Page 15 of SEAL by Fate

Because she guessed she’d receive another vague answer if she continued this line of questioning, she looked toward the window. “My cell phone is still in my car. Do you have one?” She brought her gaze back on him, watching as he rinsed out his bowl under running water. The muscles in his back tightened with each move he made.

“I do but there’s no service here on the mountain.” He dried the bowl and placed it back in the cabinet. When he turned he leaned against the edge of the counter and crossed his ankles. “I think people come here to get away from the real world. If you and your ex had gone through with the wedding, you wouldn’t have any use for cell service.”

“We wouldn’t have been here.”

“Then whose cabin is this?” He shot up a thick brow.

She shrugged. “I know this will sound strange, but I have no clue. My wedding planner handed over the key and told me I’d be safe here. Luckily, the location showed up on my GPS otherwise I would have never found my way. I’m going to assume that we won’t see any passing vehicles.” She thrummed her fingers on the counter in restless energy. Although this could be a life saver in disguise, the reality of spending more time in a secluded cabin with a stranger who looked like Gray was quite a bit to process.

“I heard on the radio the roads are closed all around this area. We’re in the middle of a blizzard and the only people coming and going are those with a snowmobile.”

“Blizzard?”

“Yes, ma’am. Ten inches have fallen already. Looks like it has let up some, but it’ll take some time for the roads to be passable.” He shifted, resituating his legs and swiping a hand down his jaw. “Are you in a hurry to get somewhere?”

“No, well, yes…I need to reach my sister. We had a bit of a falling out and I haven’t spoken with her since.” She tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear.

“Let me guess. Over you getting married?”

Swallowing, she rolled her finger around the rim of the bowl. Just as she suspected, he was very observant. She met his curious gaze. “She doesn’t like Duncan. Or rather, she despises him. When she didn’t show up at the wedding—” Stormy stopped right there. If she went into detail about what they argued about and why Colette didn’t show up, that would lead to the entire back story and Stormy didn’t want to go there, not with a complete stranger. However, this stranger had saved her life and carried her all the way to the cabin. She didn’t know any friends who would have gone to that degree for her. Maybe it was time she chose new friends.

“I’m sure you don’t want to talk about it, but I’m a good listener.”

Something in her melted just a tad. “You asked if I’m afraid of Duncan. In all honesty, I’m not sure. Something happened…”

Gray leaned over the bar as if he offered his ear. “What happened? That?” He tapped her bruised wrist.

“That and…well, letters. I received three letters over the span of a few months.”

“From his mistress?”

She gave her head a shake. “No. Maybe. I don’t know. They were simple worded notes mailed to me telling me that he was a monster and that I would regret marrying him.” It was a relief to finally tell someone.

“Doesn’t sound like a mistress. Maybe your sister was sending them.”

“Possibly, but she’s never had any trouble telling me before what she thought of him.” She sighed. “I’m not sure it even matters any more. The engagement is off. As horrible as it sounds I don’t think I ever loved him and I truly believe he never loved me.”

“That’s a lot to take in. Might not be any of my business, but why did you wait until the wedding day to take action?”

“I knew. I did, but I held out hope.”

“There’s no holding out hope when it comes to matters of the heart. Love is either there or it isn’t. I think the emotion hits you so hard that you’re lost, and yet home at the same time.”

“That’s rather romantic.” So, not only was he irresistibly handsome, tough and powerful, but he was also idealistic. Lord help her, she was in big trouble.

“Well, at least you didn’t say I was mushy. I have a reputation to uphold.” He winked.

Change the subject before you go in for a kiss. “Did you say there’s a radio?”

“Let me go grab it and see if there are any updates on the weather.” He strolled down the hallway and she watched how the wings of the eagle seemed to shift with each movement. It probably had special meaning.

Her own butterfly tattoo had meaning. When she and her sister were kids their mother had a butterfly garden and they would sit for hours watching. Stormy and Colette got the same butterfly to signify family.

Looking down into her bowl of soup, Stormy missed Colette. They’d never gone more than twenty-fours without speaking to each other. Hopefully she was out of the storm’s path and safe.

When he came back with the antique-looking radio in his hands, he stopped in his tracks. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

She opened her mouth, wanting to tell him that she felt a lot of weight on her shoulders, but how could she vent everything to him?

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