Page 16 of Hollow Forest

It was also never going to happen.

“I’m not going to touch you,” I declared. “Not unless I’m burying your body.”

I clapped my mouth closed. I’d said too much! It was the tension in the room, the surprise and heightened emotions.

He chuckled, the sound rich and decided. “You will. But it will always be on your terms.”

“You’re full of yourself!” Unbelievable! He was being ridiculous!

And yet, my body had the primal urge to go to him. It was as if part of me knew I would be safest in his arms.

I dashed that thought away and locked it up tight. Later, when I could think straight, I would lecture myself about my poor taste in men.

And how creeps like this were better off buried eight feet in the dirt deep in the forest. Except…he felt different. He could have hurt me. That body would easily overpower mine. But he hadn’t. His only crime was taking care of me.

“Have a good day, beautiful,” the masked man murmured and pulled the door open.

The moment it clapped closed behind him, I was out of my seat. I threw the lock and leaned against the wood. Through the decorative piece of glass, I saw the night swallow his black form as he disappeared into the hollow vault of darkness beneath the boughs of the ancient trees. He hadn’t driven here, at least not up to the house.

He came and went, a piece of the forest itself.

Which meant I would have to walk to work knowing he was out there. Somewhere. Watching. Waiting. I shivered.

The five-minute snooze alarm slammed me back into reality.

***

Since I’d worked in a coffee shop in another lifetime, it wasn’t hard to learn the menu of this place. My coworkers were good people, and we all vibed. Which meant working through a rush flowed smoothly. At least on our end.

There was an incident with a toddler, a spiced apple bagel, and the decorative mirror above the tea shelf.

That was something no amount of experience could prepare us for. Gentle parenting at its finest.

“My mom would have smacked me with a flipflop for that,” Derek rumbled under his breath.

I smirked as he described his mama taking off her leather thong, raising the shoe in one hand, and chasing Derek and his twin around the house.

So busy laughing at his rendition, I didn’t hear the bell over the door. The mess was mostly cleaned up, the café returned to its hallowed solemnity, and we were taking a breather after the chaos of the morning.

The air shifted.

Chills prickled over my skin.

I spun around and came face to face with a scruffy, plaid-wearing giant. “Oh! Hi!” I slapped my palm over my heart. “Didn’t see you come in. What can I get started for you?”

The handyman flicked a glance to the special board and shifted his weight. “Whatever you think is good.”

I drew my brows together. “It’s all good.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “It can’t be all good.”

“Wanna bet?” I propped a hand on my hip.

“I’m here to meet a supplier. So anything that sounds good to you, Sam.”

The way he said my name had me feeling light. He was a good guy. Quiet. A bit rough and aloof, but I felt it in my bones. Except…I wasn’t in this town to make friends with the locals.

My midnight intruder would beg to differ. I studied the handyman, the one who had been at my house almost every day, quietly working to make the cottage habitable. Awareness tingled up my spine. Not that the handyman said much, but his voice was similar to the one behind the mask.