To be honest, I wasn’t surprised when I found the driver’s licenses with Alex’s photo but alternate names in replace of his. In a world where everyone knows everything, even regular joes seek ways to keep their private information precisely that: private. I’m more angry that they didn’t give me anything concrete to explain the stupid feelings I’ve been bombarded with the past forty-eight hours. I must be in a time warp, as nothing happening can be true. My protectiveness of Isaac is as intense as it’s always been, my libido just as strong, but there is something very wrong with this picture.
I don’t excuse snooping as if it is a normal thing to do; I don’t choose sex over morals, and I sure as hell don’t let men weasel their way into my heart with cute words and mind-blowing orgasms.
More determined than ever, I spin around to face Alex. He better be packing heat, as several grenades are heading his way.
My willpower withers when the person entering my room isn’t whom I’m expecting. The already elevated beat of my heart doubles when the man’s face identifies as familiar.
“You’re the gentleman from the plane? The one who sat two seats across from me?”
I don’t know why my comments sound like questions. I’m not seeking confirmation. I know what I saw, just as well as I know it’s extremely unlikely he was on the same flight as me and is now a guest at the same B&B.
The man stiffens, stunned I’ve remembered him, but his mouth remains tightlipped. His surprise is warranted. I’m not recalling him because he has a gorgeous face and fit body any red-blooded woman would have a hard time forgetting. On the contrary, being saved from his scrutiny by the handsome man filling the vacant seat next to him is the reason his face is stored in my memory bank. He’s not creepy-looking, but the vibes he gives off are.
“What are you doing here?” I feel the rod in my back straightening, taking on the steel strength in my voice.
When he steps closer to me, as if the six paces between us are too great, I hold my hand out in front of my body.
He copies my gesture, but more to say he means me no harm than to keep me at arm’s length. “I’m not here to hurt you, Rae. I’m here to help you.”
If his use of my nickname doesn’t send sirens alarming in my head, the similar size of our hands skyrockets my panic to an all-time high. His hands don’t match his round face and deep timbre. They are dainty and small, quite feminine.
“Help me with what?” I impress myself with how calm my voice is. Probably helps that my suitcase hides the stiletto I’m clutching for dear life.
A condescending smirk etches onto my face when he replies, “Your life is in danger.”
No shit, Sherlock.
I force tears to my eyes. “How do you know this. . . unless you’re the man behind the threat?”
His balk ripples the air. I’ve got him stumped, but not enough to restrain his curiosity. “What gave me away?”
I lick my dry lips before answering, “You called me Rae.”
He clears the confusion from his face with a quick scrub of his shadowed jaw. It gives away his ruse even more. He’s married. He may have removed his ring, but the white band circling his ring finger will take months to clear.
After dropping his hand from his face, he says, “That’s your name, isn’t it?” His tone is more panicked than threatening.
I shake my head. “No one calls me Rae.”
“Anymore,” he corrects, proving he knows me more than a random stranger would.
When he steps closer to me, I raise my stiletto into the air. Spotting my weapon of choice, he has the audacity to smile. It’s a stupid thing for him to do. Discovering Alex is spying on me already has my mood teetering dangerously on edge; now his arrival has pushed me over the brink. I’m the most unhinged I’ve ever been.
With a grunt, I push off my feet. I charge for the door he’s blocking with his waif-like frame, hoping if I pierce his arm with my stiletto, it will give me enough leverage to escape without harm.
My plan has the effect I am aiming for. He howls like a wolf staring at a moon when my heel breaks through both his suit-covered sleeve and his skin, but he’s not down long enough for me to fully flee.
“Let me go!” I scream when he bands his arm around my waist to yank me away from the locked door.
My scream is drowned out by Alex calling my name. He either heard my battle cry or sensed I am in danger. “Rae!”
As the sound of feet stomping up a set of stairs booms into my ears, I throw my head back. Stars dance in front of my eyes when my skull cracks the stranger’s nose, making another painful moan ripple from his lips.
“I’ll break your nose with my next hit,” I warn, my voice strong.
When he fails to adhere to my threat, I throw my head back for the second time. It hurts him more than it does me.
As his hands dart up to catch the blood gushing from his nose, I break away from his side. The tremor of my body rattles all the way down my arm when I twist the old-fashioned handle on my bedroom door. I turn and turn and turn, but it fails to open, and there’s no key in sight.
