Page 4 of Keeping Her Safe

“Nothing more, Zeph.”

“It’s Zephyr. Always has been.”

“Okay, Zephyr.” He emphasized her name. “One week.”

“If we can’t stay here, where will we go?” She smiled at him, crossing her arms over her ample chest.

“Minnesota,” he said.

At the word, her face lost the beautiful smile, and her eyes glared at him. All she said was, “No.”

“I didn’t say where, Zephyr. It’s a big state.”

“It’s winter there.”

“Nobody will look for you in the snow,” he teased.

“I don’t do winter.” Her voice was firm.

“I think you will like it.” His was upbeat.

“Don’t do this, Zachary. Anywhere else. I’ll even pay. Can’t we go anywhere else?”.

“Minnesota.”

“California? To see the other ocean?”

“Minnesota,” he said again, shaking his head.

“Washington? See the rain?” She offered.

“Minnesota.”

“Nebraska? I have no idea what we would see there … farms?” Her ideas were running dry.

“Minnesota?” he said again. “They have plenty of farms.”

“Why?” she demanded.

“Because you need to go there once,” he said simply.

“I’ve done just fine without ever going there.”

“Nobody will ever think to look for you there,” he insisted.

She started biting her bottom lip. “I don’t want to go there.”

“Let’s just go. Maybe you can see them. You don’t have to introduce yourself. I think you need to just see it … see them.” He looked into her large blue eyes, trying not to watch her biting her lip—trying not to think about biting that lip himself.

“I don’t want to know them,” she whispered.

“Just look and see if there’s anything there for you.”

Her lip quivered. “They don’t know about me.”

“Then they won’t be looking for you. You can introduce yourself or walk away, whichever you want. But I think you need to do this, Zephyr.” He nodded.

“Please, Zachary, don’t make me do this.”

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