Her heart warmed, knowing there was someone looking out for her. Even if it was a man she’d only known a few weeks who was only here because it was his job.
“Oh, don’t worry,” she assured him. “I’ll be out the second my head hits the pillow.”As long as the nameless, faceless monster stays out of my head, that is.
“Goodnight, Miss Cahill. And remember…you need anything, I’m right next door. All you have to do is call.”
“Thanks, Mitch. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As was their routine, she locked the door behind him the second it snicked shut. Turning around, Scottie blew out a breath, relieved the day had finally come to an end.
Only three more episodes left to go before the season finale. After the last few weeks, three felt like thirty. But she hadn’t come this far to give up on her dream when it was almost within her reach.
You can do this, Scottie. Just three more weeks to go.
Three weeks, countless interviews, and who knows how many public appearances? But who was counting?
Pretending she wasn’t, Scottie went to the bed and plopped herself onto its foot. She didn’t bother to untie her sneakers before toeing them off her tired, aching feet.
The temptation to let herself fall back onto the plush mattress was profound. But the combinations of savory aromas from tonight’s main dish—along with the other remaining contestants’ entrees—reminded her a shower was a definite must.
With a groan, she pushed herself back onto her socked feet, padding heavily across the carpeted floor toward the room’s provided dresser. Scottie quickly retrieved a clean pair of panties and her favorite pajamas, tossing them onto the bed as she passed before making her way to the bathroom.
Several long, glorious minutes later, she was clean, relaxed, and almost ready to fall under the Sandman’s spell. Almost because she was still only dressed in the hotel’s thick, white, monogrammed robe.
Scottie squeezed the remaining drops of water from her long, damp hair as her tired legs carried her back into the bedroom. She was so focused on the bed in front of her—and her desire to crawl beneath its covers—she didn’t notice the man standing a few feet away, hiding in the shadows.
“I knew you’d win tonight.”
Scottie yelped in surprise, every muscle in her body jumping at the sound of the unfamiliar male voice. She spun around on the balls of her bare feet, the movement so hurried that several strands of wet hair stuck to her cheek.
A man she’d never seen before stood less than ten feet away. Not super tall.
“W-Who are y?—”
“You know who I am, Scottie.” His voice was thick and slightly slurred. “It’s me. Dustin.”
The man said this as if it should mean something to her. But his uninvited introduction only meant that she needed to get Mitch…and fast.
“I don’t know who you are or how you got into my room, but you need to leave. Now, before I call the police.”
“The police?” Dustin continued, taking slow, methodical steps toward her. A look of confusion spread across his almost boyish face.
In a twisted dance of fear and pursuit, Scottie moved when he moved. Stepping backward as he brought himself closer.
“Don’t be afraid of me, Scottie.” The deranged man lifted his hands palms-up. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’d never hurt you. I…Iloveyou.” He moved in closer. “Just like I said in all those letters and notes I sent to you. And the notes I left on your car and at that other hotel before they forced you to move here.”
They didn’t force me to do anything, asshole. All they did was try to keep me safe from you.
“Dustin, I know you think you love me, but you don’t.” Another step back. “You don’t even know me.”
His gaze became almost wild with an unsettling excitement.
“You’re wrong, Scottie.” Another step toward her. “I know all about you. Where you grew up. That your grandparents raised you after your mother died and then left you everything they had when they died, too. I also know no other man has ever been good enough for you.”
He was wrong about that.
Once upon a time, therehadbeen a man who was good enough for her.Toogood, if she was being completely honest with herself.
Though it was a lifetime ago, Scottie had never forgotten about her high school sweetheart. The boy who’d taught her to see the positives in life when it seemed as if none existed.