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William nodded.
“He broke my arm when I fought him. Then the door to the stairwell opened, and my neighbor saw us. She turned on the lights. He must’ve panicked. The knife slipped, and he cut me just under my neck.”
William hissed in a breath.
“He tried to carry me out, but I bit his ear, and he dropped me. I hit my head hard enough to get a concussion. Between that, the broken arm, and the blood I lost when he cut me, I passed out. That’s all I remember until I was at the hospital.”
William’s face was anything but gentle. Fury practically poured from him.
“I’m hiding in Confluence because it’s safer to disappear into a fake life than it is to live in a real one, never knowing when I’ll be watched, when he’ll hurt me again. What will the next hospital visit mean? Another slashed throat and broken arm? Or will he manage more this time?”
William stepped forward and tilted her face to his, running his finger against the small scar along her neck she always covered with makeup. The rain pelted them both with droplets.
“He cut you.” It was more statement than question. “I’m going to find him. I’m going to see that he’s dealt with.”
“I didn’t tell you, so you’d help me. I told you so you’d understand, so we can still be friends.”
The storm opened above them. Raindrops quickly turned to sheets of water slashing across the trail.
He rubbed his hands up her arms before turning her forward on the trail. “Let’s get you out of the rain.”
She tripped down the hill as her stupid sandals slid against the mud. William gripped her arm to hold her steady while the thunder pounded angrily. They hurried toward the base of the mountain, the evergreen trees providing little cover as they plodded forward, slipping along the soggy gravel of the embankment.
The trail ended at the lake. And, damn, they came out on the opposite side. The lodge was barely visible through the storm. They should’ve turned right at the fork. It would be at least two more miles around to find shelter.
“This is where that map would have come in handy, huh?” she asked, glancing up at him.
He grunted, but there was a whisper of a smile there. “This way.”
She followed blindly. When they turned a corner, a small building sat squat among the trees. Canoes, rowboats, and a motley assortment of oars were stacked haphazardly outside. Lightning flashed nearby, and he pulled her along beside him. He let go of her hand to try the door, but it was locked. He pushed harder with his shoulder.
No luck. The rain continued to drench them.
“Stay here,” he yelled over a clap of thunder before he disappeared behind the back of the shack. She wrapped her arms around herself. How smart was it to take cover in a metal shack during a lightning storm, anyway? She was standing there alone, shivering, when the door opened, and William ushered her in.
She stepped inside. “How’d you get in?”
The place was stacked top to bottom with life jackets, a wall of fishing poles, and a small desk.
“The window wasn’t locked. I climbed through.” He set down the backpack and unzipped it to rummage around. “Don’t suppose you packed a towel?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“Come here.” The softness of his tone was at odds with the storm raging outside. He motioned to her as he sat against the pile of life jackets. She plunked down next to him, and he drew her close. Surely, he did it to warm her.
Oh boy, did it. She practically turned into a cloud of steam as his hands rubbed against her skin. Each stroke echoed in a much more intimate place.
“Why did you finally open up to me?” he asked against her hair. The muscles in his arms held her firm, and God that was nice.
“I don’t want to lose your friendship, Will.” She really, really didn’t.
“Lucy, you have to know by now that I don’t want to be your friend.”
Oh. She glanced up through her eyelashes, and his eyes burned bright, right into her. The atmosphere in the cabin shifted dangerously with the intensity of all that was William.
“You don’t want to be my friend?” she asked carefully.
“No.” His thumb rubbed across her lower lip, and the electricity between them rivaled the lightning outside. “That’s not what I want from you.”
