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“I know when I’m not wanted. But don’t forget if you decide to let loose that we’ll be next door and happy for you to join in.” She winked at me and wiggled her eyebrows before exiting the room.

Austin’s confused expression was welcome as I wasn’t about to explain what that meant.

“What’s up?” I asked instead, anxious to stay on topic.

“Apparently, what the public doesn’t know is that there was sabotage on previous resort grand openings.”

I sat back on my heels and thought about my research. “I knew about Paradise Atlantis. Everyone does. But I thought the Time Capsule Resort voyage went well.”

“I guess they were able to cover it up,” he responded in a hushed voice. “He warned me against telling anyone this and said it would lend evidence toward my guilt.”

Ignoring the tiny voice in my head that suggested it might be smart to be suspicious if Jackson thought Austin was likely a saboteur, I squeezed his muscular leg through the thin material of his sweatpants. “I can keep a secret.”

He smiled, brushing the hair away from my face. “Thanks. I needed to talk to someone or I’d go crazy.”

“I know the feeling,” I admitted, rising to sit beside him again. “FYI, it’s pretty lame to assume because you were around during the incidents, you’re somehow guilty by association.”

“Thanks, Rosi. I appreciate that. I have no clue what’s happening.”

“It seems far more likely that whoever is behind it, assuming it is someone doing it on purpose, is centering their attacks around you because you’re the face of the resort.”

“Great.”

I smiled. “I bet Jackson Meadows doesn’t believe in bigfoot.”

“Small minds,” he agreed and turned his head to face me.

We laughed and stayed there awkwardly staring at each other.

“I…better get some sleep,” I said. “And so should you.” Though if he followed me into my room, I wouldn’t stop him. Follow me, Austin.

“You’re right. Good night, Rosi.” He stood and stopped himself before leaning in for a kiss.

“Yeah. Goodnight.” I turned so he wouldn’t detect my flush and speed walked to my bedroom.

The moment the doors closed behind me, I released a huge breath and collapsed onto the bed.

If he was some sort of saboteur, would I be safe on the expedition? Why even spend time with me? And why put himself in danger the way he had when he’d fallen off the tube? If I hadn’t been there to throw him those hover disks, he’d likely have died, or at least been seriously injured. And I certainly didn’t know that would happen.

No, he wasn’t doing this. He’d been as preoccupied as me when the lights exploded. His body had definitely responded. There was no faking that.

Crap, now I was hot and bothered again, thinking about his ample length sliding against me through the friction of our clothing.

I was sweating. I flung off the T-shirt and shorts he’d given me but pulled the tee under the sheet with me so I could inhale his scent. My hand found the spot between my legs craving attention. There was nothing for it but to get through it as soon as I could, so I stroked myself, imagining his nimble fingers instead of my own and how they’d circle the sensitive nub like they had the skin of my back earlier.

Using the pillow, I muffled my moans as I continued picturing him doing all the things to me that I wanted. In my head, his stubble rubbed against the sensitive skin of my thighs, and his tongue explored my folds like it had my mouth.

“Oh god, Austin,” I called into my pillow as I came. But instead of being completely satisfied, I only wanted the real thing.

I was falling hard, and that was bad news because even if I complicated things by pursuing the kind of release I wanted, it was something that couldn’t continue past this vacation. I had my doctorate to finish, and he… Well, he had adventures to go on that likely didn’t involve an extra person tagging along.

Flopping around to my other side, I curled up in a ball and fell into a restless sleep.

I’m ten, and instead of the curious sasquatch, I stare up into the face of my nightmares. Just as tall as the bigfoot I had seen, but far skinnier, it has the head of the tupilaq in the museum with a giant mouthful of needlelike teeth dripping saliva that sizzles as it falls to the earth at my feet. I step backward but am blocked by the trunk of the massive redwood. My knees weaken as my body begins to tremble. The scent of rotting meat overwhelms my senses. Instead of fur, it’s covered in gray pock-marked skin that hugs its body like a sleeve for twisted muscle and sinew. Its knees bend backward like a canine, but there are only two. The thing is anything but human, and the terror—the helplessness I feel—blurs my vision and brings tears to my eyes.

Screaming, I wake only to find myself standing naked in the frozen tundra, Austin’s blood-soaked body lying prone in front of me. The thing that I faced moments ago bends over him, torn skin and worse stuck between its teeth as it glares at me with human-like, yellow eyes. I back up a few paces, the frozen ground burning against the bottom of my feet. The horror that threatens to suffocate me is no longer from the monster itself but from the vision of Austin’s mutilated and lifeless body.

It lunges at me, and I wake again, this time naked in Austin’s living room. He stands before me, face filled with concern, muscled chest heaving like he’s frightened as well.

I throw myself into his arms, crying, and he holds me close without saying a word. When I finally get myself under control, I pull back and gaze up at him. He smiles, revealing a mouth full of rows of needlelike teeth.