Hastily, I scrambled to my feet. The image that stared back at me in the mirror was that of a blotchy face and wild hair.
“Just a minute!”
I splashed cold water on my face and patted my cheeks dry. Pink skin still rimmed my turquoise eyes, but I pushed my emotions down. One of my small bags sat on the floor. I’d stashed it in the bathroom the previous day after my embarrassing encounter with Logan in which I’d worn only a towel.
After rummaging through it, I found a pair of cut-off jean shorts, a simple T-shirt, and, hallelujah, a bra. I threw them on as several hard, cold facts settled in my mind.
My mom and my nan were dead and weren’t coming back. I was on my own, but I wouldn’t forget what my mother had taught me. I was a Gresham. We’d been persecuted for centuries. What I was facing, all of my ancestors had dealt with at some point in their lives. I won’t succumb to this creep, and I won’t let him beat me.
“Daria, please open the door.”
Grasping the door handle, I debated my options. I wanted to trust Logan, to open the door and know he would never hide anything from me again, but I hesitated. Leaning my head against the door, I replied through the hollow material, “You told me you would tell me if he emailed.”
A soft thud came from the other side, as though he’d just rested his forehead against the door too. “I was going to show it to you, really. I didn’t want to keep it from you, but Cecile and Mike were adamant you not see it.”
“They’re always trying to protect me, but hiding things from me isn’t the answer.” I ran my hand over the smooth door handle.
A long silence followed before he said quietly, “I should have told you right away. Please believe me when I say that you can trust me.” Several moments passed. “Will you open the door now?”
The ache in his voice was my undoing. I finally opened the door.
Logan’s large frame dominated the space. His gaze swept over me. “You’re dressed.”
“I stashed some clothes in here after…” My cheeks heated.
As he stepped closer, his lips quirked up. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, but I don’t want to go to the police. I really don’t.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t think the police are necessary.”
I cocked my head and opened my mouth to ask why, but he turned.
“How about we go up front and have a seat. Then we can talk about everything.” He turned, and I followed while trying to figure out why he wouldn’t go to the police.
“Do you want a cup of coffee?” Logan asked when we passed the kitchen.
“Yeah, sure.”
He stopped to pour us both cups, but I stepped past him and plopped down on the couch, the ancient cushion sinking like the Titanic. After a quick glance around the bus, I realized Cecile and Mike were gone. I pulled back the curtains on the window.
A typical rest stop loomed outside: a large brick building with pamphlets and flyers lining the plastic cubbies hooked to the exterior, a green grassy lawn, and a small playground. Rolling brown hills covered in dry grass filled the landscape behind it.
“Do you know where they went?” I asked when Logan approached with two cups of steaming coffee. The scent made my mouth water. Letting the curtain fall back into place, I wrapped my fingers around the mug he handed to me.
“Inside the rest stop. Both wanted to shower, and I think they could tell you wanted some space.”
I grimaced. “Was it the slamming door that gave it away?”
He smiled again, his perfect white teeth flashing. “Perhaps.”
Logan leaned against the wall and brought his cup to his lips. He wore another dark T-shirt and jeans. The ensemble seemed his wardrobe of choice. The thin cotton material stretched across his broad shoulders and strong chest. Defined pectoral muscles pressed against the fabric like granite blocks.
I hastily looked away and took a sip of coffee. “So, are you going to tell me why you don’t think we need the police?”
Logan scratched his jaw, his fingers running over the stubble. “Remember my friend I told you about? The one good with computers?”
I perked up. “Yeah, have you heard from him?”
“Just did this morning. He’s free now, so he’s going to look into those emails.”
I took another sip of coffee. “And you think he can figure out where my stalker is?”
“If anybody can, it’s him.”
“But that still doesn’t explain why you don’t think we need the police. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you don’t, but I have to admit … I’m a little surprised.”
“I have a few other friends who may be able to help. I think we can handle what’s going on here without involving the cops.”
