Dolby(7)
Author: Maryann Jordan
Thrilled to keep their playful conversation going, he added, “In Scandinavian fairy tales, it also says they abduct people and use them as slaves.”
A strangled noise sounded from the other side of the room, and his gaze jumped back to her face. Her already pale complexion lost what little color it had, and a flash of pain moved through her eyes. Her arms wrapped protectively around her middle in a movement that was both hugging and hiding at the same time. Fuck! What did I say? Whatever had frightened her, he wanted to erase it instantly. “But of course, that’s not me! I just like to eat, and as you said, I don’t mind sharing.”
Her head jerked up and down in haste, but she’d lost her easy posture. She swallowed thickly, her gaze down on her hands now clasped tightly in her lap once again. Desperation filled him, hating to see her fear. Her chest moved up and down with her breaths, and she appeared to be counting while struggling to slow the rush of air. Her fingers unclasped and gingerly touched her wrist, and the reminder of her scars hit him.
Before she could see him staring at her, he looked back to his phone, desperate to find something to erase whatever had come over her. As he continued to read funny troll anecdotes, making sure to only read the amusing ones and not mention anything frightening, her arms began to relax. While he kept his tone light, fury settled in his gut at the thought that someone or something had hurt her in the past. After a few more minutes of ridiculous tales, her smile returned, and a touch of color dotted her cheeks again. Pleasure eased through him, knowing he had managed to maneuver her to a place of comfort.
A strong wind whipped the rain causing it to slam through the opening near her, and they both jumped to their feet. Instinctively, he bent and grabbed her backpack to keep it from getting wet. Realizing his hasty action might have caused her distress, she had moved closer to him. Now both standing in the middle of the lighthouse structure, her eyes were wide, but she didn’t give off fear… just surprise. He sighed in relief that she was more at ease with him.
“I’m not sure when this is going to pass.” She looked down at her phone, but before she had a chance to search, he’d tapped on the specialty LSI radar weather app.
“Damn, it looks like the storm has moved in over the coast and stalled.”
She looked up at him, her mouth forming an “O,” but no words came forth. It was the closest they had been. The top of her head would tuck just under his chin, making her about five feet seven inches tall. Being this close, a whiff of vanilla hit him, and he battled the urge to sniff her more to see if it was her shampoo, body wash, or just her. Her eyes definitely had the gold flecks that he’d noted earlier—eyes that now held his with uncertainty.
Blinking again, she pressed her lips together as her shoulders slumped. “I guess I need to go ahead and leave.”
While hiking in the rain would be nothing to him, he hated the idea of her soaked and alone. What if she falls? What if she gets hurt? What if she gets lost? The reasons they should stay together pummeled him, and he rushed, “Listen, Marcia, let’s not tempt fate, okay? I promise I’ll stay over there, and we can pass the time like we were. I have more food, and we’ll be dry and safe here.”
Indecision poured off her, and he stepped back to give her space even though every cell in his body cried out to move closer. He had no idea why he reacted this strongly to a woman he’d just met, but something about her called to him. Protectiveness? Yes, but it was more. He wanted more time. More time to learn her secrets, her desires, her background, and her story. More time to gain her trust. More time to let her get to know that he was trustworthy. His breath shallow, he waited.
Finally, with one last look outside at the approaching dusk and pelting rain, she nodded, her brow furrowed. Shifting her gaze up to him, she continued to nod. “You’re right. It would probably be foolish to try to get home now.”
Letting out his long-held breath, he grinned. “I know you have no reason to believe me, but I promise that my dad raised me to never take advantage of a woman, and my mama would slap me silly if I was lying.”
She stared at his face for a moment before laughter erupted from deep inside, bursting forth in a sound he loved to hear. She pressed her hand to her chest, and a sigh of relief escaped from him as he watched her delight. She cast her gaze around the room before turning her attention back to him. “We should probably sit where the rain won’t hit us. It’ll get colder soon. I never planned on staying out all night.”
“Do you have someone expecting you?” As soon as the words left his mouth and her wide eyes hit him, he cringed. “Shit, don’t answer that.” He reached into his pack and pulled out his wallet. Handing his identification to her again, he instructed, “Text someone… call someone… anyone you know. Tell them where you are and who I am. Give them all my information.” He thrust out his phone and his wallet. “Here… take a picture of my ID. Give them my phone number, too.”
“Um…”
“Really, Marcia. This way, someone in your life knows exactly what’s going on and who you’re with.”
Her lips were pressed together, but she nodded as she took his phone and the ID. She pulled her phone from her pocket. Snapping a picture of his driver’s license and employee card, she then placed her call. He could hear her friend yelling, but Marcia was able to calm them down. When she hung up, she sent a text, and after handing his phone back to him, she let out a long-held breath.
She glanced toward him, then shifted away slightly. He moved back to where his backpack lay to give her as much privacy in the small area as possible. Glad that she’d agreed to stay because he knew if she had tried to leave, he would’ve followed just to make sure she got home okay, and he had a feeling that those actions would have made her more nervous. And the last thing he wanted was for her to be afraid. Hell, what I want is for her to trust me. Trust me enough to let me in. Because for the first time with a woman, he wanted to know whatever secrets she held.
4
Marcia felt sure that if Jonathan knew she only had one real friend to call, he’d think she was a total loser. So far, today had been a huge step for her. I went for a hike. I’m talking to a stranger. I’m going to spend the night outdoors. She glanced around at the open-sided concrete structure. Well, sort of outdoors. But mostly, she wanted him to keep looking at her as though she wasn’t different from anyone else.
“Angela? Hey, it’s me. Um… remember how I was taking a hike today? Well, I did, and it was good. At least until an unexpected storm rolled in. I’m at the lighthouse on the beach south of me, so I’m dry and safe, but I’m going to need to spend the night.”