Lost in Him Page 6

  Me: Point me in the right direction.

  Thorn: I already did.

  Me: Not very well since I’m standing still.

  Thorn: Don’t let me stop you.

  Me: That’s exactly what you’re doing.

  I pace in front of the couch when the three dots appear and dance. Then he stops writing. Several beats pass before he starts again. The pattern goes on for a full minute. My gaze is burning a hole into the screen when his reply finally appears.

  Thorn: You can borrow Rune.

  The grin that cracks my face is cheesy as hell. I’m sure there’s a scowl that rivals a thunderstorm on his.

  Me: Great! When can I pick him up?

  Thorn: I’ll drop him off.

  Me: I’ll be waiting.

  There isn’t much else for me to do. I’m already dressed for action. My gym shorts, tank top, and tennis shoes are ideal for a warm afternoon exploring the woodsy scenery. With a bounce in my stride, I lock the door and skip down the porch stairs.

  It only takes a few minutes for the sounds of approaching steps to reach me. Nash’s place must be right next to mine, which is what I assumed after seeing him so close on the beach. His broad frame breaks through the trees. My mouth goes dry when I catch sight of his bright blue eyes. For a man who avoids others with ferocity, he has the magnetism to attract a horde. The impact is instant and intense. I’m drawn into those cloudless skies until it feels like I’m floating. It’s devastating.

  Rune gallops into the clearing with his canine grace and glory on display. His energetic incoming knocks me from my stupor and I lower to my knees with arms spread wide. He doesn’t waste a second, dousing my face in slobbery kisses. I manage to tunnel my fingers into his silky hair as an anchor. Medium-sized he may be, but his enthusiasm can still topple me without much effort.

  “I missed you, Runey-boy.” A gruff noise comes from the broody Thorn rather far from my side. I ignore him, wisely choosing to shower the eager pooch with my attention. “Did you miss me too?”

  Rune’s tail could chop down a full-grown tree at the speed it’s wagging. Happy yips further prove his joy at our reunion.

  I rub at the scruff area under his collar, which results in him collapsing against me. My nails hit the jackpot and his hind leg begins to pinwheel. Strain bleeds from my muscles as I spoil him with extra love. There’s just something about the unconditional affection from a dog that can’t be beat.

  A whimsical sigh hints at my relaxed mood. We could probably stay in this spot for hours, but there’s hiking to be done.

  “Should we go for a walk?”

  His answer is a chipper bark, announced loud and proud.

  “You can lead the way. Would you like that?”

  He hops in place, bumping me with his wet nose. Several licks are added in for good measure.

  “Okay, I’m ready.” I stand with a stretch, catching sight of a dark presence nearby.

  It’s only then do I remember his owner looming mere feet from us.

  I offer him a wave, fast and lame. “Thanks for this. I appreciate Rune’s company.”

  Nash’s blistering blue gaze burns directly into me. It seems he’s no longer avoiding eye contact. Tingles erupt along the back of my neck. I’m frozen in this moment as he pins me in place with that smoldering stare. My tongue swells and I nearly choke on nothing but the crackling air between us.

  “Should I text you when we’re done?”

  His blink is slow, lids hooded over those seductive depths. I’m certain he’s trying to incinerate my common sense that begs me to tuck tail and get a move on. That’s the only explanation for what spews from me next.

  “Do you want to join us?”

  Penny doesn’t wither under my stare like many others do. Quite the opposite as she lifts her chin and reflects my unwavering focus. The woman is vibrant and bold—and a major pain in my ass.

  “No pressure or anything,” she blurts. “I don’t want to come off as pushy. Rude either.”

  I assume she’s trying to make a joke, but her expression remains hopeful and extra sunny. She obviously hasn’t felt how far she’s already pushed the limits of my normal. The mere fact that I’m even standing here is hard evidence. It’s been months since I’ve spent time with someone on purpose. That didn’t seem like an issue until a certain blonde landed in my territory.

  Hazel eyes study me with too much awareness. I subject her to the same scrutiny. Her tan complexion is flushed, chest rising and falling faster than typical for a relaxed state. Mine matches the erratic rhythm as I glance at her golden hair that’s streaked with sunshine. The long length is swept in a messy knot on the top of her head. My fingers curl with a primal desire to yank on those glossy strands.