Shifting, I drew my feet beneath me. “Okay, now I’m really intrigued. Are your friends like, private investigators or something?”
He looked away as he took another sip of coffee. “Something like that.”
Logan’s evasive answers only made my curiosity grow, but I shifted my attention to the window. “Where are we?”
“The eastern edge of Wyoming.”
Since it was my day off, the entire afternoon stretched ahead. My gaze drifted to the rolling hills behind the rest stop. The thought of fresh air filling my lungs had me draining my coffee and setting it down.
“I think I’m going to go for a walk. I won’t be gone long.” I scribbled a quick note to Cecile and Mike, letting them know my plans.
Logan set his cup beside mine. It was still half full. “I’ll come with you.”
He then grabbed his handgun, which he stored near the front of the bus. My eyes bulged when he tucked it into his waistband.
I almost replied that his company wasn’t necessary, but then I remembered I’d hired him to do just that. And while I doubted my stalker was near, in reality, he could be. After all, we had no idea who he was, and even more frightening, we had no idea where he was.
Chapter 8
Hiking trails cut through the hills behind the rest stop. A quick glance at the trailhead sign revealed several miles of tracks.
The rest stop wasn’t busy. Only a few other vehicles filled the lot, but everyone seemed to be stopping only to use the restroom or the shower facilities before hopping back in their vehicles and taking off again. Nobody hiked the distant hills.
A breeze lifted my hair as I studied the map. The Rockies loomed just west of us, their snowy peaks brushing the sky. The scent of milkweed hung in the air as I trailed my finger over the worn material.
“This one looks all right.” I pointed at a looping trail that was just over four miles.
Logan leaned closer. Out in the sunshine, his dark hair shone like silk while it whipped around his ears. “That one’s fine, but it looks the steepest. Is that what you want?”
I shrugged. “I try to exercise when I can, but obviously, it’s hard with our lifestyle.”
“And you’re not too tired from your show last night?”
“Nope. I slept well, and I feel fine.”
He gestured toward the trail. “Then lead the way.”
I paused to twirl my hair up into a ponytail. I had to lean backward, arching my back, since the wind made it hard. Logan abruptly lifted his gaze over my head. I flushed. The arching movement had made my breasts strain against my shirt.
When I finally had my hair under control, I relaxed my posture, but my cheeks still heated. My damn boobs had again demanded attention, and from the stiff way Logan stood, he’d apparently noticed, although he’d once again acted like a gentleman.
“Ready?” I asked.
He smiled, but it appeared strained. “Whenever you are.”
I took off from the trailhead at a brisk walk, my feet kicking up the dry earth. Wind brushed against my bare arms and legs. My embarrassment quickly evaporated as the clean air cleansed my soul.
We didn’t talk as we walked, but I could feel Logan behind me. Despite the vigorous pace, he never sounded
winded. I barely heard his breathing, but his presence was tangible. His energy flowed over me like a hot caress.
Tiny pebbles in the dirt brushed against the soles of my shoes as the miles disappeared behind us. The trail turned upward and grew steeper the farther we went, the pungent scent of yarrow filling the breeze. The tiny white wildflowers dotted the landscape.
Ahead, the steep hill’s peak loomed. Only a dozen yards stood between me and the top. My breath exhaled in harsh pants as I struggled to reach the summit.
I was almost at the precipice when a smile broke across my face. Just about there!
A few small trees grew up from the brush. I grabbed a branch, high-stepping onto a rock.
“Daria! Watch out!” Logan called.
A rattle cut through the wind. My eyes widened when I spotted a huge rattlesnake coiled on the rock, only inches from my foot.
I shrieked and pushed away so hard I fell backward. Though I flung my arms out to steady myself, it was no use. I’d been going too fast and pushed back too hard. The sky appeared above as I fell alarmingly fast.
