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I just pray that the dream I’d had wasn’t the reality I’m in. That would be…all kinds of wrong. And so, so dangerous.
Continuing my self-led tour of the house, I find a gleaming chrome kitchen with every appliance a chef could ever want. I’m not much of a cook, surviving off takeout and frozen meals, but even I can appreciate the space. To the side is a large door that must lead out to the backyard.
Pressing my nose to the cold glass, I can faintly make out a large deck with shadows that must be furniture. Moving on, I circle back, picking up the empty envelope still on the island counter as I go. The rain has made the packaging almost unreadable. The paper shreds between my fingers.
Shaking my head and throwing the envelope back down, I head through the living room and down the hall I’d originally come from. While I walk, I have to adjust the shorts I’m wearing. They’re too big for me and even rolling the waist doesn’t seem to be working. Thank goodness for the oversized shirt that hides how low they hang off my hips.
The door at the end of this hallway piques my curiosity. Tiptoeing, I pass another room that gives me pause. It’s a gym. A full ass gym. All the equipment has me utterly shocked. I didn’t think things like this existed in personal residences. At least, not workout areas that were this decked out.
The room must have been two rooms previously—or maybe even the master bedroom—before being transformed into this. Whoever’s house I was in really liked to work out. The thought had my gut tightening. I didn’t want to acknowledge the reason why. Not yet.
Tearing my eyes away from the gym, I set my sights on the last room. It was a little strange that there were only rooms on one side of the house but maybe I had missed something when I was in the main area.
For some reason, when I extended my hand to push open the final door, my heart begins beating faster. I could feel each thump in my throat, increasing my anxiety. God, what was happening to me? Maybe the bump to my head was messing with my emotions.
With a gentle push, the door swings all the way open, revealing a bedroom. Like the room I had woken up in, the tones and colors of the room where dark. Yet this room felt different.
Not quite homey but…comfortable. Soothing even. I couldn’t stop ogling the huge bed in the middle of the room. The headboard was padded and a deep gray, matching the layers of blankets stacked on the edge of the bed.
A familiar scent engulfs me as I stand on the threshold of the room. It’s…peppermint. The realization has a small smile tipping the corners of my lips. I’m tempted to step into the room.
If I did, I had a feeling I’d never be able to turn back.
No, this wasn’t right. I needed to get out of here. I’d come out here into the forest and up this damn mountain for a reason. I needed to figure out where the USB was, then grab it and get the hell out of here. I was wasting time. I wanted to be done with this.
I turn, determined to get back on track, but a whirling sound followed by a click has me stopping. My body braces, preparing to either run or fight. As I try to figure out where the sound is coming from, my gaze lands on the wall to the right of me—the side of the hallway that has no rooms.
In fascination, I watch as a panel pops open and a dark figure slides through and into the light. His moss-green eyes land on me instantly.
It hadn’t been a dream.
I’m not sure how long we both stand frozen in the hallway, staring, but it’s enough time for the panel door to automatically close again. It’s the final, soft click that has me blinking back into action.
I was in Lennox’s house.
He was the one I’d been tasked to steal from.
My ex-boyfriend. The one I promised to wait for but instead ran from.
I had no idea what to say or do.
“So…” I held the word until I ran out of breath. “This is awkward.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Seems pretty on par for how we keep meeting.”
The sound of his deep, smooth voice has goosebumps cascading down my arms. I didn’t realize how much you could miss a voice, but hearing his again had memories flooding my mind. A deep ache forming in my chest.
Pressing my lips together, I fight the smile that threatens at his words. They were true. The first time we’d met, I’d fallen off a bar—after being dared to dance up there—and right into his arms. He was always doing that—catching me. Supporting me when the world felt tipsy-turvy.
Flicking my gaze away from him, I stare down the hallway trying to think of how I can steer this conversation in a different direction. I didn’t want to think about our past right now. The dull ache in my head that had started up again when Lennox appeared gave me the perfect topic.
“I need cheese,” I blurt out, feeling my cheeks heat at the awkward demand.
“Excuse me?”
“I have a headache. Cheese always helps.”
He stays silent, studying me like I’m the most infuriating and fascinating creature he’s ever seen. With a deep breath that puffs out his impressive chest, Lennox turns and makes his way down the hall.
