His throat jumps when another mild breeze moves the branches overhead, and he jerks his head to the left and says, “Come on. Let’s get you back.”
We walk in silence. I’m dying to ask questions, but my tongue feels too thick for my mouth, and all I can focus on are his muscular legs in those denim jeans.
“Are you not warm?” I blurt.
He glances at me over his shoulder and shrugs. “I’m used to it.”
“I saw you…” I say, surprised by my sudden eagerness to engage in conversation. “The other day, I mean… You were chopping wood. Do you live around here?”
“Do you make a habit of sneaking around in the woods?” he asks, dodging my question.
My eyebrows pull down low as I step over a fallen branch. “It’s not private land, is it? You won’t shoot me with a shotgun or anything?”
“If I tell you yes, will you stay out of the woods?”
“Unlikely,” I reply as he holds a branch out of the way.
I like the way he follows me with his eyes. It’s not sexual, but it’s not void of interest, either. He is intrigued and trying to figure me out.
“I didn’t have a choice… The whispers—” My mouth snaps shut. No, I refuse to sound insane when I’ve barely known him for less than five minutes.
He lets go of the branch and falls into step beside me. We continue in companionable silence, lost in our thoughts.
Sounds slowly filter back in—birds tweeting, twigs snapping underfoot, and a rolling of thunder overhead.
“Will you believe me if I tell you weird things happen in these woods and that you should stay out for your own good?”
I glance at him, taking in his dark hair, forest eyes, and the set line of his lips. He has an air of mystique about him, and I can’t help but feel drawn in by it. I don’t think I would want to fight the pull, given the choice.
“You walk these woods…” I leave the words hanging, hoping he’ll offer me his name.
He inclines his head and says, in a humorous tone, “I know these woods like the back of my hand.” His voice lowers. “You don’t.”
We step through the tree line, and the large estate greets us as it rises into the clouds, thick ivy crawling across the bricks.
Looking back at the stranger, I hike a thumb over my shoulder. “Would you like to come inside for a glass of water?” When he fails to answer, I tuck my hair behind my ear. “We have iced tea, if you prefer?—”
“Camryn!” a hard voice calls out behind me.
I turn to see Dominic striding toward us with a murderous expression and clenched hands. He stops beside me and narrows his eyes on the mysterious man at my side. “Who are you?”
“Dominic,” I hiss, cheeks heating. “Don’t be rude. I got lost in the woods, and he helped me find my way back.”
Dominic’s blazing eyes land on my face. “The woods?” Fury radiates off him with every sharp inhale. “The fucking woods? What have I said about you entering the woods?”
“I told her the same?—”
“Walk away! You’re not welcome here.” Dominic pulls me behind him. “If I see you near my sister again, I’ll make you regret it, understood?”
“Dominic!” I shove his unmoving back, the muscles rippling beneath his sweat-stained T-shirt as he holds me back with his arm. The infuriating man is a behemoth with anger issues. I fucking hate him.
“Walk!” His voice brokers no argument.
The stranger’s footsteps retreat, but Dominic doesn’t relax until he is out of sight; only then does he inhale a deep breath before spinning around and pinning me with his glare.
I flip him off and then stride toward the house, kicking up the dried grass. Fuck him for telling me what to do and for threatening the man who helped me find my way back.
I’ve barely made it two steps before Dominic spins me around. “I told you not to enter the woods.”
