“If it would make you feel more comfortable, I can sleep in the guest room.”
Oh, shit. Had she presumed something she shouldn’t have? Did he not want to sleep next to her? They’d shared a bed the last two nights, and she’d just assumed they would at his place too. She squirmed, not sure about the right thing to say in that moment.
But like he usually did, Mark reassured her. “I don’t want to, but I will if it’s what you want or need.”
Zoey’s head shook of its own volition. “I liked waking up next to you the last several mornings. And I know we’re safe here, that no one would dare attack us in your own home, but I’d still feel more comfortable having you near.”
Mark took a step forward, getting in her personal space, but Zoey didn’t step back. She clutched his shirt at his sides as he took her face in his hands. “Hear me now—nothing’s going to happen to you.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“We haven’t talked about everything that happened, in part because I’m waiting to talk to my computer genius friend, Tex, but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Zo.”
“Do you think we’re still in danger?”
Instead of shaking his head, Mark shrugged. That didn’t exactly instill confidence in Zoey, but she did her best not to panic.
“I’m not sure. I mean, if someone targeted us because of Pop’s will, nothing has changed. Except now we know what he left us. But the fact remains that we still got what we got and if someone isn’t happy about that, then they could still want to hurt us. But the good thing is that I’m pretty sure we’re out of their reach now. We’re here, and they’re still there in Alaska. And honestly, the list of people who might want us gone is fairly short, so that makes me even more sure we’re safe here.”
Zoey nodded. She hated that. Hated it. Because the short list of people who might be upset about Colin’s will was full of people they knew personally. Unless there was someone in Colin’s life who wasn’t included in the will who felt like he or she should have been—and Zoey couldn’t think of a single person—their situation hadn’t changed. The likelihood was high that their potential killer was someone close to them. Which sucked. Big time.
Mark stared at her for so long, Zoey shifted under his gaze. “What?”
“The longer I’m around you, the more beautiful you get. How is that possible?”
His words made her uncomfortable. Zoey knew she wasn’t beautiful. She wasn’t unattractive, but she’d always been somewhat ordinary. Brunette hair that more often than not did its own thing instead of what she wanted it to, boring hazel eyes, a body that was curvier than it should be thanks to her love of carbohydrates.
“You don’t believe me.” It wasn’t a question.
She shrugged. “I’m just me,” she said lamely.
“Yeah, I know,” he said mysteriously. Leaning forward, Mark put his lips on her forehead, and Zoey closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, drawing his scent into her very soul.
He chuckled. “Are you smelling me?”
Without thinking, Zoey nodded. Then winced.
“I like how you smell too,” he said without a trace of embarrassment as he leaned over even more and nuzzled the skin between her neck and shoulder.
Tilting her head to give him more room, Zoey held on to his shirt for dear life. She felt like she’d melted into a puddle of goo at his feet, but within seconds, Mark stood.
He smiled down at her. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Make me forget everything. That I need to get you settled. That you’re tired. That I’m tired. I think I could stand here with you all night and be perfectly happy.”
“Me too,” Zoey admitted softly.
“Come on. I know you brought some of your own stuff but if you don’t feel like unpacking anything, you can sleep in one of my T-shirts tonight…if you wanted to.”
The thought of putting one of his shirts on made her shiver. She nodded.
“Good. Do you need sweats or socks? I don’t want you to be cold.”
“I think I’ll be okay. Um…are you staying with me?”
“Yeah, Zo. I’m sleeping here too.”
“Okay, then yeah, I should be good. You’re pretty warm.”
He smiled then, and Zoey knew she’d never get tired of seeing it. “Yeah, I tend to run hot. I’ll keep you warm.” He went to a dresser and pulled out a gray shirt, and Zoey saw the word NAVY across it before he turned and headed to the bathroom. He disappeared inside and was back within seconds. “I’ll head down to get your backpack so you can brush your teeth and finish getting ready for bed after you change. Anything else you need while I’m down there?”
Zoey shook her head.
“I’ll be right back.” Then he was gone.
Zoey exhaled sharply and headed for the bathroom. She had a feeling Mark wouldn’t fuck around and he’d be back in a minute or two.
It was almost unbelievable how much her life had changed in the last week. She’d left Juneau to visit her mom. Her best friend, Colin, had passed away. She’d been left for dead in the middle of nowhere, she’d reconnected with her high school crush, helped save his life, she’d left her home state for the first time ever, and she’d fallen in love.
She stopped dead at that last thought and stared at herself in the mirror in Mark’s bathroom.
The same old boring eyes stared back, and Zoey couldn’t see any difference in herself since a week ago. She had a bit more color on her cheeks from getting sunburnt while tromping around outdoors, but otherwise she looked exactly the same.
Which was crazy, because inside, she felt completely different. For the first time in a very long time, she was looking forward to what the next day would bring. Everything seemed new and exciting, rather than the same old boring, day-to-day life she’d been living in Juneau.
But love? It seemed crazy. She was acting like an old maid who fell for the first man who’d ever paid her some attention. And the last thing she wanted was to be like her mother, constantly falling for a man’s pretty words. But Mark didn’t seem like the kind of man who would lead someone on or use them for his own purposes, as she’d seen men do to her mom. And he’d been extremely handsy since they’d been rescued, always touching her in some way. And would he say some of the things he had if he wasn’t interested in her?
It was hard to say for sure. She didn’t have a lot of experience with relationships and men. If she were here with Malcom, she could say without a doubt that he would definitely be leading her on, if only to get laid. But she knew Mark wasn’t like that. He’d gone out of his way to make sure she felt comfortable and not to put any pressure on her.
“Here you go,” Mark said, scaring the crap out of Zoey.
She jumped and almost tripped over her feet trying to get away from the doorway where Mark had popped in.
He reached out and grabbed hold of her arm, steadying her. The second she had her footing back, he let go and stepped back, giving her space. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m so sorry.”
Zoey shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I wasn’t paying attention.”