Page 19 of Abducted

“I can sleep anywhere,” he said as he pushed the La-Z-Boy closer to the fire. “This is perfect.”

She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. He acted as if she had cooties or that she would sexually assault him if he came near her.

“Fine.” He could toss and turn in the chair if he wanted. She had a king-sized bed all to herself. Only she wouldn’t have the warmth and comfort that she’d had last night from Cal’s body.

She climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Cal had found a blanket in one of the closets and settled in the chair. He looked ridiculous. His feet hung off the edge, and no matter which way he shifted, his body folded in an awkward position.

He would be sore tomorrow. She closed her eyes and tried to let the gentle roar of the ocean lull her to sleep.

An hour passed and she was still wide awake. Her thoughts churned like the brewing ocean outside. She wasn’t safe anymore. That was obvious, but after this, how could she possibly go back to her “normal” life? Okay, her life was far from normal, but it was hers, and at the very least, she hadn’t been worried that someone was going to jump out and kill her at any moment. Now she was. Did her family even know she was missing yet? Her father and Grace wouldn’t return for another couple of days. No one would miss her until she didn’t show up for work tomorrow. Even then, she doubted anyone would be concerned enough to bother her father about her absence while he was on a business trip.

Cal’s flirtatious smile filled her mind’s eye. What was the matter with her? He’d kidnapped her, for God’s sake, and yet her stomach did flip-flops with every glance from him.

The chair squeaked for the thousandth time as he tried to get comfortable. She huffed. “Would you just get in the bed? I can’t sleep with all the moving around you’re doing over there. I won’t bite, I promise. This bed is big enough for the both of us to have some distance.”

He was silent. Shit. Did she sound that desperate? Her pulse thumped in her throat.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Sorry, I’ll be quieter.” His voice was gruff and sleepy.

Tears stung her eyes. She shouldn’t be upset. She didn’t even know him. He was a stranger to her—a dangerous one. His distance was for the best.

***

The warm, tantalizingscent of coffee drew her out of her sleepy haze. She had tossed and turned all night, her mind spinning over who could want her dead. And on top of that, a tingling sensation that demanded release. A release she wouldn’t get until she was far away from Cal and alone.

“We’ve had a change of plans.” Cal’s voice made her eyes pop open. He was on the phone in the kitchen, freshly showered, shaved, and dressed. “We’ll both be coming back to the city. Lana will stay with Ethan at my house, while you and I doing some investigating.” He paused, listening to the speaker, whom she assumed to be Nate. “Yeah, I know. We’ll just roll with it, though.”

She threw back the covers, sat, and stretched her arms above her head as she rested on the edge of the bed. Cal’s eyes found her as he sipped his coffee, the phone pressed to his ear. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he turned his back when the toaster popped. She’d removed the bulky sweater in the night when the fire had gotten the room toasty. The air in the room was brisk now that the fire was out, and the sun was just coming up, its rays streaming into the window. She wore only a thin white T-shirt of Cal’s, and the cool air chilled her skin. She snagged the sweater off the end of the bed and tugged it on.

Her toes touched the floor first, turning them to ice.

“Coffee is ready,” he called from the kitchen. “I made some toast and we have fruit. We can grab something more substantial on the way.”

“How far are we from the city?” It hadn’t even occurred to her to ask where they were.

“Under two hours. We’re just outside of Mount Vernon.” He turned to face her again. “We’ll meet Nate and Ethan at my house, and Ethan will stay there with you.”

She shuffled across the room and met him at the table. He handed her a mug while she sat. She’d grown up in Seattle her whole life, but had only been to Mount Vernon a handful of times.

“That’s the best compromise you’ll get, so don’t push it.” His eyes were warm and not as distant as last night.

She smiled as she accepted the cup. “Fine, but I can’t wear your clothes anymore. I need something else.”

He placed a plate with half a dozen pieces of toast and a plastic container of precut fruit on the table.

“No problem, we can stop somewhere on the way.” He polished off a piece of toast in three bites. She nibbled on the crust of one.

“We can’t risk going to the mall. It’s Monday, and by now, someone could have discovered you’re missing. It won’t be long before your face is plastered all over the news.”

She swallowed hard. A wave of nausea roiled in her stomach. The harsh reality slowed her breath.

“You okay?” Cal watched her closely, his eyes heavy with concern.

“I’m fine. I’ll take anything that will fit.”

He nodded. “If you want to shower before we go, hurry up. I want to get on the road before people are out looking for you.”

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