I opened my eyes and bolted upright, trying to figure out where I was. “Right,” I said, looking into the darkness. “And where is here, exactly?” When he smirked, I remembered one of the last things he’d said before I drifted to sleep was that he was taking me somewhere I’d be protected, which also meant he didn’t intend to tell me where it was then or now.
“The items I mentioned previously are already inside with the exception of what was in your car. I anticipate those will be by morning.” He got out, came around, and opened my door. “My cottage is just over here.” He held my arm as he led me on the uneven terrain. While I couldn’t see much, I knew we were near water. I glanced up at a foreboding-looking castle that sat above us on a promontory. I’d ask which one it was, since Scotland had so many, except I doubted David would tell me.
“Is this where you live?” I asked.
“I’m not here often.”
“Once again, he avoids answering the question,” I said under my breath.
He raised a brow, but I caught a glimpse of a smirk. Even that seemed familiar to me. Why?
When we reached the front door, he fumbled with his keys, then had trouble opening it. He went in first, which seemed to be about making sure wherever we were entering was safe rather than because of a lack of manners.
“The bedroom is the last door down the hallway. As I said, you’ll find something more comfortable to wear to, err, bed.”
I nearly laughed out loud at the way his cheeks flushed, but stopped myself. The times when he revealed himself to be more than someone tasked with killing the man who would’ve done the same to me were so few and far between. I’d not draw attention to them, knowing it would make him more guarded.
I looked around the small but cozy living room, kitchen, and dining area. There were two two-seater sofas that sat at right angles to each other and faced a fireplace that someone had lit before our arrival. Behind me was a small kitchen with a farmhouse sink and a four-burner cooktop with an oven beneath it, flanked by cupboards. At the farthest end, there were built-in bench seats with a table in the middle, similar to a booth in a restaurant. Unsurprisingly, it was immaculate everywhere I looked.
Something dawned on me. “Did you say ‘the’ bedroom? As in, there’s only one?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you sleeping?”
“Out here,” he answered, motioning to the loveseats, neither of which were long enough for him to lie down.
“I can sleep there,” I offered.
“No.”
I shook my head. The man was as stubborn as he was taciturn. “Very well,” I muttered, walking in the direction he’d indicated. Before entering the room, I glanced over my shoulder.He was looking for something and appeared perplexed. “Is anything wrong?” I asked.
“No,” he repeated.
“Do you need a blanket and pillow?”
“I’ll make do.”
I shrugged and opened the door. Like the outer rooms, the bedroom was small but lovely. On the chest of drawers, I found a toothbrush, toothpaste, and other personal care items, along with a pair of pajamas that looked to be close to my size. Then I opened a door I correctly assumed was a closet. While the rod where clothes would hang was empty, I noticed a blanket and two pillows on the shelf above it. I reached up and pulled them down, then carried them to the living room.
“I found these,” I said.
“Right. Thanks.”
“Good night, then,” I added when he still appeared distracted.
“Yes. Good night.”
I returned to the bedroom, retrieved the toothbrush, toothpaste, and pajamas, and went to the loo. Back in the bedroom, I snuggled under the heavy quilt and blankets.
It took me quite a while to fall asleep, unlike in the SUV when I did almost as soon as we got on the road.
I hadno idea what time it was when I was jarred awake.
“Sullivan, you’re dreaming,” I heard David say just as the man who’d held a gun to my head pulled the trigger. I opened my eyes and looked up into his. He was sitting on the edge of the bed. “You’re okay,” he said in a soft and soothing voice I hadn’t heard him use before.
“Nightmare,” I mumbled.