He stands up, turning around and giving me his broad back, which is ripped with muscles and hard lines. I’ve never seen a man built like him before.
“I’ll get you a shirt,” he says, his voice gruff and raw as he makes his way over to a dresser.
I look down to see I’m in nothing but my panties. He pulls out a shirt and turns back around, stopping in his tracks as his eyes roam over my body.
“The blanket.” He nods to it, but I make no move to grab it.
I’ve never been naked, or even partially naked, in front of a man before. I’m not dumb. Maybe naïve in some ways, but I know what happens between a man and a woman. It was the reason I ran from my father when he tried to push me onto another man. The thought of it then had made me ill, but right now I’m feeling something completely different.
I shake my head and reach out for the shirt in his hand, wanting him to come back to me. He licks his full lips before he takes the steps to close the distance between us. I take the shirt from him, and his eyes never leave me as I slide it over my head.
“Do you already keep someone here?” I ask him, breaking the silence.
“No one else lives here,” he confirms, and relief floods my body.
“So I can stay?” I move towards him, crawling to the side of the bed, wanting to be close to him again, to feel the comfort of having him next to me. Something about him makes me feel safe, and I don’t want to lose that security.
“Yes.” The single word comes out in a growl and makes goose bumps break out on my skin, sending a delicious thrill up my spine. Then his face goes serious. “Is someone after you?”
I nod, not wanting to give him more.
“You going to tell me who?”
“No,” I tell him, looking up into his eyes. I have no idea if he knows my dad. Heck, I don’t even know where I am, and I like it that way. I don’t want to know. I simply want to stay right here. That seems fine with me. No one would ever know where to find me.
“Is it the law?”
“I’m not sure,” I admit. I know I’m running from my dad, but I’m not sure about the law. I did take his car.
“All right,” he says. “You at least going to tell me your name then?”
“I don’t want to. Maybe I could make one up?”
“Baby doll, you never have to do anything you don’t wanna do here. That clear?” he tells me, making me smile.
“I like that name.”
“Well, that’s good, because it’s what I’ve been calling you since I found you.” That makes me smile even bigger. “I’m Trace.”
“I like that name.” It suits him. “Will you tell anyone I’m here, Trace?”
“No.” The word comes hard and fast, as if he doesn’t like the idea of people knowing I’m here either.
“Will you lie back down with me?” I ask, moving over to give him room. I just want to close my eyes a little longer.
He looks down at the spot, taking a deep breath like he’s debating the idea. I should feel bad that I’m making him uncomfortable, but I don’t care. I want him next to me.
“Please,” I say, knowing I won’t fall back asleep without him next to me. Loud thunder cracks, making me jump, and before I know it I’m pressed up against him as he holds me tight to him.
“Nothing will touch you here. Don’t be scared,” he tells me. I burrow myself back into him, almost climbing on top of him. I tuck my face back into his neck as my legs tangle with his.
“Promise,” I whisper against him.
“I more than promise, baby doll. Nothing will take you from here. Ever.”
3
Trace
There’s a story on the radio about police in our area looking for someone. I walk over to the radio and listen in. The woman they’re looking for is named Addison Becket, and her whereabouts are unknown. Anyone with information on her is asked to call the local sheriff. It’s a local radio station that hardly picks up out here, so I’m sure it’s not being broadcast widely.
Angrily, I turn off the radio, thinking it’s going to be best if we stay indoors today until we can get this all figured out.
I was supposed to meet Mr. Benson in town with some feed this morning, but I stayed in bed with my little baby doll as long as she wanted. When she finally fell back asleep, I crawled out to make us something to eat. Mary-Jane had left a message on my cell phone saying that she made me some pies, but I can’t leave right now. I swear, everyone has the worst timing.
Turning around I grab the skillet and put it on the stove to warm it up. A movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention, and I look to see her standing there in my shirt smiling at me at the bottom of the stairs in the living room.
I walk over, and she opens her arms, wrapping them around my waist. Something about how easily she comes to me makes me feel so protective and possessive of her. I breathe in her scent of rose petals as her softness melts against me.
“I heard a report on the radio this morning.” She stiffens a little against me, but I keep going. “Said a woman by the name of Addison Becket is wanted for questioning. But they didn’t say she was missing, or that she was in trouble.”
I rub warm circles on her back until she relaxes against me. Her little fingers dig into my back, and I lean down, kissing the top of her head.
“Seems to me that if a young woman wants to go out on her own, she should be more than able to do that.” I take a deep breath and close my eyes. “I should have asked you before, but are you legal, baby doll?”