Page 17 of SEAL by Fate

She narrowed her gaze. “You know what I’m asking.”

“I took a wrong turn.”

“That’s a lie.” Her voice shook. “You found the address to this place and you found your way here in the middle of a snowstorm without a GPS or a map. So please don’t think I’d believe you’d take a wrong anything ever. And there’s the little detail that you seem to know so much about me.”

“Stormy, I’ve never been much of a talker. I’m not dangerous.”

“You almost took my head off this morning in the bedroom.” Her voice shook.”

“Now that’s a bit exaggerated, don’t you think?” He smiled and took a step toward her but didn’t try and touch her. His warm gaze was enough of an invisible touch to rock her world. “You’re safe with me. I promise. I know you don’t know me, but ask yourself this, why would I carry you all this way when it would have been easier to leave you in your car?”

Lifting her chin, she saw the sincerity in his beautiful eyes, but she couldn’t give in too easily. She needed to keep her feet solid on the ground and not lose herself in the clouds. “Want me to completely trust you? Then start with the truth. Who are you?”

“What are you afraid of?”

Her cheeks burned. “You could be a serial killer for all I know. You did take my dress off, and why do I have an image of you holding me? It wasn’t a dream, was it?”

One corner of his mouth played with a smile. “I can see you’re worried and I do understand. I’ll tell you as much as I can. Hang on for one second, okay?” He stepped back down the hallway and he came back and stood before her. “Here.” He held up a shiny badge that looked legit even to her layman’s eye.

“You’re a police officer?”

“Yeah, but a special agent. I was up here on assignment.”

“An assignment? For what?”

“I’m afraid that I’m not at liberty to tell you everything, but that should explain the gun and the fact that I was in the middle of nowhere in a storm.” He hooked his badge on his waistband. “Now, as far as the dress, I did take it off, but only because it was soaking wet and I was afraid it’d be the death of you. Holding you? I did lay with you on the couch to quickly bring up your body temperature and that’s all.”

“You-you didn’t try and sleep with me?”

“If you’re talking sleep as in the traditional definition I might have caught a few winks because I was colder than shit and tired myself, but if you’re talking taking advantage of you, no. I like my women warm and willing, and trust me, you were neither.” He took another step, but instead of coming toward her, he pointed at the bowl. “You should eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Fine then.” He turned and took her bowl to the sink and washed it, then placed it with the one he’d used. When he turned back to her there was a tangible kindness in his expression. “I understand the last few days have been a chaotic mess for you, but what I suggest is for you to take advantage of that tub. It’s as large as a swimming pool if you haven’t already noticed. You might want to wash your hair because you have dried blood on your scalp.”

She touched the soft trim of the blanket. The thought of taking a bath was tempting. “I don’t have any clothes to put on.”

“That blanket seems to do just fine.”

What choice did she have? She couldn’t suggest that he walk through ten inches of snow to get her things from her car. And she didn’t have the shoes to wear to do it herself. So, she headed to the bathroom and closed the door behind her, leaning against the wood to regain her equilibrium. Her emotions were on a roller coaster. For now, she should concentrate on relaxing and Gray was right. The tub was amazingly large and inviting. To her delight, she found a few bottles of luxurious bath products in the cabinet.

Locking the door, she dropped the blanket and removed her bra and panties, washing them in the sink with a lavender hand soap and hung them on the towel rack to dry. She looked up and jumped when she saw her haggard reflection. Oh Lord. She looked terrible. Her eyes filled with tears again. Leaning closer to the mirror, she pulled back her red-stained hair and looked at the jagged cut surrounded by black and blue bruising. Although it looked nasty, she realized how lucky she was because the accident could have been a lot worse. Hell, she could be married now and that would be worse than a concussion.

She worked her bottom lip. How could she not feel the slightest guilt that she’d walked away from Duncan without a word? Sure, maybe at first, but now she only felt a sense of relief.

He’d eventually find her and want to talk, and she’d have to face him. It was a bit cowardly, but she was thankful she was stuck here to give her some time.

Gray had said he was here, on the mountain, on an assignment. What assignment could he possibly be on in the middle of a blizzard? Something top secret. Was it dangerous? Could they both be in danger? Her mind worked overtime.

Although logic warned her to stay alert, another part of her, a bigger part of her, found that she believed him. Felt safe with him. After all, he did show her his badge. And his gun—and his arms that seconded as guns. Maybe she needed to believe him, in someone, because everything in her life was turned upside down.

Finding fresh towels on the rack, she took the one from the top and hugged the soft terry cloth against her chest as she sat down on the edge of the large tub. Why had she allowed her life to get into such a mess? Looking back, she’d had doubts about her and Duncan’s relationship from almost the beginning and she’d ignored them foolishly. Why? She’d blamed pre-wedding jitters for her apprehension. Stormy had been too prideful to admit that she’d been wrong about Duncan. The letters and her sister’s disapproval had only been a light shining upon her suspicions that he wasn’t who he said he was.

Turning the faucet on and once the tub was halfway filled, she climbed in, sinking into the warm abyss. Gray was right. This was exactly what she needed.

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