“Are you hungry?” Trace asked from somewhere behind her.
She shook her head but said nothing.
“I’ll put our things in the bedrooms. You want to choose the one you want?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she spoke without facing him. “Just put my stuff in the one you don’t want.”
She expected him to say more. Instead, she heard him walk away.
Alone in the large, open room, Emma continued staring at the wooded area behind the cabin. But as she looked through the glass, she didn’t see the thick grass or tall, beautiful trees.
She saw fire and destruction. Blood and death.
In an absentminded move, she raised a hand to her neck. She could still feel that man’s arm crushing her throat.
Moving her hand higher, her fingers found the tender spot covered with a simple, white bandage. Her chin began to tremble as she remembered the pain and fear she’d felt when her attacker shoved his gun into her skin.
“Are you okay?” The familiar question was low. Cautious.
Lost in her thoughts, Emma hadn’t even noticed Trace’s return.
She shook her head and whispered the truth. “No.” Tears dampened her cheeks. “I’m not.”
Trace moved closer. So close, she could feel the heat radiating from his strong body.
“What can I do?”
It was such a simple question. But hearing it from this man at this exact moment nearly broke her.
“I thought he was going to kill me,” she rasped. The painful knot at the base of her throat making it hard to speak.
“I wasn’t going to let that happen.
Emma caught his blurred image in the glass. The emotion inhiseyes reaching her through his reflection.
“Why?” Turning to face him, she palmed her cheeks dry. “We barely know each other.”
“It’s my job to protect you.”
Like a cold rain shower, his words washed away whatever she thought was growing between them.
“You’re job.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “Right.”
Stepping to the side, Emma moved past him toward the hallway.
“Em, wait.”
“I’m really tired.” She continued walking away from him. “I’m going to go lie down.”
“Emma,” he said her full name with a little more force.
She stopped, but only to ask, “Which room is mine?”
His unreadable mask was back. “The second one. It’s the biggest.”
“You’ll wake me if there’s any news with the case or a change in Jake’s condition?”
He nodded wordlessly.