Page 21 of Oz Wisdom

The phone snapped closed as she dropped her hands onto her lap.

"I take it today is not a good time for your parents,” Oz said.

"No. She said their schedule was full today.” Taylor turned, meeting Oz’s gaze. "No problem though. You go when you need to. I'll get a lift from here to there."

"I have nowhere else to be. Relax while I get an hour or so of work done. Then we can do some more sightseeing,” he suggested.

"That would be nice,” Taylor admitted. “But you don't have to do that."

"No buts. It's happening,” Oz told her.

***

Taylor had been lost in the book she borrowed from Oz since the phone call to her mother and had just finished the last few pages. Her head fell to the wall as the book dropped into her lap. The story was addicting. She had begun reading it the day before and could hardly wait until today to continue. Oz definitely knew his books. She needed book two. And she wanted it now. She glanced across the room toward Oz typing away on his laptop.

The faint clicking of keys disappeared and Oz’s arms fell to his side and he rolled his neck. "I have to stretch my legs,” Oz announced, standing from the small desk in the hotel room. "I'm going to the vending machine. Want something?"

"No. I'm fine. Thanks," Taylor told him and watched him leave the room.

Taylor scooted from the middle of the mattress where she had been relaxing against the headboard and moved to the desk. She placed the book next to his computer as she scooped her bag from the floor to retrieve the next book. The laptop, now eye level with her, caught her attention. One quick glance and the words "Chapter Seven" leapt from the screen. What was he reading? Wait. Those were the same characters she'd been reading about. Oh, but this was new content. Could it be the book she was about to read?

"What are you doing?” Oz growled as he stormed toward her, slamming the lid closed on the computer.

Taylor jerked away. "I'm sorry.” Her heart raced. She glanced toward the door and back toward Oz. Can I get past him? How fast is he? She maneuvered the chair between them, her knuckles aching from the force of her fingers dinging into the chairback.

He froze. His palm still protected his laptop, but she watched his eyes transform from anger to surprise to something new. "I'm not going to hurt you." He straightened, dropping his hand to his side.

Her voice cracked as she forced out her explanation. "I was getting my bag and was just curious what you were reading. I'm so sorry. It won't happen again.”

"Taylor."

His features blurred when Taylor jerked her gaze toward him.

"I'm not going to hurt you. It's okay." Oz pushed the laptop away and moved toward the window.

Taylor eased around the chair, inching toward the door. A key. Where was the card key? No. Not the key. She needed her bag. She had no reason to come back. She swallowed hard and tiptoed toward her bags.

"I apologize."

Taylor jerked to a stop. Words she hadn’t heard before. What? She studied Oz's back. He still stared through the window.

"I reacted hastily and I'm sorry that I frightened you."

Taylor's jaw dropped. Disbelief, confusion, maybe she was hallucinating. Fight? That never ended well. Flight? She glanced again toward the door behind her. Forgive? Was that an option? Is that what you did when someone said they were sorry? "I didn't mean to do anything wrong,” she whispered.

"You didn't,” Oz assured her, turning to face her, his hands resting on his hips. "Are you hungry?"

Hungry? I can barely breathe and he's asking if I'm hungry. She knew she was staring, but every muscle in her body refused to move.

"Alright. We'll do a little sightseeing first. I have the perfect place to show you.”

Taylor forced her breathing to slow, and tension faded from her muscles. Now if only her brain would kick in.

Oz moved slowly towards her and picked up her purse from next to his laptop on the desk. He held it out to her. "Ready?"

Reaching out, her hand trembling, she nodded, not trusting her voice. Falling into to step with Oz, she entered the car. The next fifteen minutes blurred as they traveled the winding road that hugged the mountainside. The moment Oz veered onto a narrow drive Taylor tensed again. Where were they going? Was he still angry about reading his laptop? He had apologized and become calm. No. He had become quiet. Quiet wasn't always a good sign. This she had learned from experience.

They came to a stop in a small parking lot. Taylor scanned the lot. Only two other cars.

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