“You ought to get some sleep. We’ve got another long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Are you staying here tonight?” she asks, her fingers intertwined with mine.
“Yes. Kane asked me to coordinate the security team here.” I hesitate, then add, “I’m leading the expedition to the waterfall tomorrow. I’d like you to come with us, if you want to.”
Her eyes light up. “Really? You want me there?”
“Of course. You’ve been part of this from the beginning.” I squeeze her hand. “Besides, I sleep better when you’re nearby.”
A soft blush colors her cheeks. “Even when I wake you up with nightmares?”
“Even then,” I say, leaning closer. “Though I prefer the mornings.”
Her breath catches as she understands my meaning—the memory of waking with her in my arms still fresh for both of us. “Me too,” she admits softly.
I brush a strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers linger on her cheek. “We should find you a ride back to the lodge. It’s getting late.”
“Or I could stay,” she suggests, her voice barely above a whisper. “Here. With you.”
The invitation hangs between us, charged with possibility. Part of me—a very insistent part—wants nothing more than to accept. But the rational side of my brain reminds me of the watchers in the woods, the danger that might be closing in around us.
“I want that,” I tell her honestly. “More than you know. But not in the house…. how does the barn sound to you?”
Chapter 24
Lana
“The barn?” I laugh softly, raising my eyebrows. “That’s your romantic alternative?”
His smile is playful yet somehow still serious. “Jake and Ella are here with Nora, and two dozen men are staying here and over at Ella’s place, Julia, Richard, and Margret. Not exactly private. But the barn...” He leaves the suggestion hanging.
I consider it for a moment, picturing the rustic space with its hay bales and animals. It’s certainly unconventional, but then again, nothing about Caleb or our situation is conventional.
“I’d like that,” I say, surprising myself with how much I mean it. “But I should probably go back to the lodge first. I need a change of clothes and a shower.”
“Of course,” he says, looking relieved that I didn’t dismiss the idea outright. “Take your time. I’ll be here.”
My mind is already racing ahead, planning. “Give me about an hour and a half? That should be enough time.”
He nods, his eyes warm in the fading light. “I’ll be waiting.”
The drive back to the lodge feels both too long and too short. My heart is fluttering with anticipation, a mixture of nerves andexcitement that I haven’t felt ever in my life. When I arrive, the place is bustling with the other half of Declan’s men, packaging all the archives from the underground room we’d found for the trip to the MacGallan estate in Toronto. Still, I manage to slip upstairs without getting pulled into conversation.
Under the hot spray of the shower, I try to calm my racing thoughts. This isn’t just physical attraction—though God knows that’s strong enough. There’s something deeper forming between Caleb and me, something I didn’t want but can’t seem to resist.
After drying off, I pull on a pair of old, comfortable jeans and a soft sweater, then pack an overnight bag with pajamas, a change of clothes, and toiletries. I hesitate before the mirror, wondering whether to apply makeup, then decide on just a touch of mascara and tinted lip balm. This isn’t about impressing him—it’s about being comfortable together.
On impulse, I call him from the car as I’m heading back.
“Hey,” he answers, his deep voice sending a pleasant shiver through me.
“Hey, yourself. I’m on my way, but I thought I’d head to Pinecrest for food. Any requests?”
“Surprise me,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “I’m not picky.”
I end up at Stephen’s Wok, the only Chinese restaurant in town. The elderly owner recognizes me from previous visits and adds extra fortune cookies, giving me a knowing wink that makes me grin.
By the time I pull up to Jake’s farm, night has fully fallen. The security team has established a discreet presence—I notice at least three men positioned around the property—but they let me pass without comment. Caleb is waiting outside the barn, a silhouette against the warm light spilling from inside.
