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Jack, or whoever this man was, cleaned up the kitchen while I sat in this chair, damn near living out the daydream I had earlier. I tried to help, but he shooed me away silently. All I could do was hold my hands up in defeat. My futile attempt to help were the only words we’d spoken all night.
My mind strayed from thought to thought as I watched the flickering flames in the fireplace. I was lost in the red, yellow, and orange colors as they danced across the hearth when Jack came from the kitchen and sat in the chair beside mine. His bulky form devoured the oversized chair that swallowed my much smaller frame, and I couldn’t stop my eyes from admiring how the flames cast a shadow of flickering light across his face. We both sat lost in our thoughts for a moment before he finally spoke.
“Are you staying in town long?”
I thought hard about how to answer that question, “Well, that depends.” I said vaguely.
“On...”
“On, you.” Allowing my gaze to return to meet his slowly, I noticed the slightest twitch of his lips, and I had to drag my eyes away because he had incredibly kissable lips.
He nodded, “You can stay here tonight.” And with that, he rose from the chair, not giving me the chance to deny him because that was not an offer. It was a demand that I felt in my toes. What was he doing to me? I felt foolish and naïve but knew I was neither. At least not usually.
After what felt like hours but was only seconds, Jack stood at the base of the stairs and waited as I rose from my chair, gathered my things, and followed behind him. He led me up the stairs, taking us to a long hallway with two bedrooms, one at each end. He motioned for me to take the one on the right as he slowly made his way to the bedroom on the left. I turned, facing the door, about to open it, as I felt his weighted stare. I looked at him then, and his burning eyes held mine, but I didn’t hesitate this time. I turned the knob and entered the room. I shut the door behind me before pressing my back against it.
What the hell are you doing, Dahl? You’re just asking to get murdered now. You stupid, stupid girl. Yeah, I guess I was.
Hours later, the morning sun peeked through the window. It couldn’t have been past five a.m. Surprisingly, I was well rested despite the unfamiliar environment, and as I stretched under the soft sheets, I contemplated what the day might bring. One thing was for sure: I would find out who “Jack” really was so that I could find my real uncle and go home. I was extending my welcome way longer than I should have.
But planning my day and strategy would have to wait because my bladder called to me, and my stomach growled in hunger.
After stopping in the bathroom between the two bedrooms, my curiosity grew as I looked around the cabin’s second floor. I tiptoed barefoot and tried to be as quiet as possible, not wanting to wake Jack. I needed to find something. I didn’t know what, but something I could use as proof that this man wasn’t who he said he was.
But my search was cut short when I noticed the door to his bedroom was slightly ajar. Furtively, I meandered toward the room, one hand tracing the wall as I went, the other planted firmly against my pounding heart. I slid forward, and my eyes darted back and forth down the hallway nervously as I approached the open door. The house was eerily quiet, and I prayed to God Jack wouldn’t find me out here trying to do my best mission impossible impersonation. I wasn’t sure what he’d do to me if he found me snooping around.
But to my surprise, the room was completely empty when I peered through the crack. Where the hell was he? I hoped I would find the room empty, but never in a million years thought I actually would. Pushing the heavy wooden door further open, its hinges suddenly screamed in protest, and I grimaced as my eyes widened in panic. My steps slowed to a snail’s pace. I pondered if I should abort the mission and return to my room. But I’d come this far and wasn’t about to back down when I was this close to hopefully finding something.
I waited with bated breath to make sure I hadn’t alerted Jack, and after a few seconds, I was confident that I wouldn’t get caught, so I continued inside the room. Just as quietly as I had opened the door, I shut it behind me. Amazingly, the hinges didn’t protest this time, and the door closed silently. Thank you, God.
Standing in the middle of the room, I looked around frantically and immediately noticed that the bed was made as if it hadn’t been slept in last night. What the hell? I saw him come in here. We went to bed at the same time.
You don’t have time for this stalling, Dahl. Move.
That thought kicked my butt into gear, and I opened every single drawer in the room. To my dismay, all the drawers were empty. I moved to the closet next. And again. Empty.
My mind raced with all the possibilities of why this room had no evidence of someone living in it. There was no trace of Jack anywhere in this room. None of this made any sense at all. If he wasn’t sleeping here, in this room, then where the hell was, he sleeping? I walked over to the window and, keeping a safe distance, I glanced out, finding nothing out of the ordinary. My rental car was still parked right where I’d left it yesterday, and there were no other signs of human life anywhere. I groaned in frustration because I was more confused than ever.
Get out of here, Dahl. You are pressing your luck today.
I left the room and returned to mine with more questions than I started with when I snuck in there. My head shook in disbelief, and I couldn’t help but feel I may never find the truth.
Well, all my sneaking around and worry that Jack would hear me poking around was for not. He wasn’t even here. And I felt foolish.
I moved around the kitchen and was pleased to find that even though he had no clothes or personal items anywhere in this house, he at least had the fridge stocked full of food. I had showered and dressed after my failed investigation and was whisking eggs in a bowl when Jack returned to the cabin a few hours later. Our eyes met briefly as he strolled inside, and I deferred my gaze quickly to avoid contact with him. I secretly hoped he would continue the silence of last night and allow me to make us some breakfast before I interrogated the shit out of him. I had decided that instead of poking around at nothing, I would take the easy route and just ask him who he was. Stop beating around the bush, just rip the band-aid off, and set the damn thing on fire instead.
Jack entered the house and stopped on the threshold of the kitchen. I didn’t turn to or acknowledge him, but I could feel the weight of his presence. My stupid heart fluttered wildly behind my breasts. I could only see the silhouette of his body out of the corner of my eye, and when he didn’t say a word or move further into the kitchen, I finally allowed my gaze to meet his. There was a spark of some indefinable emotion in his eyes as he stared at me, moving about his kitchen. Well, maybe not HIS kitchen. Light smoldered in his gold-flecked eyes, and he watched me as if astounded. I stared back and didn’t fail to notice that he had changed into a different flannel shirt. This one was tan, yellow, and blue, and the sleeves were again rolled up to his elbows. He looked disheveled like he’d been working outside when the wind blew or riding in a car with the windows down. I had to look away because he was breathtaking. Before I looked away, I didn’t fail to notice that he had a black backpack in his hand that he’d dropped to the floor. I wondered what was in there, and if the contents could give me insight into who this handsome stranger was.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I made us breakfast.” I offered, allowing a small smile to don my face.
“Uh…” At his lack of a response, I glanced back at him. He stood stock still. “Yeah, it’s ok.” He ran his hand through his chestnut hair before taking another step closer. He seemed to want to say more but didn’t.
I finished setting up the dining table and planted myself into the chair across from him. He hesitated slightly, only filling his plate with food when I nudged him. He opened his mouth as if to speak but thought twice, and we sat eating our food in silence again.
I didn’t interrupt the peaceful meal or get up from the table after eating the last bite of bacon on my plate. I just sat and watched him eat. He’d shake his head before meeting my eyes every couple of bites. We danced like this for what felt like hours, and once he’d taken his last bite, I pounced. I was losing my patience.
“So, we both know you are not my uncle.” I deadpanned, and to my surprise, he showed no reaction. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his bulking arms across his chest.
“And since you are a man of so many words,” I said with accusation. “I have no clue who you really are.” Planting my elbows on the table, I leaned forward, my gaze not leaving his.
