Whispers in the Dark (14 page)

I tried to judge the time from the sun. Was it getting close to five? “Uh, I grew up in a big old house in Massachusetts, built in the 1780s. It’s been renovated since then, of course, but you can still find treasures—old mahogany beams in the attic with huge square nails, things like that.”

It couldn’t be past four, surely. We hadn’t hiked for that long after lunch. But what time had I stopped working? I smiled at Danesh and tried to focus. “When I was a kid, I started excavating outside our kitchen window. It was this old garbage pit, like they just threw stuff out the window and let it sit there. I found dozens of bottles from the nineteenth century. Old medicine bottles, spice jars, beer bottles, you name it.” I was talking too fast. I forced myself to slow. “And fragments of pottery, broken tools, bent nails, all kinds of wonderful treasures. I spent my childhood digging in the dirt.”

Danesh winked at me. “Most popular girl in the neighborhood, I bet.”

I laughed. “I didn’t have many friends. No kids lived nearby. My sister is five years older and didn’t want me always hanging around. I got used to being alone.”

“I can understand that. But sometimes you enjoy company now?”

He had to be flirting. I couldn’t be imagining it. I could only gaze into his eyes and nod.

“So uh... I guess....” He glanced away and shrugged. “You’re not with your fiancé. Anyone else since then?”

What had I gotten myself into? I did not want to tell Danesh about Sean. But trying to hide it seemed too risky. We hadn’t made clear plans. Was Sean coming out here? He might show up at any minute and ask if I was ready for our date. Even if I met him in town, we might run into Danesh in such a small community or see someone else I’d met, who would gossip. I could try to get away from Danesh and call Sean, but I might not get through, and it would be hard to cancel now. “Well, um... I’m not with Jonathan anymore, obviously, but there is someone—I mean it’s not serious, we just had one date—not even a date, we just hung out for a while.”

Danesh frowned. “If it’s not serious, why are you telling me?”

My face heated, and I wanted to sink into the ground. “Because it’s someone here, and I thought you might see us together. I just didn’t want you to be, you know, surprised.”

He nodded, with no hint of a smile now. “Thanks for telling me.” He rose and glanced toward the sun. “It’s getting late. After four o’clock. Guess I’ll stop by the office and maybe do a little gardening before I head out.”

I couldn’t think of anything to say, so I rose and we walked along the rim path together in silence. So that was it? It was over between us before we started? Did he think I was trying to brush him off? I’d told him it wasn’t serious. Just because I’d managed to set up a date, and I’d only been here a couple of days—

What if Danesh thought it was somebody I’d met last night, at the softball game or at the bar? Several of the men had been flirting hard enough. I repressed a nervous giggle. What if he thought it was one of his friends? At least he knew it couldn’t be Jerry, because of Maureen. At least I hoped he knew it couldn’t be Jerry. But what could I say?

Just in case you’re wondering, I didn’t fall for one of your buddies last night. It was someone who picked me up completely randomly out here.

Better to keep my mouth shut. And watch wistfully as Danesh headed toward the visitors center after saying goodbye.

Chapter 15

I didn’t even want to go out with Sean anymore, but I didn’t see how I could cancel minutes before our date. I didn’t think blaming Sean because I’d lost my chance with Danesh counted as a good excuse. I checked my phone for a text, muttering, “Please cancel. Please!”

Nope. I just saw a cheerful “I’ll pick you up at 5!” Great. It was silly for him to drive all the way out here twice, to pick me up and drop me off, though generous, since he knew my car wasn’t built for these roads. Gentlemanly, I supposed, though I didn’t like being without a vehicle, in case I wanted to end the date early. I hadn’t had to worry about these things in Boston, where all I needed was a subway token to get home. He’d already be on his way and probably out of cell reach. I could still tell him I’d drive myself. Would he be insulted or take it to mean I wasn’t interested? Did it matter, if it kept me safe?