  Lust billows feverish heat in my veins. I treat myself to another lazy perusal. Penny is too beautiful for this place. A precious and rare gem buried in dirt. That prods at a discovery I recently made. After our initial clash, I dug into her history. Or lack thereof.

  The list of inconsistencies I’ve found about this woman is longer than the Mississippi River. She has secrets. Ones I find myself intrigued by. The fact she chose to live in this obscure location for the entire summer raises suspicion. A lone woman staying by herself was strange from the start. Her lack of wilderness experience and fear of traveling the woods only adds to the oddity. There’s no question that this rural fortress tends to repel the female population. The rental history reveals as much. It tends to attract guys looking for a decent spot to fish.

  As I continue leering like a creep, I find myself wondering about her story. Again. I’ve lost track of how many times my mind has strayed to this topic as of late. There’s no explanation for why this curiosity hounds me, or why I give a single shit at all.

  It’s the demand for answers that keeps me close. Nothing else.

  Soon the lies will stack higher than the walls I hide behind. But that doesn’t change the truth.

  Penny Blaire is a farce. The permanent address she listed on her application is a public library in Iowa. There isn’t a chance that this posh darling is from a tiny town near Cedar Rapids. Not born and raised, at least. The hint of a southern accent betrays her, slight and infrequent as it might be. I’m not in the market for bullshit. The deceitful variety she’s trying to sell shouldn’t make a difference. Yet it does just that.

  I’ve considered the very likely possibility that she’s on the run for whatever reason. My resolve wavers whenever that thought enters the ring of my wayward obsessing. I’m the last person who can condemn her for attempting to start a new life elsewhere. On the contrary, I feel the steely lump in my chest softening at the prospect of us having that in common. What’s more concerning is that I can’t pry without fear of her returning the favor.

  Penny is jabbing at my protective layers with each breath, and appears well aware of it. “Am I making you uncomfortable? Just figured you were sticking around, maybe waiting for an invite.”

  I grunt, tipping my face to the sky to search for a higher power to grant me tolerance. There’s none to be found. Only the typical nature soundtrack, but Penny’s chipper humming cuts into the white noise.

  “Does that mean yes?” The innocent prompt is one more lash against my better judgment.

  My gaze seeks hers without permission. Brown and green swirl in her bottomless depths, begging for my surrender. How easy it would be to fall. My breathing remains elevated, as if I just completed a five-mile run. I need space.

  She’s entirely too tempting and untouchable. I compel my body to retreat, but I might as well be trapped in stone. Control is a rapidly fraying thread.

  Penny releases a drawn-out sigh. Wisps of stray hair shoot off her forehead from the effort. “Should I repeat the question?”

  The urge to answer her is a vicious force ripping me in two. I waver as the opposing sides prepare for battle. In the end, this darling is difficult to deny. That’s precisely why I don’t. Not directly.

  My focus dips lo
w to the traitor guarding her side. “See you in a few hours, Rune. Be a good boy.”

  Without further detriment to my wits, I turn and stride off. A disgruntled huff smacks my cowardice in the back. I’m being a bastard on purpose. Serves her right for steering me in this warped direction. Even so, blatantly ignoring her is a dick move—not that I plan to change course anytime soon.

  I keep my pace at a fast clip to avoid the tide trying to shove me in reverse.

  “Seriously?” Stunned disbelief is evident in her tone.

  My steps falter, which pushes me onward. Branches whip at my feverish skin as I aim straight for the trail. I vanish from the clearing but don’t go far. As if I’m going to let her take my dog and disappear. The truth mocks me. I want to keep her close for the sake of my sanity. She’s driving me directly to madness. It’s only fitting that I compartmentalize this stint under the illusion of protecting her.

  The excuse is flimsy, even to my own deranged brain.

  I cut off the path and wait behind a tree. It’s so damn quiet that my racing pulse feels like an angry stampede in my throat. She might notice me. My white shirt is a beacon. I remain still, the threat not enough to slap sense into me. The ability to leave is no longer mine to possess.

