TWO

“So, how was your first night?” Lara asks over the phone as I wearily stir my coffee the next morning.

How to explain my first night? After I finally found the firewood, I exhausted myself getting the fire going. I was starving, but fell asleep on the couch only to wake at midnight and crawl into the bed where I tossed and turned, figuring I should have just stayed on the damned couch. Either way, it was a long night, and more than once I found myself smothering tears at the huge step out of my comfort bubble.

“It was long. The bed is great, but I couldn’t sleep. It’s so quiet out here. I mean, so, so quiet.”

She laughs. “You’ll get used to it, but it might take some time. Did you meet your neighbors yet?”

I snort. “I had the pleasure of meeting one of these mountain men you talk so much about. Turns out I have one as a neighbor, which is absolutely swell.”

“Ohhh, do spill.”

I sip my coffee, but it seems to be doing nothing to warm me up.

“Well, I couldn’t find any firewood, so I went over to my neighbor and thought I’d ask him. Turns out Hercules is a real man and he lives right next door to me. Not only that, he’s a complete dick.”

“So, he lives right next door to you? Right, right next door?”

I roll my eyes.

“Yes, he lives right right next door to me.” I sigh, crossing my legs and repositioning myself on the sofa. “His name is Slade ... I mean, what kind of name is that anyway?”

She giggles. “It’s very masculine.”

I snort. “Anyway, there was a little boy there, and I was talking to him, and out comes this giant. He was so gruff and rude, I wanted to slap him.”

“Was he hot, at the very least?”

“Lara!”

“Come on,” she pleads. “I’m your best friend, you have to tell me.”

I sigh. “OK, he was hot in a rugged, scary kind of way. He looked like something you’d see on the cover of a hunting magazine or something. He was huge, with this beard, and messy hair, and worn clothes. I wouldn’t take him on.”

“He sounds nice.” She sighs. “Send me a photo.”

“Oh, sure, I’ll go over and snap a quick picture of him.”

She giggles again, and I realize I already miss that sound. “So when do you start work?”

“Two days. I’m going to go into town today, get a feel for the place, get some things for the cabin. You know, the usual.”

“Have fun, make sure you send me pictures!”

I roll my eyes again, even though she can’t see. “I will. Later.”

I hang up the phone and force myself to stand up from the comfortable couch. Gosh, it’s nice. So, so nice. I finish my coffee, and scour through Google as I get dressed, finding the nearest café, and then the nearest store. Breakfast first, and then I’ll get my groceries.

When I step outside, it’s crystal clear, the sun is up and the scenery is breathtaking. I stop and take it in for a moment, just admiring the utter beauty surrounding me. Yes, seeing this, it makes it worth it. I glance over to Slade’s house, but I don’t see him or Ryder anywhere. I glance further down, wondering what my other neighbor is like. Hopefully friendly. I make a mental note to go and say hello when I get back.

I get into my car, map out the route to a nearby café, and leave. It only takes me five minutes to get there, and once I’ve parked, I get out and admire the cute little diner. It’s set amongst thick trees with a gorgeous mountain view in the back. I walk over and up the front steps, pushing the door open. It’s bustling, and there are already a good ten or more people here.

I find a booth by the window and slide in, glancing around. Whatever they’re cooking in the kitchen smell incredible. There are two girls working and a man in the kitchen cooking. One of the girls comes over as soon as my bottom hits the chair, and she’s already pulling out a notepad to take my order.

I recognize her immediately, and for a moment, I just stare. It takes me a second to gather myself, because I’m quite surprised to see her ... here. Last I’d heard, she lived in Denver. Well, I shouldn’t talk about her as if I know her personally, I don’t, but the whole world kind of knows who she is, so to speak.

“You’re ... you’re Marlie Jacobson,” I say to the gorgeous girl standing in front of me.

Everyone knows Marlie Jacobson. The book written about her ordeal and escape from a serial killer became massive. I remember Lara telling me about it. I can’t believe she’s here, standing right in front of me. I read that book, which I heard her mother wrote and not her. Still, it was terrifying. Such a young girl, to go through what she did and survive, is incredible.

“Yes,” the girl says, her face scrunching.

It’s apparent she doesn’t like being recognized. That makes sense, and I feel terribly rude for saying something without even asking her how her day is. She probably gets this so much. I can’t imagine walking down the street after that, people would have so many questions. The poor girl probably never catches a break.

“I’m sorry, you must get tired of that. It’s so rude I didn’t even introduce myself before jumping on you. I’m Rachel, I’m new to town.”

Marlie looks at me, her eyes scanning my face, and then she smiles. She’s beautiful. Truly. “Welcome to town. How long have you been here?”

“Last night was my first night,” I say, giving her a smile. “I’m just going around checking things out. Thought I’d start by having breakfast here.”

“You made a good choice, have a look at the menu. Can I get you a coffee while you wait?”

“Yes, thank you,” I say. “And, Marlie?”

She looks at me. “Yes?”

“I think you’re incredibly brave.”

She gives me a sad, almost broken smile, and says, “Thank you, Rachel.”

I muster up another smile and nod at her before she disappears. I watch her go in awe. How a girl can go on after what she went through is beyond me. It was hard enough watching Lara readjust after her and Noah’s ordeal. Once, I wouldn’t have believed there were that many bad people out there, but it’s becoming apparent that killers, and rapists, and all the bad in the world is just getting worse.

