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I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t remember agreeing to be kidnapped before sunrise.”

His lips tilt as he pulls away from the house.

“You can go home whenever you want.”

I look out the window at my house growing smaller behind us, then down at the warm bag of cookies resting in my lap.

I could tell him to turn around.

He would.

I know that somehow.

I take another sip of coffee and settle back against the seat.

“Not yet.”

We drive in silence for a while, soft music playing in the background as I watch the ranch-land pass outside my window, still dark except for the first hint of morning beginning to soften the horizon.

Eventually Jude turns onto a smaller road and slows the truck before pulling to a stop.

“Before we get there, I need to blindfold you.”

I turn toward him and find him holding out a black blindfold.

“I don’t like this.”

His lips tilt up, but he doesn’t push. He simply waits, his eyes studying mine, and I don’t know why, but something tells me I can trust him.

“Okay.”

We climb out of the truck, and Jude walks around to my side.

“Close your eyes and turn around.”

I narrow mine at him instead.

Jude waits.

“Jude, if you make me walk into a tree—”

“I won’t.”

“A ditch?”

“No.”

“Horse shit?”

His mouth twitches.

“That depends on how much you annoy me.”

I smack his arm before turning around so he can fasten the blindfold.

He laughs, low and quiet, and something inside my chest loosens at the sound.

“Come on, Nora. Trust me.”