  The shadows are my friends as I duck to dodge low-hanging obstacles. Darkness plagues my mood and it’s her fault. But not really. Once again, I’m madder at myself for willingly strutting into this shitstorm. No one forced me to offer Rune as her guide. That’s her damn intoxicating influence speaking. She might drive me to distraction, but I’ll gain the upper hand before nightfall.

  Penny stews in silence for a minute. Delayed acceptance expels from her with a harsh breath. Slow footfalls shuffle across the grass soon after. She chooses to go north with Rune jogging beside her.

  Some deep, problematic compulsion sets me in motion. My tread is soft to avoid instant detection. It isn’t lost on me that I’m walking the line with stalker-like tendencies. But I can’t let her out of my sight. Not entirely.

  If she gets lost, I’ll be the one who has to find her anyway. This saves me trouble and eliminates the risk before it can occur. I nearly crash into a bush when Penny’s lyrical voice serenades our surroundings.

  “Who broke him, Runey-boy? Was it a girl? I bet she regrets that decision.”

  Now I do stumble, my fingers barely snagging the smooth bark of a nearby maple. My calluses provide extra grip or I’d be flat on my ass.

  How very wrong she is.

  She hums, her sloppy bun bouncing to and fro with indecision. “No response?”

  Rune’s smooth stride doesn’t hitch. The mutt is clueless on the topic. My social status was already demolished before he came along.

  “Too personal?” She ruffles the white and black fluff on his head.

  He bumps into her, but still doesn’t pause. Instead, his nose does a quick inspection of the passing ground. My muscles lock as I wait for the alarm to be triggered. By some small miracle, he doesn’t sniff out my concealed presence. That call was too close.

  As if summoned by a cautionary tale, my house and shop come into view on the left. Now would be a great time to veer off and abandon this outrageous impulse. The twinge in my gut kindly suggests I take the escape route home. Mud squishes beneath my soles as I hesitate. I track the sway of Penny’s flared hips in front of me. There’s zero inclination to follow my moral compass.

  Nope, the blonde bombshell is in charge of this screwed-up alternative. I don’t stray from the course she sets.

  A humorless sound rasps from me. I’m a crazed fool. That’s the only logical explanation for why I’m still trudging behind them. Although, there’s nothing logical about this.

  In my defense, Penny invited me to join them. She probably didn’t predict that I’d do so without her knowledge. This situation is fucked. Nothing about how I’m acting is normal. Although, to be fair, Penny is currently having a one-sided conversation with a dog. That elevates a brick of ugly unease from my chest. Maybe we have a few strange habits in common too.

  I almost punch my temple. Thinking that way will open old wounds, delivering nothing but pain. Penny isn’t a woman I can fuck and forget. That means she’s not a woman I can fuck at all.

  “I’ve always wanted a dog. Might go to the shelter and adopt one soon.” Her fast-acting attachment to Rune could be cured.

  He snorts, the sound resembling a resolute refusal.

  Even from this terrible angle, I see her lips twist into a pout. “Wouldn’t you like a friend to play with? Humans are awesome, of course. But another pup to wrestle with? No exception.”

  The sun casts swaths of bright light along the dirt path. These glimmers split apart the chaos inside me. My thoughts drift with the leisurely pace. Once again, I find myself contemplating where the hell she came from. She’s a puzzle I’d be thrilled to solve. Soft curves and supple flesh. Pliable under my coarse hands. Heat floods my system in an erotic gush. I shudder and wrench my mind from the gutter.

  Penny squeaks when a slight breeze rustles through the trees. “You’re so brave, Runey-boy. Are you going to protect me if a big, bad wolf leaps out from the bushes?”

  He jumps in front of her while investigating the so-called threat. After Rune determines there’s nothing to fear, he glues himself to her leg.

  “Such a good boy. My hero,” she coos. “I’ll give you some chicken for dinner.”

  I swear he licks his chops.

  My eyes roll to the leafy branches swaying above. She’s trying to be clever, but I see right through her defenseless act.

