Page 8 of Backwater Bachelor

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I take a deep breath, deciding it's best to come clean about everything I found. “Danny, I found your knife collection.”

He pauses, looking like he couldn’t care less. “Yeah? It's a bit of a hobby. I like collecting them. Each one has a story.”

I nod, trying to keep my tone light. “It’s pretty impressive. You’ve got quite a variety.”

His smile broadens, and for a moment, it feels like we’re back in that easy-going rhythm of ours. But then I take another deep breath and continue, my voice a bit shakier. “And I found the newspaper clipping. The one about the murder investigation.”

The change in Danny is immediate. His friendly demeanor evaporates, replaced by something darker, more menacing. His eyes narrow, and he takes a step closer, his presence suddenly imposing.

“Why were you snooping around, Jane?” he asks, his voice low and controlled, sending a chill down my spine.

“I... I wasn’t snooping,” I stammer, backing away instinctively. “I just... I found it by accident.”

His gaze sharpens, and he starts to prowl toward me, each step deliberate. “That was a long time ago. And I was declared innocent.”

I gulp, feeling my heart race. The room feels smaller, the air thicker. The chemistry between us is still there, but it’s no longer warm and inviting. It’s charged with tension, a suspenseful energy that makes my pulse quicken.

“I believe you,” I say, trying to steady my voice. “It’s just... it shocked me a bit, that’s all.”

Danny stops a few feet away from me, his eyes locked on mine. “You’re scared of me now, aren’t you?”

I shake my head, but I’m not sure if I’m convincing either of us. “I’m not scared, Danny. Just... confused. Why did you keep that clip?”

”Why not?” He tilts his head, studying me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. “I collect knives. Doesn’t it make sense that I’d collect morbid memorabilia too?”

I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I just want to understand.”

His eyes soften for a brief moment, and I see a flicker of the Danny I’ve come to know today. “It’s not easy to explain. The past is better forgotten.”

I nod, feeling a bit more grounded. “I get that. Everyone has a past.”

He takes another step closer, closing the distance between us. “But not everyone’s past comes with a murder accusation.”

The air between us is electric, the chemistry undeniable but now laced with a dangerous edge. My instincts tell me to run, but something deeper keeps me rooted to the spot, locked in this charged moment with him.

“I’m not running away, if that’s what you think,” I say, my voice firmer than before. “I told you I’m not scared of you.”

Danny’s gaze softens slightly, and he reaches out, his hand brushing against mine. “I haven’t given you a real reason to be.”

I look into his eyes, searching for the truth. There’s darkness there, a history that’s clearly left its mark, but there’s also a vulnerability that makes my heart ache.

“No,” I say finally. “You haven’t. And I hope you won’t.”

He shrugs, and I swallow. “Time will tell,” he replies. ”That is…if you really do decide to stick around,” His eyes flash a little bit in the dim light, ”with a presumed cold-blooded killer.”

8.

Danny

The tension in the room is almost unbearable now. I can tell Jane is wary of me, and it hurts more than I want to admit. She’s jumpy, her eyes darting around nervously, and the easy smiles she’d been giving me all day have disappeared. The room feels colder without them.

I try to bridge the gap between us, reaching out to touch her arm, to offer some comfort, but she flinches away, her eyes wide and cautious. The rejection stings, but I can’t blame her. Not after what she found.

“Jane,” I say softly, trying to keep my voice gentle. “I promise you, I’m not going to hurt you.”

She nods, but the concern in her eyes doesn’t dissipate. I take a step closer, feeling the need to reassure her, to show her that I’m not the monster she’s imagining. I lean in, intending to kiss her, to offer some semblance of the connection we had earlier, but she pulls back, avoiding my touch entirely.

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