Just when I expected my head to hit the ground, a large arm wrapped around my waist, stopping my fall and pulling me upright. Logan’s other hand gripped a large boulder, steadying us.
“Holy crap!” I exclaimed. “Did you see how big that snake was?”
Logan’s granite chest pressed into my back as I slid down his body. The movement made his arm inch up higher until it was hooked around my ribcage, just beneath my breasts. The weight of my boobs rested on his forearm. My nipples hardened immediately as my heart pounded harder, my fear over the snake disappearing as something else commanded my attention.
Logan cleared his throat. “Yeah, I did, but it’s already slithering away. See?”
I caught a glimpse of the rattler’s tail disappearing into the tall grass, and I shuddered, realizing how closely I’d come to being bitten, but that awareness didn’t stop the feel of Logan’s body pressed so intimately against mine. Fireworks shot off in my blood. Once again, my light didn’t stir. Instead, tingles of desire coursed through my veins.
Logan’s entire body grew rigid.
I panted quietly. Neither of us moved.
“Sorry,” I finally managed. “For freaking out. Thanks for catching me.”
“No worries. I’ll … um …” His arm was still around me. “Are you hurt? It didn’t bite you, right?”
“Nope. I’m totally fine.”
“Right. I mean, good.” He let go. In the process, his arm brushed against my breasts, causing the heat in my core to grow.
Cool wind suddenly washed over my back. Logan stood a yard away, having moved incredibly fast.
Trying to appear casual, I smoothed back my hair, but Logan’s scent wasn’t helping. It swam through my senses like a drug, making my head spin. It took at least a few seconds before my feet felt firmly anchored on the earth. Why does he have to smell so good? His sandalwood scent, tinged with a hint of sweat made tingles race down my spine.
When I turned to face him, his eyes were closed. A muscle in his jaw ticked.
I took a deep breath and eyed the hill’s peak, a bit more warily since I knew snakes lingered around the rocks. “Should we get going?”
Logan’s eyes opened. His pupils were dilated and had a faint glow. I narrowed my gaze, stepping closer to him. He blinked, and the glow disappeared.
What the hell?
He stood up straighter, his body rigid. “Yeah. I’ll follow you. Just try to be more careful this time. Snakes love rocks.”
I mentally berated myself. I knew rattlers lived in the west, and I did enough hiking to know I needed to be mindful of them, but having a six-foot-three mountain of a man following me on a hike proved more distracting than I’d appreciated.
Straightening my shoulders, I climbed up the remaining path, being cautious with where I put my hands and feet. Thankfully, the lone snake had disappeared and no others lingered.
A moment later, I stood on the top. The wind whipped even stronger up here, making my ponytail slap against my face.
Logan effortlessly jogged up the last few feet of trail, as if hiking up a mountainous slope were no different from ambling along a city street.
Crossing my arms, I gazed down at the trail we’d just climbed, trying to act indifferent even though the physical contact I’d just shared with Logan still made my heart pound. The steep hillside swept out in front of us. The rest stop and parking lot were visible in the distance, our bus and a lone car parked in the lot.
“Should we head back?” I peeked up at him.
He shrugged. “It’s your day off, right? Are you in a hurry to get back?”
I cocked my head as the wind blew. “No. I guess not.”
“We might as well enjoy the view.” He surveyed the flat ground, probably making sure no other snakes occupied the area before sitting down.
He leaned back on his forearms casually. Obviously, one of us had fully recovered from the feel of our bodies touching. Yeah, cause the dude has a girlfriend.
I shaded my eyes and looked for a good place to sit. After spotting a patch of dry grass a yard away—snake free—I sank to the ground and crossed my legs, thankful that the patchy grass kept me a safe distance from Logan so I couldn’t accidentally touch him.
The wind drifted around us as the sun warmed my skin.
I closed my eyes and tilted my chin up. The silence between us, the strong breeze, and the sweet scent of grass helped slow my pounding heart.
