what to
do? She’d panicked, and he’d reacted instinctively.
“Like
what?” she prompted, still not looking at him.
He
dragged his thoughts back to her and feigned a casual shrug. “Like the thing to
do.”
Adelaide
finally looked up at him with a confused frown. “Well… thank you.”
“Any
time.”
She
raised her eyebrows, and he grinned. “I guess a “you’re welcome” would make
more sense in this situation.”
Adelaide’s
lips twitched and then clamped tight. “I think you should start explaining.”
He
pointed at himself with a comically incredulous expression. “Me? How about you
and what just happened? Or almost happened?”
Adelaide
didn’t laugh though. After a moment she said, “This is my house. You
first.”
“Fair
point.” She’s got spunk, he thought grudgingly. Which was interesting
since what vague memories he had of her showed him that she was a little on the
shy side, although she could’ve been faking that too. Then she suddenly looked
down, unable to maintain eye contact, and started tracing a pattern in the red
dirt with her finger. He wasn’t sure what to believe. Adelaide Jenner was a
riddle.
He
decided, in the interest of gaining her trust, to answer her questions. At
least, he’d answer the ones he’d prepared for. The ones she was most likely to ask.
“Like I said, my name is Nate, and I am Svatura, like you. And I’ll be happy to
answer all the questions you want. But look… I think I should at least bury the
guy first.”
*****
Adelaide
blinked, and she glanced over to the dead body in her yard. How had she forgotten?
Even for a second?
“Do
you have a shovel?” he asked.
Swallowing,
she gave a jerky nod. “You… just stay where you are. I’ll go get it and put it
outside the door. Knock when you’re done.”
Nate
nodded.
Abruptly,
she jumped to her feet and hustled inside, surreptitiously keeping tabs on him
as she went. As soon as she was in the house, she locked the door and checked
all the windows. When she glanced outside, he was standing in the same place
where she’d left him. Seeing her peeking out, he gave a friendly wave.
Adelaide
ducked back inside and put her hands over her cheeks. Why the heck was she
blushing? After she’d secured the cabin, she grabbed the shovel from a utility
closet behind the kitchen. She stuck it outside the door before shutting and locking
it again.
Then
she went up to her window and sat down in her seat. But her little haven wasn’t
as peaceful as it had been yesterday. Now she felt as though the eyes had
walls. She didn’t feel safe here anymore. Maybe safety had always been an
illusion.
Nate
ambled into her field of vision, shovel in hand. He was a good distance from
the house but still visible from her window. He dropped the tool and proceeded
to strip off his shirt.
Adelaide’s
jaw dropped and then she swallowed. Whoa. She’d have to be dead not to
appreciate that mouthwatering piece of masculine beauty. Even from all the way
over here, she could see there wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body. Lean muscles
rippled under taut skin with every tiny movement. And he was hard everywhere.
His arms, his back, his abs, his tight tush and strong legs. Not that she could
see them, but she had an imagination.
Oh
my God, Adelaide. What are you thinking, ogling his body when he just killed
someone sent to murder you? He’s out there digging a grave!
Adelaide
felt a blush of embarrassment rising in her cheeks. Only now it spread over her
in a full body flush. And then he picked up the shovel and put those toned
muscles to work with an efficient swing.
“Oh
my,” she murmured.
Deliberately,
she turned away from the sight and from her completely ridiculous thoughts.
Briefly, she thought about sending Griffin a mental S.O.S. but put that idea on
hold for now. She’d wait and hear what Nate had to say first and then decide
what to do. With iron will Adelaide kept her back to the window and waited for
do? She’d panicked, and he’d reacted instinctively.
“Like
what?” she prompted, still not looking at him.
He
dragged his thoughts back to her and feigned a casual shrug. “Like the thing to
do.”
Adelaide
finally looked up at him with a confused frown. “Well… thank you.”
“Any
time.”
She
raised her eyebrows, and he grinned. “I guess a “you’re welcome” would make
more sense in this situation.”
Adelaide’s
lips twitched and then clamped tight. “I think you should start explaining.”
He
pointed at himself with a comically incredulous expression. “Me? How about you
and what just happened? Or almost happened?”
Adelaide
didn’t laugh though. After a moment she said, “This is my house. You
first.”
“Fair
point.” She’s got spunk, he thought grudgingly. Which was interesting
since what vague memories he had of her showed him that she was a little on the
shy side, although she could’ve been faking that too. Then she suddenly looked
down, unable to maintain eye contact, and started tracing a pattern in the red
dirt with her finger. He wasn’t sure what to believe. Adelaide Jenner was a
riddle.
He
decided, in the interest of gaining her trust, to answer her questions. At
least, he’d answer the ones he’d prepared for. The ones she was most likely to ask.
“Like I said, my name is Nate, and I am Svatura, like you. And I’ll be happy to
answer all the questions you want. But look… I think I should at least bury the
guy first.”
*****
Adelaide
blinked, and she glanced over to the dead body in her yard. How had she forgotten?
Even for a second?
“Do
you have a shovel?” he asked.
Swallowing,
she gave a jerky nod. “You… just stay where you are. I’ll go get it and put it
outside the door. Knock when you’re done.”
Nate
nodded.
Abruptly,
she jumped to her feet and hustled inside, surreptitiously keeping tabs on him
as she went. As soon as she was in the house, she locked the door and checked
all the windows. When she glanced outside, he was standing in the same place
where she’d left him. Seeing her peeking out, he gave a friendly wave.
Adelaide
ducked back inside and put her hands over her cheeks. Why the heck was she
blushing? After she’d secured the cabin, she grabbed the shovel from a utility
closet behind the kitchen. She stuck it outside the door before shutting and locking
it again.
Then
she went up to her window and sat down in her seat. But her little haven wasn’t
as peaceful as it had been yesterday. Now she felt as though the eyes had
walls. She didn’t feel safe here anymore. Maybe safety had always been an
illusion.
Nate
ambled into her field of vision, shovel in hand. He was a good distance from
the house but still visible from her window. He dropped the tool and proceeded
to strip off his shirt.
Adelaide’s
jaw dropped and then she swallowed. Whoa. She’d have to be dead not to
appreciate that mouthwatering piece of masculine beauty. Even from all the way
over here, she could see there wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body. Lean muscles
rippled under taut skin with every tiny movement. And he was hard everywhere.
His arms, his back, his abs, his tight tush and strong legs. Not that she could
see them, but she had an imagination.
Oh
my God, Adelaide. What are you thinking, ogling his body when he just killed
someone sent to murder you? He’s out there digging a grave!
Adelaide
felt a blush of embarrassment rising in her cheeks. Only now it spread over her
in a full body flush. And then he picked up the shovel and put those toned
muscles to work with an efficient swing.
“Oh
my,” she murmured.
Deliberately,
she turned away from the sight and from her completely ridiculous thoughts.
Briefly, she thought about sending Griffin a mental S.O.S. but put that idea on
hold for now. She’d wait and hear what Nate had to say first and then decide
what to do. With iron will Adelaide kept her back to the window and waited for
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