I started to think he did have some post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Paranoia would certainly be one of them. It was possible I was so attracted to him, I couldn’t think clearly. Everything between my legs told me to say yes. Clearly, I couldn’t think rationally about this man anymore.
His kisses were unreal. His hands even more incredible. I didn’t know how we had gone from that to this.
“Is there something I can do?” I asked.
“No.” He didn’t turn around.
“Maybe I should leave. I can call a car or something.”
He looked through the small slits in the blinds. “Not yet. We need to stay inside.”
“Brett, what’s going on? Is everything ok? Should we call the police?”
I didn’t know how long we had been back at the cabin. What I did know was he hadn’t touched me since the noises in the woods interrupted their make out session.
I was stuck. He had driven me here. I sighed and leaned into the cushions. Whatever Brett thought was in the woods was more interesting than what I thought we were about to do.
I had felt it. The heat in his hands. The air was thick between us. My core was aching for it. I had felt how hard his cock had been. We walked out to that clearing wanting the same thing—sex. Why else would he have taken me out to count falling stars? Was I so out of practice dating that I didn’t know if a man wanted to sleep with me or not?
“We don’t need the police.” He finally turned to face me. “I just need to keep an eye on things. That’s all.”
I stifled a yawn. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve got this, Gretchen. Don’t worry.” He rotated back to the window.
I stared at his silhouette. His wide shoulders shadowed in the dark. The moonlight, highlighting his sharp cheekbones. But eventually, my eyes grew tired and I couldn’t sit up anymore. I nuzzled into the sofa and fell asleep.
I opened my eyes. I sat upright. I wasn’t on the couch in the cabin. The quilt was gone. Brett wasn’t pacing in front of the window. I looked at the pillow next to me and reached for the note.
Sorry about last night. I’ll call you.
Brett
I crumpled it and climbed out of bed. I didn’t know how he had delivered me home without me waking up. I didn’t remember a single second of him putting me in the car or carrying me to my room. But here I was, wearing the same exact clothes I had chosen for our date. I was in my own bed. In my own room. My own house. How in the hell did he pull that off?
My bag was in the chair by the door. I remembered what he had said about being a part of Delta Force. It gave me chills to think he could have planted me at home without me having any idea. Brett must have been good at what he did. Too good.
I rubbed my arms. This man was full of secrets. Full of dark truths that consumed him in a way I didn’t understand. I walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower. God, I was already falling for him. But what was I getting myself into with a man like Brett?
Nine
Brett
It wasn’t easy leaving Gretchen, but I had to figure what in the hell was going on. I drove through the streets of Havenville until I was on the other side of town. I pulled into the driveway of my cousin’s house. Cane was sitting on the front porch.
I slammed the truck door behind me as I strolled toward him.
“Hey, cuz.”
I glared at him. “What was that stunt last night?”
“Stunt? Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He drank from a cup of coffee.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. I told you I didn’t want to get involved in family business. Then I hear you and God knows who else shouting in the woods near my house.”
“Oh, you heard that?” He pretended to be surprised.
“Don’t be a dick. You know I heard it. Why were you in the woods?”