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“You’re up early after such a late night.” Cookie’s voice feels about ten times louder than it needs to be. He motions to the stairs. “Other than Silas and Austin, I haven’t heard a single foot hit the floor yet.”
“It’s fine. Let them sleep.” But I speak too soon because an alarm sounds and then the feet follow. And fast. Shouts of distress come at once. They all think I’m going to get on their cases for sleeping in, but really, I’d give them all ten bucks each to stay up there and let me have one breakfast with Sunny alone. No such luck. As I pile a few pancakes on a plate and a healthy pile of fruit and bacon, the rumble above me starts to move downstairs. If I thought I might escape without a few questions, I was sorely mistaken. But Cookie hasn’t stopped watching me from the second I walked in.
“You up to something?” He nods toward my plate that has at least double what I usually eat. “Hiding a dog out in the barn again?”
I was guilty of that once. I found a stray on the trail and brought it home. I slipped him scraps for two weeks before Dad ever noticed.
“No,” I clear my throat, “I thought I’d surprise Sunny with some breakfast.”
Cookie’s eyes widen. “Something change between the two of you?”
Any second, a batch of starving ranch hands will pile down the stairs, but I’d regret it if I didn’t let one of my oldest friends in on my good fortune.
“Nothing too huge.” I bite a piece of bacon with a smile. “But I did kiss her.”
He starts firing questions at me as I make my exit, but I keep shaking my head like there’s no way I’m gonna say anything more. The screen bangs shut behind me. I start for the cabin, a spring in my step after admitting out loud what feels like a dream.
An odd voice catches my ear. I pause mid-step, searching it out.
“She’s about five-foot-six, blonde hair, blue eyes.”
I scour the yard, but it’s doesn’t take much to see someone standing next to a black sedan near the main house. Silas and Austin both stand with their arms crossed over their chests. Silas has already started shaking his head, committed to keeping Sunny safe.
A fire under my feet I hurry through the shadows to Sunny’s cabin. I thought we’d have more time. I thought after last night, Monroe might slink off to lick his wounds, but no such luck. I couldn’t even get that five minutes of normal I wanted.
I slip into Sunny’s cabin as quietly as possible, not wanting to alert the new threat. Sunny waits at the table, dressed, ready for work, boots kicked up like always and a fork and knife waiting in her grip. Normally, I’d laugh, but we don’t have time for that. I have to get her out of here before she’s found.
“Geez, how much do you think I eat?” She eyes the plate of food. “I’m not really a breakfast girl, Rhett. I mean—”
“They found you again.” I set the plate on the table and take her hand. Her feet slap the floor, giving a soundtrack to her mouth falling open.
“Who found me? Monroe?” Her playful nature falls away to the fear that has governed her life for too long.
“Not him. But someone else is asking about you, and Silas and Austin can only cover for so long.” I pull her to the door. “I figure, we run for the beach, then I’ll call Nick and see if he’ll pick us up. He can get us to the train station and from there, we can go anywhere.”
Sunny halts in her movement. “Wait, you’re coming with me?”
I nod, hoping it’s the right answer. “Grab your bag. At least you’re packed.”
Admitting my feelings, insisting on going with her, it’s all risky, but her arms loop around my neck as she presses her lips against mine. For a second, I can’t help it. I let the rising tide of her affection rush over me. I’m helpless to deny her. When she breaks the kiss, leaving me breathless, she smiles. “Come on, let’s make a run for it.”
Bag in tow, I start to lead her to the beach trail, but she plants her feet in the ground. “Hold on, I need to know who it is who’s looking for me. It’ll give me a better idea of where to run.”
Without waiting for my permission, she yanks her hand free and jogs through the shadows to the edge of the bunkhouse. I follow, trying to keep her from doing something stupid. The man hasn’t given up. His voice bounces off the wall, eagerness rising with her word.
“Please, I know she’s been around here. I need to find her. I think she’s in trouble.”
“Sorry,” Austin sticks to his story, “we haven’t seen anyone like that around here.”
Sunny edges to the corner, careful to stay plastered against the wall. She waits, listening, waiting, and then she stiffens.
“Oh my gosh.” Her exclamation catches me off guard. But the real shock comes when she does the unthinkable and steps out of the shadows into plain view.
Sunny
There’s no threat. Nothing about him is, or ever will, be a threat.
“Tucker!” I shout my stepbrother’s name at the top of my lungs and start running for him. He turns and opens his arms to capture me in his embrace.
