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“Alan left me a message to call, but I can’t reach him now. You met him, right? Did he have news?” Asher suddenly said.
I stiffened. “News?” I couldn’t turn around and face Asher. I just couldn’t. He’d be able to see the lies in my eyes, I was sure of it. “I’m not sure what he’s talking about.”
Slowly, his footsteps crunched over the gravel. Asher circled me to stand in front of me.
“Is that right? So, you didn’t go and see him yesterday?” he asked in a quiet tone.
I shook my head, the lie feeling like a flashing neon sign above my head.
He tipped up my chin, holding me still with his thumb and forefinger. I couldn’t let him look me in the eye and see all my lies piling up. I jerked my head away and tried my best to sound like my usual self.
“What’s with the inquisition? You think I wouldn’t tell you?” I snorted and made to move past him. “You think I don’t have better things to do than sneak around behind your back and keep things from you?” Feeling calmer in my deception, I finally met this gaze. “News flash, my world doesn’t revolve around you, Martino.” Liar.
Asher stared at me for a long moment and then nodded. “My mistake, Ice Queen. Don’t get bratty.”
“Whatever, let’s set this place up before everyone else gets here,” I huffed. I couldn’t believe I’d pulled that off. Now, not only was I keeping the truth from him, but I was lying to him, too. Great. A stellar day to reach a new level of terribleness. Maybe it just runs in my family. That dark thought jarred me, and I pushed it violently aside.
Inside the cabin, Asher lit the fire while I tidied up and put away the food that we’d brought. The interior of the cabin was simple, rustic and charming as hell. I could just picture nighttime, with the fire lit, four friends and their girls sitting around, talking and laughing. How I longed to be part of it. Asher’s permanent plus-one.
Once the fire was crackling away, I sat in front of it while Asher went outside to chop some wood. I stared into the flames. What was I going to do with all the information I’d gotten in the last few days? Obviously, I had to tell Asher the truth about his dad, but the information about Selena and The Cove, and his accident? I didn’t know what to do.
I let out a long sigh and kept staring at the dancing orange flames. I just wanted to shut off my brain for a while. I was exhausted.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Asher asked later as he brought in a load of firewood.
I just shrugged. The less I spoke, the less I’d lie.
He dropped the wood into the basket and crouched in front of me. He looked me over for a long, searching moment and then reached into his pocket. He pulled out a complicated knot. One tied with three ropes.
“Do you know this one?” he wondered.
I shook my head. He turned it over in his hand, smoothing his calloused thumb over the silky material. “Hold out your hand and I’ll show you how it works,” he prompted.
Maybe it was the emotional burnout, or just the fact that I’d let my guard down so completely around him, but I didn’t think twice.
I held out my hand, and he slid one end of the rope over my wrist and pulled it tight.
I stared at him. “Now what?”
He smirked, but there was a serious current just beneath it. He tugged me up by the wrist, and I yelped, surprised more than hurt by the explosive movement. He ruthlessly pushed my bound arm behind my back and tied it to my other hand. My attempts to fight him off were laughable. He was too strong and determined. I flopped back on the couch when he released me, my hands secured at the small of my back.
“What the hell? Untie me.”
He sat down on the coffee table and shook his head. “Your demands are no good here, Your Majesty.”
“What are you doing? Is this some kinky sex thing?” Honestly, at this point, I could probably get behind that.
He shook his head. “This is a lying brat thing.”
My heart nosedived. Somehow, he knows.
He tutted softly. “I gave you a chance to tell me, but you decided not to.”
“Asher—” I began.
He stood and reached for something in his pocket. Another rope. I attempted to get up and run from him, but it wasn’t easy with my hands tied. He rested a steel-like leg over mine and tied my ankles together.
“Now…What did Alan tell you?”
