Read Online Obsession by Traci Hunter Abramson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Traci Hunter Abramson
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and quietly closed the door behind him. He set down the box of supplies he’d been carrying just inside the door and reached for the gun he kept holstered at the small of his back. His eyes swept the room, and he listened for any sound that was out of place.
The fire still flickered in the fireplace, though it had diminished to a dull glow, no longer providing any warmth in the room. Kendra’s belongings were still strewn across the room, but nothing appeared to have been moved since they left.
It’s probably nothing , Charlie assured himself, even though he’d felt the odd chill run through him when he’d realized her door was unlocked. He remembered asking her if she had her key, but since Kendra had been the last one out of the cabin, he couldn’t be sure if she had thought to lock the door or not. But he also didn’t remember seeing those faint snowmobile tracks on the road when they’d left earlier.
Then again, now that he thought of it, he had been more concerned about getting Kendra to his truck without her freezing her toes off than he had been about making sure everything was secured properly. That pretty face of hers was proving to be a distraction, and he didn’t have time for that right now.
He was probably overreacting by making her wait for him outside. Regardless, though, it wouldn’t hurt to err on the side of safety. He would just check out the cabin to make sure everything was as it was supposed to be, and then he could laugh off this little panic attack and tell Kendra that his protective side was showing because she was staying here alone.
He slipped his boots off, partially to mask the sound of his steps and partially to keep from tracking moisture across the floor. He checked out the main level first: the living room and kitchen, the three bedrooms, two bathrooms, the mudroom, and various closets. When he was satisfied that the back door was locked tightly and that there wasn’t any sign of anyone having been inside the mudroom recently, he turned back down the hall and headed up the stairs.
The third stair from the top creaked loudly under his weight. He froze for a moment, listening once again as he lifted his weapon a little higher. The loft overlooked the living room below, and three doors opened off of it. Cautiously, Charlie entered the first room to find a bedroom and a private bathroom. His methodical search revealed that the other two rooms were identical to the first, and all of them were empty.
A sigh escaped him, and he holstered his weapon. He took a moment to steady himself before heading back to the door, slipping his boots back on and motioning to Kendra that it was all clear.
Kendra climbed out of the car and moved toward him, her face pale. He’d scared her, Charlie realized. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing right now or not. He wanted her to understand the dangers she was facing—otherwise, how could she defend against them?—but he also needed her to trust him.
He moved toward her and pasted on an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that. I thought I heard something inside.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” Charlie reached for her hand, pulling her gently up the steps and toward the front door. “Why don’t you go inside and warm up by the fire. I’ll get everything else from the car.”
“Are you sure you don’t need any help?”
Charlie shook his head and nudged her inside before going to unload. He made several trips, each time depositing his load near the door. When all of her belongings were finally unloaded, he took off his boots and helped her carry her groceries into the kitchen and set them on the counter.
“Thanks so much for your help,” Kendra said, and Charlie was relieved to see that most of her color was back. “I don’t know how I would have managed to get supplies if you hadn’t been here.”
“I’m glad I could help,” Charlie told her. “I’m going to go get my stuff put away, and
The fire still flickered in the fireplace, though it had diminished to a dull glow, no longer providing any warmth in the room. Kendra’s belongings were still strewn across the room, but nothing appeared to have been moved since they left.
It’s probably nothing , Charlie assured himself, even though he’d felt the odd chill run through him when he’d realized her door was unlocked. He remembered asking her if she had her key, but since Kendra had been the last one out of the cabin, he couldn’t be sure if she had thought to lock the door or not. But he also didn’t remember seeing those faint snowmobile tracks on the road when they’d left earlier.
Then again, now that he thought of it, he had been more concerned about getting Kendra to his truck without her freezing her toes off than he had been about making sure everything was secured properly. That pretty face of hers was proving to be a distraction, and he didn’t have time for that right now.
He was probably overreacting by making her wait for him outside. Regardless, though, it wouldn’t hurt to err on the side of safety. He would just check out the cabin to make sure everything was as it was supposed to be, and then he could laugh off this little panic attack and tell Kendra that his protective side was showing because she was staying here alone.
He slipped his boots off, partially to mask the sound of his steps and partially to keep from tracking moisture across the floor. He checked out the main level first: the living room and kitchen, the three bedrooms, two bathrooms, the mudroom, and various closets. When he was satisfied that the back door was locked tightly and that there wasn’t any sign of anyone having been inside the mudroom recently, he turned back down the hall and headed up the stairs.
The third stair from the top creaked loudly under his weight. He froze for a moment, listening once again as he lifted his weapon a little higher. The loft overlooked the living room below, and three doors opened off of it. Cautiously, Charlie entered the first room to find a bedroom and a private bathroom. His methodical search revealed that the other two rooms were identical to the first, and all of them were empty.
A sigh escaped him, and he holstered his weapon. He took a moment to steady himself before heading back to the door, slipping his boots back on and motioning to Kendra that it was all clear.
Kendra climbed out of the car and moved toward him, her face pale. He’d scared her, Charlie realized. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing right now or not. He wanted her to understand the dangers she was facing—otherwise, how could she defend against them?—but he also needed her to trust him.
He moved toward her and pasted on an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that. I thought I heard something inside.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” Charlie reached for her hand, pulling her gently up the steps and toward the front door. “Why don’t you go inside and warm up by the fire. I’ll get everything else from the car.”
“Are you sure you don’t need any help?”
Charlie shook his head and nudged her inside before going to unload. He made several trips, each time depositing his load near the door. When all of her belongings were finally unloaded, he took off his boots and helped her carry her groceries into the kitchen and set them on the counter.
“Thanks so much for your help,” Kendra said, and Charlie was relieved to see that most of her color was back. “I don’t know how I would have managed to get supplies if you hadn’t been here.”
“I’m glad I could help,” Charlie told her. “I’m going to go get my stuff put away, and
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