Page 114 of The House Beyond the Dunes

I feel him settle between my legs as his hands gently rub the insides of my thighs. “Stevie, open your eyes.”

When I look at him, his expression is focused, stern. He leans forward and kisses me on the lips. He tastes salty, like the on-tap beer I serve at Joey’s. “Are you sure you want this?”

“I do.”

“Why do I feel the tension in your body?”

I’m never totally honest or candid, but in this moment the truth slips past the barriers. “Sex hasn’t always been pleasant for me. A lot of pain. But you proved that wrong before and you will again.”

“I sure as hell will.”

I nod, finding no words, but sensing I can trust this guy.

His kisses skim along my neck and then move to my breast. I draw in a breath. His touch is so gentle, but I feel his restrained intensity.

I want to make a smart-ass comment, but I can’t summon one. Very slowly he slides into me. I rest my hands on his hips, tensing a little. He’s concentrating on me. He’ll stop if I ask. Which is why I don’t want him to stop. I relax. The sensation takes my breath away.

Maybe a guy like Sully just might come looking for a gal like me if I vanish.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

LANE

Monday, January 1, 2024

2:00 p.m.

Again I smooth my hand over the tire, but still don’t feel any puncture, nail, or wood fragment. I don’t think I hit anything on the beach, but the ride was very bumpy in several spots. Besides, Kyle’s tires are flat. What are the chances both of us damaged our tires?

I check the air cap on the flat tire. It’s in place, but when I check the tension, the cap is loose. The same is true for Kyle’s tires. Someone has deliberately removed the caps and bled air out of the tires.

“Someone is screwing with me,” I mutter. “Everyone wants me to leave, so why do this now?” I think about Earl, the house in the woods, the stained closet floorboards, and the ropes. Maybe I’ve now seen too much. Fear churns in my belly, and a whimper rises in my throat before I calm myself.

Storm clouds are gathering overhead, and soon the sky is going to open. Changing a tire now is possible, but it won’t be easy when the rain falls.

I could pack my stuff and just drive out of here on my deflated tire. Assuming the beach is even passable, I’ll probably destroy the tire, but if I make it to the hard surface road, it would be worth it, right? I can change the tire there. Walking back to the main road is also an option. But eleven miles of rough beach on foot in the cold rain will ensure I screw up my hip joint.

Staying put in the house until the rain passes makes the best sense. I can lock the doors, barricade them if need be, and wait out the rain. Then I’ll change the tire and leave.

“What’s going on?”

Reece’s deep voice catches me off guard, and I’m surprised to see that he’s so close to me. How could such a big man move so silently?

I face him. “I have a flat tire.”

He moves closer to inspect the tire, and I automatically step back. As of this moment, I have no idea who I can trust. “You must’ve picked something up on the beach. Happens all the time.”

“The two back tires on Kyle’s car are also flat.”

He looks at the flat tires of the Range Rover. “He could have done the same.”

“What are the chances?”

“Near a construction site like the one across the street? Pretty good.”

And what about the loose valve caps? But I don’t mention the caps because I don’t know who’s behind this, though my guess is Reece might have a good idea.

“You okay?”

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