Lara and Marlie are both examples of that.

I take my hat off to them.

There is no one quite as brave as they are.

I know I couldn’t do it.

I shudder even thinking about it.

~*~*~*~

“Hi, I’m Rachel, I live at the cabin right down the end.”

I smile at the young, attractive woman who answered the door at the very last cabin. After I got home, unpacked my groceries, and sorted out my things a little, I decided to come and introduce myself, praying the girl is a little nicer than the man sitting in the middle of us, brooding away in his cabin.

“Hi! I’m Steph.”

The sweet blond girl with big blue eyes and a slender build smiles huge and extends her hand. I nearly exhale with relief. A friendly one, thank God. I take her hand and shake it lightly.

“Nice to meet you, Steph.”

“Come in,” she says, stepping out of the way of the door. “We’ll make a coffee, get to know each other. I’m so glad to have a neighbor that’s as young as me!”

I beam and step through the door and into her cabin, which is basically identical to mine, only her furniture is modern and sleek. Very odd for the rustic cabins we live in. She closes the door and moves into the kitchen, turning the coffee pot on.

“So, how long have you lived in Colorado Springs?” she asks me.

“First day,” I say. “I came from the city, so it’s a bit of a change.”

“Wow,” she says, eyebrows shooting up. “What made you want to leave the city?”

“I got a job here at one of the big law firms. I couldn’t find what I wanted in the city, so when the job came up, I took the chance and here I am.”

“That’s awesome. How do you like it so far?”

I sit on one of the stools at her counter. “It’s lovely, so beautiful.”

She nods. “It is, isn’t it? Though, I wouldn’t mind spending some time in the city.”

“It’s overrated.”

She laughs. “So are you here on your own?”

“Just me,” I admit.

“No boyfriend?”

I shake my head furiously. “Hell no. I’ve sworn off men.”

She giggles. “I feel you. I’m starting to think the same thing. Have you met Slade, then?”

I grunt. “I had that pleasure last night. Do you know him well?”

Her cheeks heat. “Slade is the reason I want to swear off men. I’ve been sleeping with him for over a year and yet he refuses to take a step forward with me. He just keeps me as some sort of booty call, and I can’t stop going, you know? He’s so handsome and rugged. I think if he actually liked me, I probably wouldn’t hang on so hard.”

Poor girl. I’ve been in a few situations like that in my time and it really hurts when you like someone, and they’re basically using you until the next best thing comes along. And you know, you know you should walk away but it seems almost impossible to do.

“Oh, that sounds ... interesting. So, you manage to get three words out of him then?”

She rolls her eyes. “Nope. I go over, sleep with him, and come home. He’s so hard to crack, but I’m determined to crack him.”

Good luck with that, sister.

“Well, I hope it works out for you. At the very least, the man is good looking.”

She nods enthusiastically. “Oh, yes, he certainly is. You ought to see him naked. My God. And the man can fuck.”

I laugh loudly. “I think I like you, Steph. It’s not often you get straightforward girls anymore.”

She giggles. “I know, right?”

I grin. “Well, I’m glad I have a good neighbor, I was starting to get worried after meeting Slade.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. When I first moved here, it was him and this old couple in your cabin. I tried for so long to befriend him but I couldn’t get three words out of him. It took a while to adjust.”

She slides me a cup of coffee and then pushes some cream and sugar toward me. I fix it how I like it, and then thank her.

“So what do you do for work?” I ask her.

“I work at the local bank. Nothing fancy but it pays the bills.”

“Do you have family around here?”

She shakes her head. “No, I lost my family when I was younger. It’s just me, myself, and I.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say softly.

She smiles. “It was a long time ago. I do well for myself. I don’t have any siblings, but I have plenty of friends.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” I smile at her.

“And now I have a super cool neighbor.”

I grin. I like her, a lot. She’s a good person. It’s written all over her.

“Well, feel free to come by whenever you want,” I tell her. “I’m always up for company.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

I chat to Steph for another hour before leaving her cabin. She promises to stop by and see me soon. As I’m walking past Slade’s cabin, I see him in the backyard, shirtless, chopping wood. I can’t help it, I stop dead in my tracks and stare as he raises the axe over his head, back muscles rippling, biceps taut. The man is ... God, he’s breathtaking. I can’t help but stare as he splits the wood without effort, big body moving almost graciously.

I should go and say hello, right? At least try to do the right thing?

After last night, I’m not sure he is really up for my enthusiastic hellos.

Maybe I’ll just leave it.

While I’m contemplating, he lowers the axe and turns, staring right at me. I don’t move for a second, because he just caught me gawking at him like some sort of creeper. My mouth drops open and my eyes lower to his chest, glistening with a fine sheen of sweat. God. That’s the nicest chest I’ve ever seen in my life. Ripped, strong, skin perfectly clean. Not a drop of ink in sight.

I look back up to those penetrating brown eyes and swallow. He’s fixated on me, jaw tight, eyes narrowed, just watching me. So, I do the only thing I can think of: I lift my hand and wave, lamely.

He doesn’t move.

He just stares at me a second longer and then goes back to chopping wood.

Jerk.

I turn my hand around and flip him the bird instead.

He looks back up.

My mouth drops open.

My hand drops to my side.

And I turn and rush off.

My neighbor just caught me flipping him the bird.

Great start to the week.