Whispering Rock (Virgin River #3)(35)

Ten minutes is an eternity when you’re afraid. And there is nothing worse than fear, whether or not there is an object. There was a metallic taste in her mouth from the adrenaline and her pulse beat dangerously fast. Finally, after what seemed like an hour, her knuckles white from holding the grip so fiercely, she heard the sound of an engine as a car came into the clearing, then a small toot as he honked the horn to let her know it was him.

She pulled herself to her feet, put the gun on the kitchen counter and unlocked the front door. When she opened it, she saw him standing there in a heavy suede jacket, wearing a sidearm. It somehow made her feel better, him having that gun. It was as though he had taken her seriously. As if her fear, though unfounded, could have had some basis.

“God,” she said, falling against him gratefully. “I’m afraid of nothing!”

“Take it easy,” he said, gently touching her back. He held her a bit, very careful not to hold her too tightly. “These things take time.”

“I feel stupid.”

“Well, don’t. It’s so understandable as to be almost predictable.” He pulled back from her, his hands on her upper arms. “Your first night alone?”

“Yes,” she said. “Honestly, I didn’t see this coming. I’ve felt so great since I got here. I’ve never slept better.”

“Would you like me to check the house for you?”

“Even though I’ve checked it,” she said, nodding. “And maybe outside.”

“I’d be happy to. Sit down. Take a few deep breaths and try to relax.”

He saw the gun on the counter and touched the grip. It was still warm. She’d been so afraid, she hadn’t been able to put it down.

He walked around the house and up into the loft, turning lights on and off as he went. He took a flashlight from his car to check the grounds outside, where he found everything to be undisturbed—no footprints or mashed grass or shrubs. When he went back into the house, he locked the door behind him, took off his sidearm and holster and put it on the counter next to her gun. He took off his jacket and draped it over a kitchen chair. Then he went to the tiny living room, where he crouched in front of the cold hearth. He stacked a few logs over some starter pine cones, lit them and watched the flames rise. He rubbed his hands together in front of the fire, then went to sit on the sofa beside her.

“Thank you,” she said meekly.

“It’s nothing, Brie. You should feel safe so you can take good care of David. That’s all that matters.”

“But I called you out in the middle of the night. You must be so annoyed.”

He grinned handsomely. “Brie. It isn’t even ten o’clock.”

“Oh, my God! I didn’t even sleep an hour!”

He chuckled and, leaning over to pull off his boots, said, “You’ll get a good night’s sleep now. I’m staying the night.”

“Oh,” she said nervously. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea….”

“Relax, mija. Don’t I know everything you’re going through trying to get your life back? You can’t honestly think I’d do one thing to make you feel threatened.”

“Well…”

“Don’t insult me,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of unforgivable things, it’s true, but I’ve never been unkind to a woman. I am a gentleman. And you need sleep.”

She thought about it for less than a second. “I know if you go, I’ll crack up. For God’s sake, when does it end?”

“I’m not sure, but I know it does. It turns out this is just a little too soon for you. There’s no need for you to feel self-conscious about this. We just won’t mention it. No one watches my comings and goings. No one watches this cabin to see whose car is parked outside.”

She gave a sigh and leaned back into the couch cushions. “I hate what this has done to me. I thought I was tougher.”

“Jesus, don’t do that to yourself,” he said. “It’s bad enough what’s been done to you without adding that. It’s not a small thing to get over, Brie.”

She drew her feet up, massaging her temples with her fingers.

“Headache?” he asked her.

“Just a little tension,” she said. “It’ll pass.” Then she laughed a little. “I was looking forward to coming back here for some fun. Before this happened to me, I’d been planning all the many ways I could break your heart.”

He cocked his head and smiled at her. “Had you, now? That sounds interesting. Now I have something to look forward to.”

“I was thinking you’d be devastated. Wiped out,” she told him.

“Ah. Are you willing to share any details?”

“Not a chance.”

“I’m already devastated.” He stood up and went into the kitchen, dug around in the refrigerator and came out with two bottles of beer. He popped the tops and handed her one, keeping one for himself, and took his corner of the couch again. He hoped it didn’t show on his face that just looking at her in the dim firelight was a treat, a delight. Her hair all mussed from bed, her feet bare, her cheeks pinked up from anxiety, she almost took his breath away. He knew she was skittish around men to the point that she couldn’t even go to a coed gym to work out, and he didn’t delude himself that he was exempt from that category, not even after all the time they’d had together. Oh, perhaps at the moment, as they shared a couch with a couple of feet separating them. But if he tried to get too close right now, she would freak. Bolt. Melt down.