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“So, like, how far up the mountain are we going?” she said nervously. I fixed my gaze on the bumpy road. My silence clearly didn’t unnerve her which I found even more irritating.
“I’m Cassidy by the way.” Silence. “I usually at least know the guy’s name who’s taking me to his home,” she said lightheartedly.
“I’m not taking you to my home,” I gritted out, not liking her sexual innuendo- which seemed to ooze so naturally from her.
“Right,” she said nervously, peering out the window. “Well at least you finally spoke.”
My knuckles whitened over the steering wheel again as I peered through the rearview mirror at Shadow, still happily panting.
“So, were you born in this town?”
“You like to talk, don’t you?” I replied. We hit a pothole in the snowy dirt path. She clutched to the side of the door as she bounced in her seat. Shadow and I might’ve been used to these roads but she certainly wasn’t conditioned for them. Slightly remorseful, I slowed down slightly.
“Well, I figured I’d try to make you like me at least a little before you chop my body into tiny pieces and scatter me in the woods,” she said, nervously laughing.
My eyebrows knitted together. Had she been thinking that the entire time we’d been driving up the mountain? I didn’t even consider how uncomfortable and bizarre the situation might’ve been for her. I was only foreboding how bad it was for me. Man, I really am an asshole.
“I don’t plan on chopping you up,” I said in a no-nonsense tone, attempting to soothe her nerves.
“Oh, that’s nice to know. I’ll be one of the spontaneous victims.” She nervously chuckled again.
This time, I did look at her. She was still staring out the side window intently. Although she held a brave smile, I felt guilty for forcing any woman to be scared around me.
Another jolt in the road. Her eyes snapped shut as she took in a sharp breath. “We’re almost there,” I said trying to shift into a friendlier demeanor. I tried to ease my own tension. I shouldn’t be taking out my irritation on her. But, man, it was hard; she was so unnaturally beautiful. Lori was out of her mind sending a woman like this to the cabin with me. Did she really think I was that noble? I pushed away any tempting thoughts. I really needed to get a grip. She looked way too young for me. “Where are you from?”
She peeled her eyes open slightly, surprised that I’d finally taken interest in any form of conversation. “Manhattan.”
“I would’ve picked you for a LA girl.”
She seemed taken aback by that. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Just regarding your three oversized suitcases. We don’t get a lot of girls like you out here. So, I just assumed LA.” I wasn’t going to openly say because I thought she reminded me of some superstar that either just strutted off a studio set or runway.
“Oh, well I’m leaving Manhattan for a vacation, so the three suitcases were necessary.”
“With that much I thought you were moving.”
Silence. I peered over in her direction again. I had the sense that when this woman went silent it wasn’t a good thing. Secret. Instinct told me she was tight-lipped about something.
But the silence suited me just fine.
“So, are you like, the mayor of this town or something?” she quietly said, changing the subject.
A cold dread passed through me. And as if knowing, Shadow’s tail momentarily stiffened before wagging again and his tongue continued panting.
“No,” I gritted out. “That would be my uncle. Although my father and siblings help out from time to time.”
“Okay cool. And do you have many siblings?”
I was already exhausted. This had been the most conversation I’d had to maintain all week. And I couldn’t tell if it was nervous chatter or if she just didn’t enjoy silence.
“There’s five of us.”
A breath of air rushed from her. “Oh my gosh! That’s huge!”
Silence. Her small, delicate finger stroked the inside of the door handle, fiddling as she became uncomfortable by the silence. My shoulders sagged in defeat, sensing she was about to speak again.
“And are you like the oldest. What are you, like fifty?” My gaze snapped to hers as we hit another pothole and this time, she hit her head. “Ow.”
