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She crossed her arms and shook her head.
“I get it. You weren’t out on that highway in a storm for fun. You said you were going to Vegas, right?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“I’m moving there.”
“With just a backpack?”
“It was easier that way. Once I get to Vegas, I’ll find a job and a place to live. But you still haven’t answered my question.”
He glanced away. “I had an older sister. She took off one day and never came home. When I saw you, it reminded me of her.”
So that was why he was being so nice to her. Brielle’s heart swelled with sympathy. “I’m sorry. That must have been awful.”
“It was. I was just a kid, but I’ll always wonder if I could have done something.”
“I’m sure it’s not your fault she left.”
“No.” He paused. “I don’t make a habit of picking up hitchhikers and bringing them out here, in case you’re wondering. You’re my first.”
That made her laugh a little. “Thanks for giving me a place to crash. But I should probably get back to Pinecrest so I can get a bus ticket and get out of your way.”
He looked away again and nodded slowly, as if he were trying to figure out what to say. “What if you just… stay a little while?”
“Stay here?”
“Yeah. I’m not going to try to talk you out of going to Vegas if that’s what you really want. But it’s dangerous out there. The weather is terrible.”
She took another step back. A part of her—a big part—wanted to stay. She felt safe.
But she couldn’t stay in some random guy’s cabin forever. Her little daydream of being his hidden treasure was stupid.
Wasn’t it?
“How long?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go along. I’m just worried if I drop you off at the bus station, something horrible will happen to you. Something I could have prevented if you stayed here.”
He was thinking about his sister again. Brielle could tell. Maybe he saw her as his second chance. A way to make up for the sister he’d lost.
Would it be so bad to hide out there for a little longer? No one would find her—if anyone was even bothering to look, which was debatable.
“I know you don’t have any reason to trust me,” John said, meeting her eyes. “But I can tell you’ve been through some hard stuff. I just want to help.”
Tears welled up. The way John looked at her, it felt like he saw her. Truly saw her for who she was. Not someone to yell at and belittle. Just Brielle.
Maybe he really wasn’t a rapist or a murderer. He’d certainly had plenty of opportunities to hurt her. If that was what he was planning, wouldn’t he have done it already? Why keep offering to help?
Had she simply run into the right guy at the right time?
It was about time she got a break.
She swiped the tears from her cheeks as he cautiously approached her, and let him put his arms around her. She sank into his embrace, resting her head on his chest. He smelled good, like cologne and clean laundry.
“I’m sorry for whatever you’ve been through,” he said.