I blew out an annoyed breath and stomped toward the campground. I kept second-guessing myself. I hadn’t been so indecisive before the attack. Maybe I was naïve before and more realistic now. But I didn’t want to be a lonely old woman, peeking out from behind my curtains, spying on the neighbors and assuming the worst of everyone.

“Stop being paranoid,” I muttered, earning a curious look from a squirrel. “Not everyone is out to get you.”

I hurried to the restroom to clean up and groaned when I saw my reflection in the metal mirror. It couldn’t have been too hard for Danesh to walk away from
that
. Washing my face and brushing my hair got rid of some of the sweat and dust, but I’d have to take that shower at Sean’s place if we were going anywhere fancier than a fast food drive-through.

I realized he hadn’t said where to meet. Would he come to the campground or expect to find me around the visitors center? If I waited at the office, I could casually mention to Danesh that this was the guy I’d hung out with, so at least he would know it wasn’t one of his friends. On the other hand, he would know I was seeing Sean again, and that would probably lock the door that had already shut between us.

I swore to myself as I crammed a change of clothes into my backpack and made sure my wallet, phone, and pepper spray were all easily accessible in an outside pocket. This whole thing was stupid. I just needed to get through this night and then.... I had no idea what then. Celibacy was a lot easier, at least when my hormones behaved themselves, but it had lost some of its appeal. I still wasn’t sure how I’d react when I got physical with a man, but my body seemed ready to find out.

It was almost five, so I headed for the campground entrance. As I passed the host site, I remembered showing Lily Sean’s ID. I had already gone out with Sean once, but still, I didn’t like to take off with a man without anyone knowing where I was going.

I didn’t see any sign of Robert, and then I noticed that their parking spot was empty. He had probably gone into town to see Lily.

I stood in the middle of the path, wondering what to do. Leave a note at my campsite? Or here? Go to the office and introduce Sean to Jerry—and possibly Danesh?

I groaned. But better safe and embarrassed than sorry. I didn’t have to ask Sean to show anyone his ID. If one of the guys at least saw us together, Sean would know there’d been a witness, and on the off chance anything happened, they’d be able to get his info from Lily.

And I was being totally paranoid and stupid. I had to stop seeing monsters behind every bush.

I stomped down the path to the visitors center. I hesitated at the edge of the trees near the parking lot, watching Danesh working in the garden alongside the building. If I was lucky, I might slip past without him seeing me. But I lingered for a minute, admiring the play of muscles across his bare shoulders, visible even from this distance. I gave silent thanks that we lived in a world where men could take off their shirts to do physical labor. At least when the men looked like that.

I sighed and crept across the parking lot to the visitors center.

Jerry stood behind the counter while a middle-aged couple glanced through brochures. I said hello to Jerry and leaned against the counter to wait. He asked about my day, and I stuck strictly to work when I answered him.

The male half of the tourist pair approached the counter. “What’s the best path if you only have an hour?” Despite the fact that Jerry was behind the counter and in uniform, and I wasn’t, the man was looking at me. I raised my eyebrows and turned to Jerry, who stuttered out an answer.

The man frowned and looked at me again. “Can we expect to see a lot of animals?”

I said, “I’m just visiting, but Jerry can tell you all about this area.”

Jerry started to answer, but on the third stuttered word, the man turned away. “Never mind.”

I glared after him as the couple left. Did Jerry have to put up with this kind of rudeness a lot? And here I was whining because I seemed to have two good-looking men interested. Talk about a reality check. I wasn’t sure if I should turn to Jerry with a sympathetic glance, say something, or just pretend I hadn’t noticed the insult. I felt my face heating as the moment for any natural reaction passed.

The door swung open and Sean walked in, smiling. “Hi, Kylie. Hi, Jerry. Hope you don’t mind if I steal away your beautiful companion for a while.”

