Page 7 of Sweeter Than Honey
Was that a threat? She pressed the door lock, making sure it was engaged. “Excuse me?”
“Check your phone.”
Her vision blurred slightly from fatigue as she checked her cell. Damn it, no service. “Seriously? This is ridiculous.”
“I’m sure the mountain range blocking the cell tower is incredibly sorry for inconveniencing you. Once we get over the next hill, service comes in just fine. Now, how about those bags?”
She really was stranded with this guy… with no way to call for help. She’d made it this far. No reason to stop standing her ground now.
“No. No, I’m fine. You just go about your business and never mind about me. Thank you for your help. Have a good day.”
He stared at her for several intense seconds. Why was there a sudden ache between her legs? For real. Just then her bladder began to complain with a familiar tantrum. Ah, that explained it.
“Suit yourself. Town’s about a mile just up ahead. Good luck.” He turned and continued in the direction he’d been going when she’d hit—no, bumped—him, walked down the embankment and disappeared into the woods.
Had that really just happened? He’d appeared out of nowhere and just walked into the thick woods like it was the most normal thing. No vehicle. No hiking gear. Just the clothes on his back and one hell of a smolder. If she’d let him get her out of the car, she’d probably end up dead in a ditch somewhere. Creep.
Sexy, smoldering, Beard of the Year creep.
She rolled her eyes and slumped back against the seat. Exhaustion was taking her over in increments, and she really needed a bathroom. Running long distances on her treadmill was a breeze, yet the thought of walking a mile in heels, dragging her suitcase behind her felt impossible. But what choice did she have?
Cara sat in her car for a while, afraid he’d pop out of the woods the moment she got out of the vehicle. But a creeping sense of anticipation and her bladder wouldn’t allow her to sit here any longer. She slipped into her heels and cautiously got out of the Jeep, slung her bag over her shoulder and grabbed her rolling suitcase. Listening for any sign of, well, anything, she locked up the vehicle and on second thought, took off her shoes and kept the heels pointed outward. Just in case. The wheels on her suitcase grated on the rough asphalt, the bumps jamming into her feet.
She made it just over the hill when a sound from across the road gave her pause.
There he was, watching her with his arms crossed like she was seriously inconveniencing him in some way. This couldn’t be good. He was stalking her.
Cara scrambled for her cell phone and checked the service. Ha! Three bars! He sauntered toward her. The phone fumbled in her hand and plopped onto the road with a crunch. She dropped the handle of her suitcase and let the bag slip off her shoulder, then held a pointed shoe in each hand.
“Why are you following me?”
An amused grin played on his lips. “Those are some serious weapons.”
“They will be when the heel ends up in your eye.”
He huffed laugh. “That’s a bit disturbing. Why the eye?”
“You’re a—a shifter, aren’t you?”
His expression grew serious as he nodded. Shit, he was probably after her baby. She should have stayed in the car!
“A reliable source said that the eyes are a shifter’s most sensitive parts.”
There she went, rambling again. Why was she giving her defensive plan to the enemy? Christ, Cara.
His brow furrowed. “Yeah, that’s not true. The most sensitive part is quite a bit lower down.”
She swallowed hard. “Shifters have groins of steel.”
He barked a laugh. Cara jumped, her body lighting up pleasantly at the sound.
“I mean, I don’t want to brag or anything, but—” He shrugged. “There may be some truth to that.” He put his hands out soothingly. “Look, I can’t let you walk this road alone. Let me help you. I’ll grab your bags and stay on one side of the road while you walk on the other. You should have cell service now, right?”
Keeping her eyes on him, she picked up her phone. One edge of the infinity screen was broken, but the touch screen still worked. “Yes.”
“Okay, then. You can call 911 anytime if you feel like you need to.”
He nodded expectantly as if making a point. For some reason, he didn’t seem as threatening as her mind was making him out to be. In fact, she could almost see herself trusting him. These pregnancy hormones were some crazy shit.
