5 . NICK

The sound of Storm’s laughter as she runs with the dogs is almost musical. I’ve never seen them play like this in the six years I’ve had them, dropping down on their front legs and wagging their rear ends, then darting away from Storm’s touch before circling back and starting the keep-away process again .

Maybe it’s because I’m not exactly a playful guy. They’re responding to her innocent nature, just as they respond to my own grim one .

Innocent. I need to keep remembering that word. She’s an innocent young woman trapped by circumstances, and I almost let her make a huge mistake in the dojo. She was overcome by the moment and her gratitude, and I should never have let it happen .

But it’s been so long since I’ve touched a woman, and she’s so beautiful …

Shake it off, Nikolai. What would your father have said about taking advantage of a girl like that ?

That’s why I invited her along on this walk with the dogs. Distraction and distance. That’s what we need. Neither of us is in any state for anything else .

Samson and Delilah sprint off ahead of us after a jackrabbit that they’ll never catch. It doesn’t matter to them – all they want is the thrill of the chase. Storm props her hands on her knees and laughs breathlessly as she waits for me to catch up .

“I love them,” she says simply. The sun glimmers off her golden hair, casting a halo around her beautiful face .

“I think the feeling is mutual,” I say .

She shakes her head. “I’m sure they’re like this with everyone .”

“Not at all. They’re usually very professional. They’re working dogs and they know it .”

“Working at what ?”

“Protection, as I said .”

“From what? You told me no one ever comes here .”

I shrug. “Then they’re doing their job well, aren’t they ?”

She giggles. I love that she doesn’t ask questions that I really don’t want to answer, just as I don’t press her on what led her here to me. It makes for such an easy relationship – at least when I’m not complicating it by trying to seduce her .

Focus, Nikolai .

We stop as we reach the crest of a small hill. From our elevated vantage point above the cliffs, we can see the entire estate: the house, the carriage house that was once used as a guest quarters, the gardens .

Storm surveys the property, shaking her head .

“This is unbelievable,” she says quietly. “It’s like something out of a movie .”

“Actually, the estate was used as a film location in the 1980s, before I bought it. I don’t remember the name; something about an old recluse who lures young people to his mansion and murders them .”

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I’m trying to swallow them back .

“Uh, that is… I mean –”

Storm’s grin spreads to the point that her face almost splits in two before she breaks up into laughter. I’m sure my face is glowing several shades of crimson .

“I’m sorry,” she sputters when she finally composes herself. “That was just – that was hilarious .”

“Yes, I’m sure,” I grumble .

That sets her off again. She places a hand on my arm to steady herself, igniting an unwelcome tremor of excitement in my belly .

“See, that’s what makes it so funny,” she sighs. “You’re always so straight-faced. I wish I’d been recording that on my phone. It would have gotten a million views on YouTube, easy .”

Suddenly her eyes go wide. “My phone,” she says. “I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it before now .”

“I thought people your age were surgically attached to them,” I smirk .

“Ha ha,” she says with a look that’s anything but amused. “I don’t suppose you saw it when you – you know, when you found me ?”

“Sorry. Just you and a little black dress .”

She frowns .

“Why?” I ask. “Is there someone you need to call ?”

As soon as I say it, I find myself dreading the answer. But how stupid could I be? Of course she has someone waiting for her, worried about her. A family, a – a boyfriend. People who are frantic to know if she’s all right. I’ve been keeping her here all to myself, like the man in that movie .

“No,” she says quietly. “There’s nobody .”

Part of me is relieved, but the tone of her voice still makes my heart ache. Can she really have no one at all ?

Is she really that much like me ?

“I’ll get you a new one,” I say, hoping to lift the mood .

“It’s all right,” she says. “I don’t need one. I can just use yours if I really need to call anyone .”

I wince. “Sorry, not possible .”

“Why not ?”

“I don’t have a cell phone .”

She blinks. “Are you serious ?”

“I just never felt the need for one. There’s a landline in the house – at least I think there is. I don’t know where the actual phone is, though .”

“You’re telling me you never use the phone ?”

I shake my head .

“Wow,” she breathes. “I can’t imagine having that much will power .”

But the look behind her eyes makes me think she’s feeling more than a little sad for me. Like she realizes the reason I don’t use the phone is because I have no one to talk to .

Samson and Delilah save me from the uncomfortable moment by bounding up the hill towards us. Storm grins as they approach and drops to her knees in the grass to greet them. The dogs shock me by licking her face furiously, making her double over and cover herself, giggling, to protect herself from the onslaught .

“All done,” I say sternly, and they both sit immediately .

“Aww,” Storm pouts. “I was having fun .”

“Sorry, but I don’t like them to get too far from their training. They need to remember they’re working dogs .”

She sighs. “I used to have a dog when I was a kid back in Arkansas. She’d lick my face like that. It was her way of drying my tears and cheering me up .”

I want very much to ask her about it, but I won’t. No questions, that’s the rule .

“Do you want to go buy a new phone?” I ask, hoping to change the subject. “I can take you into town .”

“No,” she says. “I don’t really feel like going anywhere right now, if that’s okay with you .”

It’s more than okay with me .

“Of course. Whatever you like .”

“Plus, I get the sense that you can’t really afford to go splurging on a new phone,” she says with an embarrassed wince .

I blink twice before her smirk tells me she’s joking. Suddenly I’m chuckling like an idiot .

Storm grins. “I knew you could laugh if you really put your mind to it !”

I shake my head. “Brat .”

She sticks her tongue out at me, and instantly my pants become tighter .

“Come on,” I say, again trying to change the subject. Distraction and distance . “Let’s head back to the house. I’ll make lunch .”

“Okay,” she says. “What’s on the menu ?”

“Soup and sandwich ?”

She rolls her eyes comically. “I’m so giving this hotel two stars on TripAdvisor .”

I have no idea what TripAdvisor is, but I get the joke .

“Very funny,” I say. “We’ll see what you say after you taste it .”

* * *

“O h. My. GOD .”

Storm shovels the borscht into her mouth like she hasn’t eaten in a week, which may be the case for all I know. Other than her toast last night, I haven’t seen her eat anything .

“So,” I say. “Better than two stars ?”

She looks at me, eyes wide, her spoon in mid-scoop .

“What’s in this? I mean, besides unicorn tears ?”

I shrug. “Beets, cabbage, onion. A little sour cream .”

She picks up the bowl and pours the remainder directly into her mouth. “It’s amazing .”

With the soup finished, she tucks into her sandwich – smoked salmon on black bread. Her eyes roll in ecstasy .

“This is incredible,” she says through a mouthful of food. “I mean it. Absolutely delicious .”

“You must not get out much,” I say, but inwardly I’m preening at the compliment .

She finishes the sandwich and wipes her mouth on a napkin .

“You should open a restaurant,” she says. “I mean, if you wanted to give up this rich hermit life and work all day for almost no money .”

I grin. “I like to cook .”

“Well, that’s perfect,” she says. “Because I like to eat .”

“A match made in heaven, then .”

We sit in comfortable silence for a while as the dogs eye Storm’s empty bowl with naked curiosity. On an impulse, I put it on the floor and say: “Take it .”

They rush to it and start lapping up the meager remains with their huge tongues .

Storm smiles. “I knew deep down you were really a big softy .”

A big softy? I’ve been called many things in my life, by many people, but never that .

What scares me is that I may actually be turning into one – at least when I’m with her .