Page 14 of The Biker's Brother

“One of those people who thinks that anything packaged is poison.”

“Well. It is!”

“I have two apples, two bananas, orange juice, although technically that’s packaged, and waters. I also have sandwiches, but those were wrapped up.”

“Smart ass,” she said.

He let it drop. She might have been born privileged, but she’d faced her share of hardship at the hands of some connected asshole who, according to Carmichael, might have some screws loose.

After leaving York they headed west. They’d spent most of the day on two lane black top. The past few hours had been hilly and meandering. The best part was that they couldn’t be followed without him knowing it.

Brand handed her the printed directions to the cabin to read out loud. It was starting to get dark and the cabin was secluded.

The keys were right where the owner said they’d be. Under the second large rock from the first step to the porch.

The cabin was cute. Unpaved driveway. Wooded on two sides and backed up to a running stream. A little rustic dollhouse. Two tiny bedrooms, with a shared bath in the small hallway between them. The beds were covered in colorful quilts that were very likely made and purchased locally. It wasn’t the Greenbrier, but at least it wasn’t camping.

Brandon checked out the house then immediately pulled all the shades down.

After looking around, Cami turned on the TV. Without missing a beat Brandon walked over and turned it off.

“Hey,” she said.

“No TV,” he said unceremoniously.

“Why not?”

“I need it quiet so I can hear what’s going on around us.”

She thought about arguing, but decided against it. After all, he was trying to take care of her. There were a few hardcover books amongst knickknacks. She picked up one bound in red with gold lettering. It was a biography of the Count de Sade, the contemporary descendant of the Marquis for whom sadism was named. She claimed the big armchair and opened the book, doing her best to ignore Brandon.

After careful consideration of the options, Brandon set Cami’s luggage down in the living room. When she heard crashing about a few seconds later, she found ignoring him impossible. She got up to go see what was going on.

Brandon had moved the large antique armoire in front of the bedroom’s two windows.

“What are you doing?”

He didn’t look up. “Blocking the windows.”

“Why?”

He didn’t reply. After placing the chest where he wanted it, he moved on to the back bedroom. He threw pillows and bedding on the floor before pulling the mattress off the bed.

“What are you doing now?”

“Pulling this mattress out into the hallway so I don’t have to sleep on the floor.”

“Why would you sleep on the floor? There are two perfectly good beds in this…” she looked around, “doll house. At least there were before you disassembled one of them.”

“I’m going to sleep here in the hallway tonight where I can keep an eye on you.”

“That is ridiculous,” she said.

“You’re entitled to your opinion, but it doesn’t count for much. That’s how it is.” After putting the mattress in place, he threw the quilt and pillows on top of it.

“Why did you say ‘good’ about the rain?”

“What?” He looked confused.