Page 14 of Pretend You Love Me
“Can’t?”
“I don’t want to give them my name.”
I blow a rush of air out of my lungs and run my hands through my hair.What the fuck have I stumbled into?
She’s still backing away from me, and I’m afraid she’s about to make a run for it.
“Are you in trouble?” I say, stepping toward her. My voice is low.
She shakes her head.
“Ginger, don’t lie to me.” I’m about to grab her wrist again.
“I’m not...I’m not in trouble.”
“But you’re running from someone?”I ask.
“Not exactly...sort of. It’s not what you think.”
“Well, enlighten me.” I step closer to her.
“I can’t,” she says. She’s got these ridiculous watery puppy dog eyes now, and my chest tightens so much it hurts.Fuck me. I’m going to regret stopping and helping her. Correction: Ialreadyregret stopping and helping her.
“Please...please.” She’s begging now. This is worse. I liked it better when I wanted to tear her limb from limb. “I can’t go to the police.”
“Fine,” I say, taking her by the arm again - this time more gently.
“Where are we going now?”
“I know a place you can stay.”
Chapter Three
Brooklyn
Grumpyface is driving us out of town into the middle of nowhere. Maybe this is the part where he murders me? I chew on the side of my cheek.
I’m so confused. He’s so grumpy and clearly hates me, but he’s also helping me. I don’t get it. I also don’t have any other options.
“Where are we going?” I ask softly.
“I told you I know a place where you can stay.”
“I don’t have much money,” I add. That is an understatement - especially considering how much the car is going to cost. I can’t use my credit cards or draw money from an ATM, because doing any of those things will bring my brothers to this town in about two hours with the cavalry leading the charge. If I wanted their help, I would just pick up the phone, but I don’t. I'm on a mission, and it doesn’t include them.
Kip pulls onto a gravel driveway, which is long and windy. So long and windy in fact, there’s no house or building in sight. I swallow hard and try to remember all the self-defense training my brothers made me do.
Kip shoots a sideways glance at me. “I’m not going to murder you. Ginger, you really do need to calm down.”
I bristle, and he smirks.
We go around one more bend, and a huge, stunning cabin comes into sight. I gasp.
“Where are we?” I say.
He doesn’t respond as he drives the truck closer and parks in front.
“Is this your place?” I ask, gape jawed. I look from the cabin to him and back again.
