his towering height as Kevin dove into his breakfast.

“I’m sorry,” she said. She fought the urge to fiddle with her hands. He could probably tell by the tightness of her voice that she was nervous.

“It’s okay,” he said, before she could continue.

“No, it’s not.” Insistence made her step forward. “I shouldn’t have attacked you like that. I’m just... overwhelmed. I created a huge mess for myself and everyone around me by putting out that video. This is my fault and I don’t need to take anything out on you. So for that, I’m sorry. ”

He hooked his thumb in his belt loop. “Look. You’ve got every right to be mad. You need to lash out at someone? Go ahead. I can take it.” He tapped his pec as if her words could strike him. “Just know, I’m not trying to swindle you. I’ve got enough of my own money to keep me comfortable.”

She cringed. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

The skin around his eyes crinkled. “No one would blame you for thinking it,” he said softly.

She sighed and rocked onto her heels. “Can we start over? Pretend I’m not a complete bitch?” She offered a tentative smile and held out her hand.

His gentle laugh released the pressure in her chest. He caught her hand in his then placed his other on top, as he’d done last night. Goosebumps erupted on her flesh and shot awareness to her loins. His smile never wavered, nor did he flinch at the electricity shooting between their bodies.

Damn him for being so controlled when she was burning up inside.

“You’re not a bitch, Sephie.” His voice dropped to a low hum. “Not from where I’m standing.” The warmth in his hands made her skin flame.

She rolled in her lips and gently removed her hand. Good lord she shouldn’t have this reaction to him. It was one thing to find the guy attractive—it was another to soak her panties.

“I’m going to take that shower now.” It’d be a cold one, but he didn’t need to know that. “And I’ll take you up on the shopping trip.”

“No rush.” He flashed a smile and the scar on his face creased. The heat in her body sizzled. “Oh, by the way. There are new toothbrushes in the drawer. Help yourself.”

“Thanks.”

Taschen might be super hot, but she hardly knew him. And maybe it was better she kept it that way.