  Penny lifts an arm to touch a wide oak leaf. Acorns tumble from the disrupted twig. “Did you know your daddy wrote me a note? He told me I was being too loud. Who’s out here to hear me?”

  Me, that’s who. Closer than she realizes.

  “Maybe he’s just jealous I didn’t invite him to my party.”

  This incessant chatter is grinding my patience into mulch. Maybe she’s aiming for naïve damsel or sassy defiance, but nobody is this perky without an artificial boost. That’s my jaded experience talking.

  I’m not paying attention and slip on a rock. Damn this woman and her infuriating nonsense. The snap under my boot is too loud to ignore, but Penny doesn’t react. In fact, she just continues walking with that hypnotic gait. I’m helpless to keep tailing her like a lost puppy.

  It doesn’t take more than ten seconds to realize the change in her solo performance. “Not sure how you put up with him, Runey-boy. He’s a happiness thief.”

  My dog sneezes but doesn’t react otherwise. Good to know he isn’t tossing me under the bus just yet.

  “But he sure is sexy. Those blue eyes and bulging biceps. Not to mention the dangerous vibe he gives off. He’s got that broody and broken combo going. Most women are suckers for a tortured soul. We want to be the one who can change him. Mend the wounds. It’s a romantic notion I’m guilty of fantasizing about.” She kisses the air. A breathy sigh accompanies her antics.

  That proves my assumption. She’s aware that I’m within earshot. Blood rushes hotter than molten lava under my skin. I’m quick to let loose a string of muffled curses.

  Not sure why it’s necessary to make me look stupid. Other than the obvious, I’m doing just fine on my own. Only one of us is currently camouflaged in the foliage. Didn’t do a stealthy job either.

  I don’t move, passing the ball to her court. Might as well see how this plays out. Odds aren’t in my favor, but I’ve never been a betting man.

  More swing and allure accentuate her already fluid motion. Her chin dips as she peeks over to the exact spot where I stand hidden.

  Damn, I’m officially busted. Yet I remain firm in my stance.

  Penny slows to a standstill, toying with a patch of overgrown grass. “We could stop by your place and check on him. I bet he misses you.”

  Rune cocks his head, tongue lolling out in comedic fashion. What a chump. Falling in line for the pretty girl. I thump my for
ehead on the closest tree. As if I’m in a position to berate him.

  “Do you know the way?” Her focus is latched on me again.

  My so-called companion dashes around her stalled form in tight circles. He’ll lead her directly to me as if she hasn’t already pinpointed me.

  But he jogs off to resume their trek. Penny goes with the flow, letting him blaze a trail to who knows where. Definitely not to my cabin. This direction will take us around the lake. It’s a decent hike, but we’ll be at it for hours at this rate.

  “It’s really pretty in these woods. Have you lived in this area for long?”

  At this stage, I’m willing to admit she’s talking to me. Hope she’s not expecting a reply.

  “I never spent time in the country or true wilderness. Tropical beaches and ritzy mountain resorts pretending to be rural? Absolutely.”

  My snort is exaggerated. No one is surprised by that confession.

  Pretty sure she tosses a glare behind her purely for my benefit. “This is exactly what I needed. That’s what I told my friend. She thinks I’m crazy.”

  Again, no argument from me. I’m riding the insane train alongside her, though.

  Penny kicks at the damp ground. Chunks of muck go flying into the brush. She frowns and attempts to fling the gunk off her shoe. It’s still our rainy season and these covered parts take months to dry out.

  Another resigned sound wheezes from her. “Maybe I’m losing it, Runey-boy. I’ve spent the last thirty minutes having a conversation with a dog.”

  He’s too busy pissing on weeds to notice her feigned distress. At some random bend, I’ve absently wandered onto the trail in plain sight. Guilt coils in a suffocating vise. This is wrong on too many levels.

  Penny stomps to an abrupt halt. In the next beat, she whirls to face me with thunder in her features. “How long are we going to pretend you’re not spying on me?”

  I hold her gaze while carnal hunger gnaws in my stomach. There’s a different question to ask. One I’m almost willing to voice.

  How long will it take for us to ruin each other, Darlin’?