We’d spent a week at the cabin, and it was fucking time to get a move on. Alarm bells were clanging in my head, and I felt like the world was closing in tight around me. I didn’t know how much longer I could see Rosie like this, day in and day out, before I cracked like a weak little man.

Don’t get me wrong. I was loving every fucking minute of our pretend domestic existence in this perfect cabin in the woods, but it was a lie. It wasn’t real. And it wouldn’t fucking last.

Rosie was anxious for me to go get Owen, and it was time, even though I didn't have a solid plan.

Every morning, I’d tell myself that this day would be the last. But then she’d curl up on my chest, fall asleep in my arms, and I knew I was doomed to stay another day. As soon as we left this place, all of this would be over. I’d get her back her son, and then I’d never seen her again.

And despite everything I’d gone through in my life, this felt like the worst.

Rosie ambled into the kitchen rubbing sleep from her eyes as I glared out at the dark sky. It matched my mood.

“Want some breakfast?” she asked in a soft voice. She’d been making me a full fucking breakfast every morning for a week, always perfect, always with that soft look in her eye.

No wonder I’d let my stupid self get caught up in this.

I hardened myself toward what would come next. “No, I’m heading into town. It’s about time I made my move on Scooter. I just need to grab some supplies or this is never going to work.”

Her eyes widened, and I heard her breath get caught in her throat. “It’s time? Just give me five minutes to throw on some clothes, and I’ll be ready.”

“No need.” I took a step toward the door. “It’s safer if you stay here.”

“You don’t want me to come with you?” The hurt in her voice was almost too much for me to bear.

“Not this time.” I shook my head. “We can’t risk anyone seeing us together.”

“I don’t want you to leave me here, Franklin.” Her voice was soft as she moved across the room. She wrapped her small hands around my arm and stepped in front of me. “I only feel safe when you’re around.”

“Rosie.” My voice came out gruff and low. I cleared my throat and pulled away. I couldn’t bear to look at her when I did. I could imagine her face, fallen and sad and hurt. God, what the hell was I fucking doing to myself?

“Why do you do this?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “You won’t even look at me, Franklin.”

I flinched. I hated hearing that goddamn name coming out of her perfect mouth.

“It isn’t right.” I shook my head and stepped back.

“I have my own damn mind,” she snapped. “I can make my own decisions, and it pisses me off to think you know better than I do what I want.”

Taken aback by her sudden anger, I finally turned to meet her eyes. She was all fire, her face and neck red and splotchy. Something inside me stirred. A heat I kept trying to douse spread a warmth through my cock. It took all my self-control not to grab her and push her up against the wall.

“You don’t know me.” I threw up my hands and took a step back. “I know you think you do because we’ve spent the past week together, holed up inside this cabin with no one to talk to but each other. But you don’t know me. You have no idea what kind of man I am.”

“The hell I don’t.” She lifted her chin, and the frail and damaged girl I’d met the week before vanished before my very eyes. Rosie was strong, stronger than she thought. And it was her strength that had been drawing me in all this time and turning me on.

“No, Rosie, You have no idea who I am. And you never will.”