Page 4 of Runaway
I waited for more, but she didn't elaborate. Once the milk finished warming, I dumped the chocolate powder inside, grabbed two spoons, and headed her way. She turned, giving me another tentative smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
A veritable damsel-in-distress?
Well, maybe I didn't mind being the good guy so much.
“Thanks.” She accepted the mug from me. I sat on the couch a few feet away to give her some space. She sat on a recliner across from me, glanced at me over the top of her cup, then looked away. The spoon clinked against the side of the mug as she stirred.
Oh, she seemed docile, but I'd been on the phone enough with her to know that something else lived under all that uncertainty.
Wildcat.
“Of course I'll give you a place to stay,” I said, just to dissipate the tension in the air. No bruises colored her skin, and she didn't jump at unexpected sounds so far. Didn't seem like she'd been in an abusive situation. No, why would she run to a single male in the middle of nowhere?
But something was surely up.
“Really?” she asked.
“Of course.” I ran a hand over my beard and held back my own grimace. At least I'd showered, but not much else had happened for grooming the last two weeks. No wonder she burst out laughing.
“Thank you.”
There it was. A hint of that confidence again.
I shrugged.
“What would you like me to pay you?” She reached for her back pocket. “Like I said, I have—”
I waved that off. “We'll figure it out later.
She stifled a smile. “I insist.”
“You will. We just don't need to deal with details tonight.”
My phone buzzed against my thigh and I ignored it. An incoming text message from theHearts on Firedating app, no doubt. Stupid thing wouldn't stop buzzing, feeding an endless stream of girls that, once I started messaging, lost interest too quickly. Easier to message them back from the computer, anyway.
“So.” I leaned forward, scrubbing hot chocolate off my mustache, whichdefinitelyneeded a trim. “There's a small cabin behind this one that you can take. Lizbeth lived there until she married my brother and moved out. I haven't stocked it with firewood yet, but I can do that pretty quick.” I lifted an eyebrow. “I assume you have clothes?”
“Yes,” she said quickly. “I have a few bags in my car.”
“Good. Anything I can help with?”
She hesitated, then said, “I just . . . I came here because I wanted to be left alone for a while. I don't want anyone to know I'm here.”
“Sure.”
She blinked. “You're really okay with this?”
“Of course. Is someone after you?”
“Not yet.”
“But will be?”
“I'd rather not go into more details.”
“Are you in danger? I won't ask any more than that.”
“You wouldn't be.”
