“You’re welcome to take my room, though—”
Already shaking her head, she put a hand up to stop him from finishing the sentence.“I can’t take your bed.No way.A couch would suffice.Hell, I’d sleep on the floor right now.”
“I have a guest room that you’re welcome to,” he said.“It’s across from the bathroom where you took a shower.”
She tried not to think about just how naked she was underneath the robe as she took a step toward Hudson.She had to pass him on her walk to the bedroom.Being this close to the man caused sensual shivers to race up her arms, bringing her body alive with sensations she couldn’t afford to feel right now for anyone.Her life was a literal mess.She would bring nothing but danger to Hudson’s doorstep, which was precisely the reason she had to keep this visit brief before she became too lax, hung around too long, and brought a monster to Sturgess land.
Cassie stopped at the mouth of the hallway and turned her head to one side.“Any update on the mountain lion?”
“It’s still out there.”
It wasn’t the only predator out there.She needed to make certain Jarek wouldn’t catch up to her, either.With a nod, she walked down the hall to the bedroom.It was cozy with a double bed, a nightstand, and a chair.
Cassie walked over to the mirrored double doors and opened them.The closet was empty, so she exhaled before double-checking that the window locks were secure.Small towns had a reputation for not locking doors, cars, and windows.She couldn’t risk it.After ensuring there would be no surprises after she went to sleep, she crawled underneath the covers and closed her eyes.Sleep came swiftly.
The room was pitch black when Cassie blinked her eyes open again.With nothing but a lamp on the nightstand, she had no idea what time it was or how long she’d been out.A thick fog covered her brain.Drool ran down her cheek, so she must have been hardcore sleeping.A moment of disorientation was followed by a bone-deep fear.Was she still home?
Panic caused her to sit bolt upright.Covers fell, pooling around her midsection.She felt for clothing and was relieved to realize she was wearing a robe made of thick cotton.She squeezed it closed with both hands.
Memories slowly broke through the haze.The first came in the form of Hudson Sturgess.She remembered witnessing a mountain lion about to attack a tall, gorgeous, and unsuspecting stranger.
Despite shaky hands, she’d brought her rifle up in an instant and fired two shots, one had struck the hindquarter of the predator.And now?Now, she was at Hudson’s home in his guest room.
The rest of her memories came back in a rush.She sank back against the headboard, heart still pounding.I’m safe.I’m safe.I’m safe.
She repeated the mantra three more times in an attempt to convince her racing pulse to calm down.
A clanking noise in the kitchen meant Hudson was awake and either cooking or doing dishes.Since she had no sense of time, she kicked off the covers, secured the robe, and headed for the bathroom across the hall.Light filtered through from underneath the doorframe.Was it still daylight?Had she slept a couple of hours?More?
She opened the door and practically gaited across the hall, not eager to run into Hudson until she got a look in the mirror and brushed her teeth.Her mouth was as dry as cotton.Once in the bathroom, she used the facilities before brushing her teeth and gulping water from the spigot.She ran a brush through her hair, sighed, and then headed down the hallway to the scent of something amazing.Her stomach growled in response, reminding her that many hours had passed since she’d last eaten.Once she got inside the kitchen and saw a clock, she could determine just how long it had been since she’d last eaten.Right now, her stomach said,Too long.
“Hey,” she said, not wanting to catch Hudson off guard since his back was turned to her as he stood in front of the stovetop.
“Hey, yourself,” he responded before turning his head enough to make eye contact.It was enough to cause her stomach to free-fall.“You must be starving.”
“As a matter of fact, I could eat a whole cow.”She walked over next to him.“That stir-fry looks and smells amazing.”
His smile lit warm fires inside her belly.“It’s one of my specialties.”He stirred.“Coffee is old.I turned it off at noon when you didn’t wake up.”
“Noon?”Now, she really was disoriented.“How can that be?”
He caught her gaze and studied her.“You’ve been asleep for two days.”
“What?”
“That’s right,” he said, turning back to his skillet.“I figured you needed the rest, so I left you alone.”He quickly added, “But notalone, alone.I was here the whole time, so you wouldn’t wake up in a strange house with no way to leave.”
“Holy shit,” she muttered.
He cut off the burner.“This’ll keep.Let me make you some coffee so you can get your bearings.”
“Do you have toast?”she asked.
His smile had the ability to brighten even the darkest day.Too bad it wasn’t a headache cure.Her brain hurt.
“Yes, I have toast,” he said before getting to work on her request.
Within a couple of minutes, she had a fresh cup of coffee in hand, along with a plate of toast.She realized the headache came from a lack of caffeine almost the minute the warm brown liquid hit her throat.The coffee greased her throat enough to get the buttered toast down.She was still trying to wrap her thoughts around losing two days of her life.