Page 63 of Veil of Lies

The cabin was my favorite place in the world. Dad bought it as a gift for Miranda, only he soon found out Miranda didn’t like slumming it. Not that the cabin was rustic, especially, but if there were no designer stores and chic restaurants within a 100-mile radius, she wasn’t interested. I think they went there once. Miranda bitched for a few days, and then Dad caved. To my knowledge, she never came again, although Dad and I had been many times.

The fishing was awesome and one of the few things we enjoyed doing together.

Having the cabin so close was one of the reasons why I chose to come to Ridgeview College. That and the fact my friends were here. I called Dad yesterday to make sure the cabin was empty. I didn’t want to show up and find him and his business buddies here, or worse, him and Suzie.

My car bumped up the track to the cabin and I winced at the way the uneven surface dragged the undercarriage. It wasn’t the best idea to drive here in this car, but my truck was in the shop having some work done.

Stella had been quiet all the way here. I knew the press pack had freaked her out. It wasn’t surprising. I hadn’t expected so many of the ghouls to be there. It would be even worse on the way back because we’d have to wait for the gate to open before we could escape. I wasn’t looking forward to that.

The trees opened up and the cabin came into view. I say cabin, but it was more of a modern luxury home than a rustic log cabin.

Glass windows faced the lake, taking advantage of the amazing views. The cabin was set in a ten-acre plot, so there were no close neighbors. Solar panels and a ground-source heat pump provided electricity and hot water; there was a backup generator, too, as well as a massive fireplace in the living room.

Dad had had every luxury possible installed in the cabin, including a modern kitchen, several bathrooms, and a hot tub on the deck.

The boys and I had had some wild parties in the cabin over the last few years, but I’d never brought a girlfriend here until now. It was my special place and I didn’t want to sully it with some stupid hookup.

Stella was a lot more than that. I just wasn’t ready to tell her yet. I knew if I blurted out my feelings, she’d freak the fuck out and shut down. It was obvious she’d been badly hurt in the past, probably by the douche who did the interview about her. I really wanted to squeeze his neck until he turned purple and died. If we ever met face to face, I couldn’t guarantee he would still be breathing.

I parked outside the cabin and jumped out to deactivate the alarm system. Stella followed me inside and stood looking around. She seemed impressed, although I doubted it was as luxurious as some of her father’s properties. I remembered seeing a spread in Architectural Digest that featured one of their homes in Palm Springs. It had been pretty fucking fancy.

“It’s lovely,” she commented as she wandered through the various rooms before returning to the open-plan living area.

“I love it here,” I told her, quickly going through the cupboards to see what booze we had in stock. Lots, apparently, despite me and the boys tearing through a vast quantity the last time we stayed here.

The housekeeper must have restocked. Bless that woman. I must send her some flowers. She’d also filled the freezer with steaks and bought fresh groceries. Better make that an extra big bouquet.

Stella opened the sliding doors and stepped out onto the deck. The sun had dropped low in the sky, painting the lake shades of burnt red, orange, and pink. It was stunning. She was stunning. The golden light caught her hair, and she glowed like a mythical phoenix.

“I could live here,” she told me in a soft voice. “It would be my dream home. Away from the world. No technology. Just peace and quiet.”

“We do have cell service here,” I pointed out, “And a satellite dish for the TV.”

She scowled at me before turning back to admire the view. “Don’t ruin my fantasy.”

I opened a bottle of white wine and carried it and two glasses outside.

“Thanks,” she said when I poured a glass and handed it to her. “Not just for this, but for everything.”

Placing my glass on the small side table, I sat down on the porch swing and pulled her down onto my lap. “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

We watched the sun sink below the trees at the far side of the lake. By the time the red sky had darkened into inky blue velvet, the temperature had dropped and my girl was snuggled in my arms. The wine bottle was now empty and I was feeling hungry. And not just for steak.

Stella’s belly growled and I laughed. “Someone needs some food to soak up the wine.”

“I am a bit hungry,” she admitted. “I hope you’re not as bad at cooking as Quinn claims.”

“I can do a decent steak but that’s pretty much my limit.”

“Oh, thank God, I bet Dominoes doesn’t deliver out here.”

Chapter 52

Stella

Harley lit the BBQ while I prepared a salad. Despite being so spacious, the cabin was surprisingly cozy. I wasn’t kidding earlier when I told him I could live here. As much as I’d adored our apartment overlooking Central Park, I was a country girl at heart. The Great Outdoors was far more appealing than the city. I didn’t care about bars, restaurants, clubs and designer stores. All I needed was my Kindle and some peace. Humans sucked. Why would I want to spend my time surrounded by them?

Tessa had been texting me for the last hour. She’d been delighted to hear Harley had whisked me away for a…date night? I wasn’t sure if it was a date or just a hookup in luxurious surroundings.

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