Jane Doe(62)

“Jane . . . what are you doing?” His deep animal brain has finally registered the danger I present. He eyes the shiny blade warily. I imagine goose bumps spreading over his skin.

“I heard something!” I yelp. “I got scared!” I fling the knife aside and rush toward him.

He catches me automatically, though I notice his hands grip my arms and don’t reach around to embrace me. He’s not a stupid man. But I have an advantage. He’d never believe a woman can hold the upper hand. He’s in charge here; I just need to remind him of that.

“I was scared,” I whimper.

“Where were you?” he asks.

“What?”

“The cabin was empty. Where did you go?”

I make my voice quake and wobble. “I just went out for a quick walk.”

“A walk?” I feel his muscles give a little, relaxing. His hands slide down my arms. “Christ, Jane, there are bears up here.”

“I took a knife.”

“A knife?” He finally sets me back and his jaw drops as he stares at me. “So you thought I was a bear and you were looking for me with a knife?” The scornful words echo against tree trunks. He’s back in full form.

“Well, I didn’t know it was a bear. I was just out for a walk and—”

“You don’t have a gun and you don’t know your way around here but you decided to go for a walk.”

“I didn’t go far. You were gone so long and I got bored.”

He shakes his head in disgust. “Jesus, you’re an idiot.”

“You just went into the woods without a gun too.”

“Yeah, and I was coming back to get it so I could find you!”

“Come on, sweetie. I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t scare me; it was just an idiotic thing to do! You’re like a damn child.”

“I didn’t get lost and I didn’t see any bears. I’m fine.”

“Pure dumb luck, I’m sure. Good God, I need a beer.”

“You said you brought champagne.”

“Well, have at it.”

He leaves me there and grabs a beer on his way inside. I blow out a long, tense breath as the door closes behind him.

He’s shaken up, but I gave him a narrative he could believe. The narrative that’s easiest for him to believe: I’m just a dumb, helpless woman.

But it was very nearly a fatal mistake. I let my guard down. I let him see the real me. For a moment he recognized the predator inside.

I shouldn’t have strayed from the plan. “No more mistakes,” I murmur aloud. There’s a chance I could lose everything in my quest for revenge, but I have to keep that chance as small as possible.

Tonight I’ll play my part perfectly, and he won’t remember what he saw in my face today until he’s bleeding out on the forest floor tomorrow. It’ll be far too late for his animal brain to save him then.

I dig my knife from the fallen leaves, set my shoulders, and head back inside to make sure my man is too happy to think about anything but our blossoming love.





CHAPTER 40

He’s guzzling his beer when I walk in.

“Did you see any deer?” I ask, trying to smooth things over. He gives a negative grunt. “Will you help me open the champagne?” This grunt sounds vaguely positive.

I pull the champagne from the cooler to peel off the foil and unwind the wire before delivering the bottle to Steven. He opens it the showy, stupid way, of course, pushing with his thumb until the cork shoots out and hits the ceiling. A good three sips of champagne are wasted in the foam that drips to the floor.

“I didn’t see any glasses . . . ,” I prompt.

He shrugs. “I must have forgotten. I think there’s a mug under the sink.”

Gross. I take a swig from the bottle instead. Steven’s lip curls, but he pats the couch beside him. “Grab another beer for me?”

I get a beer and take another gulp of cheap sparkling wine, shivering at the way the alcohol is already seeping into my veins. I cuddle close to him and sigh.

“I was worried about you, babe,” he says.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“I thought I was going to come home and find you in your sexy lingerie, and then I couldn’t find you at all.”

I giggle and take another drink.

“Why don’t you put it on for me now?”

“It’s not even dark yet!”

“When it gets dark, I won’t be able to see it.”

“Steven . . .”

“Come on. Be a good girl for me.”

“I don’t know. I’m feeling a little shy.”

“I know. I like that about you. I like it even better when you’re shy and naked.” He nudges the champagne toward my lips, apparently past his disgust with my drinking from the bottle. “Have another drink.”

I take another drink, totally enjoying the buzz. He kisses my neck. “Come on, baby. Put on your pretty outfit for me.”

“Okay. All right. But you can’t look while I’m changing.”

“Promise.”

I move behind the couch and change near the beds, shucking all my clothes shamelessly before I slip the nightgown over my head. The fine net material is nearly transparent. I don’t bother putting on panties. He’s going to love it.