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“Why would I leave you here tied up? I’m trying to help you, not hurt you.”
She laughs. “I get it. I was being crazy, but we’re here in the middle of nowhere now. You can untie me.”
I lift my brows and stare toward her. “I need a nap, so I’m not untying you. God knows where you’ll be when I wake up.”
“Where am I going to go? We’re in the middle of the tundra.”
“Who knows what crazy people think? I’m just playing it safe. I’ll untie you later.”
She huffs. “I’m not crazy, I’m fiery. There’s a difference.”
There’s probably some truth to that, but I keep the banter going while I lay a sleeping bag out on the floor. “You’re mouthy, that’s for sure.”
“Seriously? You can’t leave me tied up while you sleep. I’m awake now. I’ll lose my mind.”
“Sorry, princess, but you need the rest too. Lay down.”
“You like seeing me tied up like this, don’t you? That’s why you’re doing it.”
“I’m going to sleep. I won’t be able toseeyou tied up with my eyes closed.”
She mumbles something under her breath then tries to stand, shuffling the wooden frame of the bed along with her.
“You should be grateful,” I laugh under my breath, knowing this will get her going.
“Grateful for what? For giving your father lifesaving antibiotics?You’re welcome! Youshould be thankingme.”
I stare up at the ceiling and close my eyes. “Go to bed.”
“Or… we could talk about our deepest darkest secrets,” her voice has gone sing-songy as though it’s her intention to be annoying.
I consider ignoring her, but that’s been done, and I get the feeling it wouldn’t do much good. This little thing is persistent. She needs something much more unexpected to throw her off her game. So, I indulge.
Turning toward her, I say, “Sure. Tell me a secret. The darkest one you have.”
Wild flickers in her eyes. “You first!”
“Not how this works, princess. It was your idea, so you’re starting us off.”
There’s hesitation in her throat and I fully expect her to cave on this plan of annoyance. Instead, she sighs and resituateson the hard, wood frame. “Okay. Well, my deepest secret is that I…” She pauses for what seems like forever.
“Something real. You can’t make it up.”
“I don’t have any secrets.”
“Everyone has secrets, princess.”
She sucks in a deep breath of air and releases it slowly. “I don’t. Well… one, but it’s not like a public secret.”
I sit up and turn toward her like a teenage girl at a slumber party. I want to know every single thing about this woman. Her first kiss, the way she likes her toast, the way she drinks her coffee, what meaning her name has, how old she was when she learned to shoot. Everything. I want it all. “That’s the one. Spill it.”
Her eyes roll and she twists her pretty hair to the side. “No. It’s too personal.”
I shrug and roll over. “Good night.”
“Okay, okay, okay … but you have to tell me a secret, too.”
“I don’t have a shortage.”
