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Regrets, second thoughts, doubts…they could tear down a relationship faster than an iceberg took down the Titanic.
Saul knocked again, a little harder this time, and was perturbed when he heard no answer, no sound, not a hint of movement. With a frown, he tried the door handle, but she’d locked it. Rather than break it down, he threw his clothes on quickly and took the long route around to the other door.
Whoever designed this place was either a genius or a moron.
His heart stopped for a beat when he saw the bathroom door leading into the hallway was partly open. He peered inside, but he already knew she wasn’t there. Clenching his jaw, he walked into the main cabin, but it only confirmed his suspicions.
The cabin had an empty feel to it.
Caera was gone.
“Damn fool woman,” Saul muttered, heading for the front door. The last thing he needed was making a call Connie to tell her he’d fucked up, and that the naïve city girl was alone, lost in the fucking forest. “Next time she wants to have sex, I’ll screw her brains out then and there. Fuck decency and decorum.”
Urgency rippled down his spine as he shoved his feet into his boots and stepped out onto the porch. The forest was alive with the chatter of birds and insects. Everything was coming awake, stirring as glorious rays of sunshine struck tree and leaf and ground. It was cool in the shade of the trees, although it wouldn’t be long before the heat settled in for the day.
Caera hadn’t had time to take any supplies with her, so finding her before it got too hot was imperative. It might be September, but there were still days when the temps could kill.
Where the hell did a woman go to nurse her wounds?
Saul scanned the trees, picking out what he thought might be a couple of deer paths cutting through the undergrowth. He didn’t think she would be brave enough to head down one of those, not when the way was overgrown and restrictive.
Would she head down the road leading up to the cabin, try to hitchhike her way home? No, he couldn’t see her doing that either. Taking a ride off a stranger wasn’t safe, and she was all about safety—keeping herself out of harm’s way, even if it meant excluding herself from society.
Picking a path at random, Saul crossed the clearing, wishing he could take his jeep through the trees if it would find her faster, and hurried down the narrow, worn trail. Running after her would only spook her, and he imagined she would bolt if he scared her.
Once he found her, he’d keep an eye on her, ensure she didn’t get into trouble, but give her the space she obviously needed.
To his relief, it didn’t take long to find her—she was only a few hundred feet away from the cabin, huddled on the remains of a tree stump with her arms banded around her raised knees, crying her heart out for nature to hear.
Hard, vicious sobs.
The plan evaporated. He couldn’t stand back and watch her make herself sick.
“Caera.”
Her head shot up, blonde hair tangled and clinging to the tears streaming down her face. Those green eyes he found fascinating were completely and utterly dejected, dull with unspeakable pain, swollen and red-rimmed.
She said nothing.
Saul moved to her cautiously, dropping to his knees in front of her. With a sigh, he laid his hands on top of hers. “I think we’ve got some wires crossed here, little rabbit. I never intended to hurt you by what I said. There was no…I wasn’t rejecting you,” he said quietly. He curled his fingers around hers, gauging her response.
His gut clenched when she showed no reaction at all. Her hands remained cold and limp in his, not even a twitch of her fingers. “Do you understand what I was saying to you, Caera?”
She hiccupped sadly.
“I don’t know whether to take that as an affirmative or not.” Saul brought her hands to his mouth, kissing them both gently, one at a time. “We haven’t known each other a day yet, Caera, but I know I feel something for you that I haven’t for anyone else. I’m not rushing into sex with you, because I get the sense this could be something important, and I don’t want to be responsible for fucking it up.”
Those weary eyes lifted to meet his. More tears flowed, and he wiped them carefully away. “Why am I like this? Did I do something to deserve being crazy?”
Cupping her wet face in his hands, he offered her a sad smile. “Not crazy. Just exhausted. Exhaustion and stress push your limits, Caera. I don’t blame you for walking out. I would’ve preferred for you to stay and talk it through, but you did what you felt you needed to do. That doesn’t make you crazy.”
Standing, he offered her his hand. Everything in him relaxed when she accepted it, letting him draw her to her feet. “I’ll make you a promise, little rabbit. I’m going to take care of you, whatever you need, but there will be rules in place. Rules you have to follow.” He kissed the top of her head. “Think you can do that for me?”
“Anything. I think I’d do anything to be normal.”
“That’s not the right reason to say yes. Normal is overrated,” he murmured as he pulled her into his side, slipping his arm around her waist. “Come on, we can finish this inside where you won’t get carried away into the underbrush by some ferocious form of wildlife.”
That tickled a giggle from her, albeit a sad one. “I don’t think a bear is going to wander along and steal me away as a snack, Saul.”