I shot a glance at Jerry, who just blinked mutely. I should have expected Sean to know the staff, if he came out here a lot on his days off. So much for keeping my private life private, but at least I had my witness. I quickly said goodbye to Jerry and headed out before my face could get any redder. At least Sean had parked on the side away from the garden, so we didn’t have to get in a conversation with Danesh. Maybe they were friends after all!

We got in and Sean started the car. “My place first, to clean up? Not that you don’t look great....”

“Yeah, right. I won’t say no to a shower. I’m not going anywhere decent looking like this.”

Sean’s eyebrows rose in feigned surprise. “You wanted to go someplace decent? That blows my plans.”

I chuckled, though too many thoughts were rattling around in my head to really appreciate humor.

“No really, there’s this great Italian restaurant, checkered tablecloths, candles in Chianti bottles, the works.”

“Italian’s my favorite.” I doubted anything out here could compete with Boston’s Little Italy, but at least it would be fun to compare.

“Then dancing. The Penthouse is pretty good. The other option is a movie, but I’d rather have you someplace where I can see and talk to you. Not to mention show you off.”

It was a sweet attempt at a compliment, so I smiled. I didn’t really want to be seen too much in Sean’s company, though, now that I realized how small the community was. At least he wasn’t planning to head back to the cowboy bar. “Do you expect to see any of your friends?” I resisted the urge to add, “and do any of them know Danesh or Jerry?”

“Maybe, but I haven’t told anyone we’ll be there. I want you to myself this evening.”

I smiled and tried to be flattered. I had to forget about Danesh and enjoy myself. I’d had a good time with Sean before and had no reason to doubt I would again. This was my first real date in six months—actually, more like two years, since it had been a long time since Jonathan and I went on anything like a real date.

A date. My stomach fluttered at the thought. Don’t take it too seriously, I told myself. It’s just a date. No expectations—well, at least no obligations. Things get out of control, you just pitch a fit. Worst-case scenario, you have an expensive taxi ride back out here or you get a hotel for the night. You’re a big girl. You can handle it.

I tried to push the mute button on all my clamoring thoughts, turned toward Sean with a smile, and made small talk.

***

Sean had me laughing within ten minutes. Okay, so he didn’t rev my engine like Danesh did, but he was interesting and could tell a good story. The night might be fun after all.

I recognized the route back to the edge of town, but after that we headed further into the city, if you could call it that, to what must have been considered downtown. Sean pulled up to a modern high-rise apartment that towered over most of the nearby buildings, even though I only counted six floors. An electronic gate slid back and we pulled into the ground-floor parking area, parked in a numbered space, and took an elevator to the top floor. Sean undid two deadbolts plus the lock on his door.

“You get a lot of crime here?” I asked. I only had one deadbolt on my Boston apartment.

Sean shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt to be careful.” With an attitude like that, no wonder he didn’t blink when I asked him to show his ID. He was even more paranoid than I was.

He swung open the door and waved me in. The temperature inside was about fifteen degrees cooler, and goosebumps popped up on my arms from the sudden change. I stopped in the middle of the large living room and looked around. He had black leather furniture, a glass-and-chrome coffee table, a TV at least three feet across, and a stereo that would have looked at home in a radio station. He did not have anything on the walls, any knickknacks, or any plants. I’m not sure what I expected, but my vision of Sean shifted slightly. So did my impression of cell phone salesmen. The job must be more lucrative than I had guessed, though no doubt living expenses were low here.

Sean said, “There’s a bathroom here, but you can use the one off the bedroom and then change in the bedroom.” He led the way into a room with a king-sized bed and a smaller TV and stereo. Smaller, but still way nicer than anything I’d ever owned. Maybe he had family money. Everything was clean and uncluttered. I wondered if he always lived like that or if he’d cleaned up for me.

“Make yourself at home,” Sean said. “I’ll be out here when you’re ready.” He backed into the living room, closing the bedroom door.

The bathroom was just as spotless as the rest of the house. He must have a cleaning service. No man was that neat. No woman, either, unless she was getting paid for the job.