“What are you looking for?” Goldie stood at the sink, rinsing her dish. That hadn’t taken her long. She must really have been hungry.
“Something my father left for me.” Adrian hoped it was enough of an answer. He preferred not to leave any openings for continual questions.
“Oh,” she said, making her way to the living room off from the kitchen. Adrian joined her, ready to tackle the cabinets there. This was the last space in the cabin. If that lockbox wasn’t in here, it wasn’t anywhere.
“You said you haven’t been here in years? If I had a place like this…” She lifted her bag from the chair and settled herself into it.
It was Adrian’s chair, really, the place that had been designated for him so long ago. The place he’d sat when his dad had told him in front of everyone—including Chase’s new wife—that it was time he settled down and stopped pursuing dreams.
That had been his last time here. His last visit home.
“Now I think you’re the one who’s lost,” she said.
“Hmm?” Adrian shook himself out of his stupor of thoughts. He was kneeling in front of the cabinet to the left of the fireplace, not remembering how he’d gotten there. She crouched beside him, examining the oak door as though she discerned something there he didn’t. Then she opened it and peered at the books inside.
“Buried treasure? No—one of the last remaining original copies of Grimm’s Fairytales. Ooo, I’ve got it. Maybe it’s your secret stash of lottery tickets.”
He leaned back on his heels. “What are you doing?”
She gripped the edge of the cabinet and shrugged. “Trying to guess what you’re searching for. Am I close?”
Adrian couldn’t hold back his amusement. “About as close as Jupiter.”
Her lips stretched into a smile, displaying perfect teeth.
“Your guesses sounded much more interesting than what it actually is.”
“Glad to hear it.”
He knew she was curious, but he was relieved she didn’t press him. This woman, striking as she was, knew nothing about him, and he knew nothing about her. She was probably just trying to make conversation.
He had to admit, part of him wanted to tell her, though he couldn’t understand why. Since his father’s death, he’d kept things pretty close to the chest, even with his family. Why did he feel like spilling the beans to this stranger?
He decided to play it off.
“You got me. It’s lottery tickets,” he deflected, glancing around and doing his best to ram away his frustration. If it wasn’t at the ranch, and it wasn’t here, where was the blasted thing?
“Ah. I knew it.” Her tone said she didn’t, however, and he liked her playful way of brushing it off.
Goldie tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear. Her gaze swept across the space as though she was ready to leave. Good, so was he.
Adrian gave the place a final once-over. “That’ll do it, I think. Ready to go?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Bag in hand, she made her way out onto the porch.
“What were you doing all the way out here if you’re headed for Two Pines?” he asked, closing the door. This time, he double-checked the locks to make sure things were secure.
It had probably been one of Chase’s girls who’d left the door unlocked, though he couldn’t say that had been a bad thing, necessarily. Goldie had been in need. At least she’d been able to find somewhere safe for the night. It was also fortunate his father had kept the place furnished the way he’d always insisted on.
“I’ve been on a road trip of sorts,” she said. The gravel path was too narrow for them to walk side by side. Adrian paused, indicating for her to take the path first. He couldn’t help watching her golden hair sway with each of her lilting steps.
“That’s right,” Adrian said. “You had Wisconsin plates. You moving out here or something?”
She lowered her head. “I came out to see my aunt.”
Adrian’s brows rose. “You guys must be close if you came all the way out here to see her.”
“I guess.” Abruptly, she ended the topic. Her haphazard tone gave him the impression he wasn’t the only one keeping things close to the chest. Fair enough. Once he got her back to town, that would be that.
“This is me.” Adrian gestured to the blue Hummer with its masculine grill and square frame, as though they were in a parking lot full of other options. “You see your truck from here?”
Goldie nodded, glancing in its direction across the trees. Her white Toyota was right where she’d left it, stalwart and loyal. The distance was farther than she’d thought. Had she really trekked that far in the dark?
She wasn’t sure how to move. A pulsing, grasping hesitation between them gaped, as though neither was sure how to break the awkward silence. She certainly wasn’t. With the way his dark hair, jawline dusted with a days’ growth, inquisitive hazel eyes and full lips weakened her knees, she was ready to get lost all over again.
The morning had been completely off-putting. Then again, this entire trip had been the same way. She had yet to settle into a place where she felt comfortable since she’d left home, though she had to admit, talking to Adrian had soothed her somewhat. He seemed nice, and he had gone along with her questions. He’d even offered her breakfast—of sorts.
“I see it,” she said.
“I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.” He slid on a pair of sunglasses that accented his features and gave him an edge of seriousness. His hair was slicked off to one side, and the whole look made her feel like melted butter. Seriously, had any guy ever affected her like this before? “Then you can just follow me down.”
It took her a minute to shake off the effect of the sunglasses and kick her brain back into gear. “Sounds good. Uh, Adrian?”
He paused on the way to his car and peered over his shoulder.
“Thanks. You know, for everything. Not many people would just accept a total stranger breaking into their space and sleeping there. You’ve been more than generous.”
“It wasn’t a problem,” he said. “I’m only glad you had somewhere safe to sleep.” He fiddled with his key fob for a moment before taking a few steps back in her direction. His returning proximity ratcheted her pulse. “I hope this isn’t too forward of me, but can I have your number? That way I can give you a call if we get separated for any reason before I get you where you need to go.”
Goldie nibbled her lower lip. Oh, but he was smooth. Why, no, she didn’t mind giving her number to this sizzlingly gorgeous, unfamiliar person who’d been completely chill about her breaking and entering. Assuming she was able to charge her phone once she made it to her truck.
“I promise that’s the only reason,” he added with a smirk.
“I would never have thought otherwise,” she teased before reciting her digits to him. Adrian tapped them into his phone, repeating her name as he added her to his contacts.
“And yours?” she said.
“You need mine?”
“You’ve been more than generous to someone you don’t even know. I’d like to make it up to you somehow.” As a high school English teacher, she didn’t have much to spare, but she’d always loved to bake. Once she got to Aunt Bethany’s, she could whip up a batch of her drool-worthy chocolate chip cookies and bring some out to him—wherever that was.