Page 19 of Suspicion

Slipping the key into his shirt pocket, he spun to face her.

“Something you would like to say?” One dark eyebrow twitched as though he might burst into laughter at her no-doubt obvious dismay.

She clenched her jaw at his mocking tone. There was plenty she wanted to say, but until she figured out how to deal with her custodian, she suspected it would be better to bite her tongue. Tucker had already demonstrated how he intended to manage her. She swore the sound of his palm striking her was still ringing in her ears.

A low shiver ran the length of her spine as she recalled his boldness and how powerless she’d been to halt his progress. If that was how the man dealt with the first sign of insubordination, she’d have to be a lot smarter from then on. She was sure he could be truly violent if he chose to be. The dark glint in his gaze certainly assured her so.

“No.” She shook her head as his lips curled in apparent victory.

“Good.” Striding past her, he gestured around the space. “Because for the time being, you’re a guest in my home, and I like quiet house guests.”

Taking the opportunity to look around the cabin again, Ella found it difficult to believe that he liked any guests at all.

The whole place was so dark and sinister, the vaulted ceiling offering the only break in the constant wood paneling, though even the roof also seemed to be made of timber. It was hard to imagine anyone would find it a welcoming place to call home.

A long wooden counter ran under the only window, its surface littered with what looked like papers, brackets, bolts, and tools. Her focus fixed on the ugly-looking hammer, her gaze flitting fleetingly to Tucker and back again. Maybe she could wield the hammer and get away? Maybe she could find a way out of the woods and get back to her life? She’d seen which pocket he’d slipped the key, hadn’t she? She could reach for the hammer within seconds and take him unawares. Her heart sped up at the possibility.

“I’ll start a fire.”

Oblivious to her scheming, he stalked toward the open hearth on the other side of the door and dragged the pile of logs toward him.

I could do it. Her breaths came fast as she considered her options. I can reach the hammer, could wallop him around the head with it, then be away, but then what?

The question ballooned in her mind.

Then what?

Even if she had the strength and callousness to batter him while his attention was elsewhere and make it out of his wooden house, where would she go? The dim light spilling in from the solitary window told her the light would soon be fading outside. If she fled now, it would be dark within hours, and she’d be left without food or shelter in the middle of God only knew where, vulnerable not only to the elements but to whatever wildlife roamed the forest.

However good the idea of freedom sounded in her head, her plan just wasn’t sane. If she survived the night out there, she’d still be no closer to finding her way out of the woods.

She had to stick it out for the night, had to choose the lesser evil, which, at the moment at least, looked to be her mysterious captor, Tucker.

Lifting her bound hand to her face, she swept the loose hairs from her face as she blew out a breath. The notion of hurting him and leaving had been exhilarating, but when push had come to shove, she didn’t have it in her to either attack an unarmed man or survive in the wild.

I’m useless.

Her shoulders slumped at the disappointing thought, her gaze falling down the length of her weary body. How had she gotten to this point in her life and not learned any basic life skills? Hell, she could scarcely even cook, but then there was no need when there had always been someone else to do everything for her.

“Okay?” His inquiring tone drew her focus back to the giant crouched at her side. “Do you need to sit down?” He gestured to the bed at the far end of the space, and she turned toward it.

“No, thank you.” Heat suffused her cheeks as she dismissed the idea. The last thing she wanted to do was draw attention to his bed. That would give him the wrong idea entirely.

“Fine.” He sounded irritated at her refusal. “Stand.”

I will.

She lowered her arms as he went back to work with the logs, wishing she could at least fold them across her chest to keep warm, but naturally, the ropes meant that was impossible.

She watched as he drew the same blade that had released her ankles and collected a stone from beside the logs. Repeatedly striking the stone against the spine of the blade, he created enough friction to spark the first flickers of fire, the flames spreading fast to the wood located in the fireplace. Within moments, the inviting sounds of the fire filled the air, its heat reaching out to stroke the back of her hands.

Her brow rose at the achievement. In Ella’s world, fire was created in fancy gas heaters at the touch of a button. She’d had no clue how to manifest it from scratch.

“There.” He stood, apparently satisfied as he dusted off his giant palms.

Staring at his weathered hands, her breath hitched. Those were the same palms that had held her down and spanked her backside.

Oh God.

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