“This is nice,” I finally said. “I can’t remember the last time I spent time outside like this.”
The sound of Logan shifting had my eyes opening. He had stretched out on his side, his head cupped in his hand. His long fingers threaded through his thick hair, and his thighs looked chiseled through his worn jeans.
I quickly averted my gaze and plucked a piece of grass.
When neither of us said anything more, I asked awkwardly, “So … where are you from?” The fact that I didn’t know much about my bodyguard struck me. In the forty-eight hours we’d known each other, I’d learned a few things: he was honest and incredibly protective—which was a no-brainer given his job—he probably had a girlfriend, and apparently, his friends came with mad computer skills. But all in all, that was the extent of what I knew about Logan Smith.
“Originally?” He glanced my way as he picked up a pebble with his free hand and threw it. The small rock sailed through the air so far that I couldn’t tell where it landed. “I grew up here, in Wyoming, but now I live in Idaho.”
I played with the grass between my fingers. “Is your family still here?”
“Yeah, my parents have been in the same spot for thirty years. My younger sister—she’s only sixteen—still lives at home with them, but my brother lives on his own in town.”
I perked up when I heard he had a sister, but I didn’t want to sound too desperate for information on her.
“So how old’s your brother?”
“Twenty-three, two years younger than me.”
“And what are their names?”
“Lila and Lucas.”
So not Crystal. My shoulders slumped. Any lingering hope I had that Logan didn’t have a girlfriend disappeared like light in a black hole. Well, that’s settled then. He and I will just be work associates despite him being a potential mate.
Logan picked up another pebble before adding, “My other brothers are with me in Idaho.”
I shoved my disappointment away. “How many brothers do you have?”
He shifted his gaze, cutting eye contact. “Well … they’re not blood brothers, but there are a few guys in my life I consider brothers.”
“From the military?”
He threw the rock. “You could say that.”
I frowned, not entirely sure what he meant by that. “Are these the friends you were talking about back at the bus?”
“Yep, same ones.”
“And that’s why you don’t thin
k we need the police? Your friends have ties to the military, so they’re … what? Good with weapons? Dealing with bad guys?”
A crooked smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “Something like that.” He glanced my way, squinting in the bright sunlight. “And what about you? Where did you grow up?”
Okay, point taken. Logan didn’t want to divulge details about his friends.
I shrugged it off, even though I felt as curious as a cat. I waved toward the bus in the distant parking lot. “You’re looking at it.”
“In that bus?”
“More or less. My mom and I—” My chest tightened at the thought of my mother. I cleared my throat. “My mom and I grew up touring the US and part of Canada with my nan. As supernatural healers, our livelihood meant we moved constantly.”
“Have you always lived on a bus?”
“Pretty much. We never owned a house, although if we stayed anywhere for more than a few months, we’d rent an apartment, but for the most part, I grew up in a tour bus. We bought that one about fifteen years ago.”
Logan’s head cocked. “Instead of traveling, why not open a clinic and stay put somewhere? It seems like it would be easier to have people come to you.”
I winced. “We tried that. Well, not me but my mom and my nan did before I was born, but it didn’t work. Either they were harassed by locals since what they did was taboo, or sick people would show up and refuse to leave until they’d been healed. The lines never stopped, and my mom said they couldn’t keep up. It was too exhausting, and their work never ended.” I ran my hand over the dry grass by my thigh and sighed wistfully. “I’d love to have my own clinic and not travel so much. To have a house, meet people who could be my friends, but…” I shrugged. “With my line of work, it’s just not possible. Once people knew where I worked and lived, they’d never leave me alone.”
His brow furrowed. “I never considered that.”
“Yep, so on the road is how we exist. It’s not that bad, though. I’ve seen most of the country, and I’ve met people from all walks of life. That would have been impossible if I’d stayed in one spot growing up.”
“What about school?”
Magic in Light Page 6
