I walked out of the airport feeling a bit rumpled and out of sorts, but happy to have arrived safely. I wasn’t the best flyer, so every bit of turbulence felt like certain death. Luckily, there’d been very little, and the vodka tonic I’d had during flight helped my anxiety some.

Bane had told me he’d be waiting outside of baggage claim, so when I stepped out onto the sidewalk, I looked for his Jeep.

When I didn’t see any Jeep’s, I rolled my suitcase over to the nearest bench and sat down. With one bag at my feet and the other securely in my lap, I took out my cellphone and checked to see if I had any missed messages or calls.

I did not.

I lifted my head and looked around, noting the pleasant weather and green surroundings. It was definitely less humid than Florida, and it was nice to see all of the trees surrounding the airport.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, centering myself and letting all of the anxiety from the flight go.

I heard a honk and opened my eyes to see a black Jeep pulling up to the curb in front of me. I smiled serenely and stood, shifting my bags and going towards the Jeep, as Bane hopped down from the driver’s seat and rounded the vehicle.

The first thing I noticed was how big he was… not just tall, although he was probably six foot, but also broad and obviously in tremendous shape. He had short brown hair, scruff on his face, and deep brown eyes.

His profile picture had not been a fake.

My tummy tingled a bit as he moved toward me, and I mentally told myself to calm down. I was sure it was nerves at being here and trying something way out of my comfort zone, and not the fact that I found him attractive.

I did, but that was not what I was here for… chemistry was one thing, and I guess it was better to find the person your spending your life with attractive rather than hideous, but I was not here to develop feelings for him.

That was not in the cards for us.

“Katja?” Bane asked, his deep voice causing those tingles to flutter.

Shit.

“Yes,” I replied, holding out my free hand to shake his and ignoring the flutters and I tried to look pleasant and non-threatening. “Bane?”

He nodded and shook my hand, then took my bag off my shoulder and the rollaway from my hand.

“Nice to meet you. Welcome to Indiana.”

“Thanks,” I said, and followed him to the Jeep where he was placing my things in the back.

“Hop in,” Bane said, as he did the same.

We drove the first few miles in awkward silence, then when I couldn’t take it anymore, I turned my head slightly to look at his profile.

“Have you… done this before? Cause, I haven’t,” I told him, my wavering tone conveying my nerves.

Bane looked briefly at me before facing the road again.

“No,” he replied. “I mean, I’ve spoken with other women online, but no one had made it to the trial… until now.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, what made you pick me to come out?”

I noticed his hands gripping the steering wheel, and I worried I was pushing too fast, but since we were only in a one-week trial, I figured the faster we got to know each other, the better. And, I wanted to know why he chose me.

“You said you were a nanny, and that you love kids. That was the biggest reason,” Bane said, his eyes trained on the road. “But, I also liked that you’re interested in the outdoors and exercise, since both Sloane and I love outdoor activities. I thought it best if we shared at least some of the same interests.”

I nodded, because that made sense.

“What about you?” he asked. “If you’ve never done a trial with anyone before, why’d you agree to come here?”

I fiddled with my hem as I replied, “Our reasons are pretty similar. I liked the fact that you have a young daughter, and that you’re an outdoorsman and a guide. I’ve never been to the mid-west and have always been curious to see it. And, to be honest, I’m ready to make a change in my life and to start building something real.”

“Since we’re talking, I think it’s best if we get everything out in the open. I want complete honesty, on both sides, or this will never work. And, since we only have a short time, I’d like to be sure we cover everything so we’re both on the same page and in agreement before Sloane comes into the picture.”

“Sounds good to me. I like honesty… as long as it’s not passive aggressive or used as a weapon,” I told him.

His eyes shifted to me again.

“Explain,” he said simply.

I took a deep breath.

“My ex-boyfriend was verbally abusive,” I admitted reluctantly. But, to have full-disclosure, this information contributed a lot to the person I was. “I used to be overweight, and he always told me not to eat chips because my ass was already too fat, or to order a salad at McDonald’s or I’d get another chin… stuff like that. But, he also always made sure our cupboards were stocked with snack cakes, candy bars, and other junk food. When I finally had enough and left, I made a lot of changes in my diet and started to exercise. Anyway, what I meant was… the things he said were technically true, although mean and used to keep me down and under his control… so, while I want honesty, I won’t stand for cruelty.”

Bane was gripping the steering wheel again, this time, hard enough for his knuckles to whiten, but he didn’t say anything for a few minutes.

Finally, he said through clenched teeth, “You have my word.”