I needed a stiff drink and a very cold shower. I had no idea what the hell I’d stumbled upon in the forest, but it would take a hell of a lot of booze to erase it from my mind. No, scratch that. I’d go to my grave with the vision of Jetta’s gorgeous body engraved in my brain. It wasn’t fair for a woman to be that alluring. The need for her was already suffocating me, and seeing her naked only intensified that desire to claim her.

“This is not going as planned,” I muttered under my breath as I drove us back to the inn.

“What was that?” Jetta asked from the passenger side of the Jeep. Her long, shapely legs were tucked under her as she leaned against the door.

“Nothing. I’m just tired.” I glanced at her. “It’s been a weird day.”

She nodded. “You’re telling me.”

I found a parking spot and turned off the ignition. “Why are you staying here, instead of at your house?”

It frustrated me to know we’d been staying at the same inn since arriving in town and I’d missed it. I must have been losing my touch.

She stretched for a moment, and I caught a glimpse of her thighs. “My dad and I hate each other. I can’t stay there anymore.”

I nodded in understanding. “You don’t have your own place?”

“Not at the moment. I refuse to buy anything with Daddy’s money. When I buy a house, I want it to be something I’ve earned.” She opened the door and stepped out, taking the lockbox with her.

I exited as well and walked around to her side of the Jeep. “Do you think you’re decent enough to walk into the lobby?”

She looked down at the jacket that hit just below the top of her thighs. “Close enough.”

I motioned for her to lead the way. “Age before beauty.”

She snorted. “You have no idea.”

We stepped into the blissfully empty lobby. She hurried up the stairs, and I was only a few steps behind her, trying not to look but enjoying the view as the hem of the jacket rose and fell with each step.

We reached her room, and I gauged its distance from mine. There were only seven rooms on the second floor, and I was at the end of the hall, so the walk to my door would take less than a few seconds. I gave myself a mental shake. No matter what I saw or what we’d done so far, she was still closing me off. Not just sexually, but even personal discussions were off limits. I needed to remove the intimacy idea from my mind. Besides, that’s not what I came here to do. Not exactly anyway.

“Well, good night, Jetta,” I said softly, before pulling out the key to my own room.

She put her hand on my arm and stepped closer. “Thank you, Conrad. You went above and beyond tonight. I appreciate it.” She tilted up on her toes and gently pressed her lips to mine.

I studied her face as she pulled back, and she gave me a genuine smile. Something stabbed at my heart.

“Anytime.” I walked to my end of the hall, and just as I unlocked my door, I turned to see her watching me from her own doorway. I smiled at her. “By the way, that dream-catcher tattoo on your hip is pretty hot.”

Her mouth popped open, then shut just as quickly. I chuckled as I closed my own door.

* * *

My dreams were filled with images of Jetta. Naked. Not that I hadn’t imagined her that way before, but the truth was so much better than my imagination. I’d spent the morning trying to think of anything but her, which was difficult since she was the reason I was there. I now knew she had the box, but getting it from her could be tricky. If I could convince her to give it back, maybe Brandt would be content enough to let her punishment slide. But last night proved Jetta was willing to do whatever it took to keep the items she’d stolen. There wasn’t anything about completing this job that was going to be easy.

I parked my truck down the street and watched her Jeep. Once she left, I could break into her room and grab the box. Then I’d try to negotiate with Brandt. With any luck, she’d be left out of it completely. Brandt would recover his belongings, and Jetta would never know what happened. I was being selfish, but I didn’t want her to ever learn the truth of my visit to Havenwood Falls. I’d like to leave her on good terms. I wasn’t sure why that really mattered to me, but it did. If Brandt couldn’t accept that outcome, well . . . I’d received my twenty-five thousand. I’d just have to make that work. I wasn’t going to force her to do anything she didn’t want to do, including going back to Atlanta.

By noon, I was about to give up on the idea that she might leave her room. Just as I’d started to work out a new plan, I saw her exit the inn, with the box under her arm. Shit.

She pulled away in her Jeep, and I did my best to follow at a discreet distance. Once we left the residential areas behind, I became suspicious.

She pulled up to a small trail and parked at the entrance. I hung back so she wouldn’t notice me. I watched as she stepped out of the Jeep with the box and started up the trail. I pulled over enough that I wouldn’t be in the road, then I parked and jogged to the footpath she’d just entered.

Jetta hiked her way up the pathway, stopping occasionally to adjust her hold on the box. Then she veered off the well-used trail and tromped through the dense trees. I struggled to stay quiet now that I had branches and leaves underfoot instead of a dirt road. I moved slowly, keeping her in sight as much as possible without getting too close.

After about fifteen minutes, she’d arrived at a beautiful little lake with a small waterfall at one edge. I held my breath as I witnessed her walk the treacherous looking stone steps to the edge of the falls. She adjusted the box once more, then stepped forward and disappeared into a dark cavern.

I frowned. She didn’t just disappear into the darkness. It’s more like she was swallowed by it.

I took cautious steps as I neared the stairs. Once there, I realized they were actually wide and sturdy. I moved slowly, giving myself a moment to pause before advancing to the next step. As I moved closer, the stone surface became shiny from the mist coming off the waterfall. At the last step, I looked around for a good hiding place, should I need it. I saw a narrow indention behind some foliage and decided that would have to do in a pinch.

The mouth of the cave was incredibly dark. More so than seemed possible. I stepped around the corner and into the darkness. From the outside, the cave seemed small, but once I passed what could only be properly described as a veil of endless midnight, the space grew substantially. It was impossible, yet there was more light in the back of the cave than there was at the entrance.

I listened for Jetta but heard nothing. I stayed close to the outer wall as I took my time inching toward the back. I neared another small doorway and froze. I could hear someone moving around. I slowly poked my head around the door and caught a glimpse of a shimmering dirt wall before everything went black.

* * *

My head throbbed as if someone were using it as a bass drum. The sunshine above temporarily blinded me. I reached for my forehead and winced at the large knot above my left eyebrow. Once my vision cleared and the world stopped spinning around me, I managed to pull myself up into a sitting position. I’d been laid out flat on the bank next to the partially frozen waterfall. Jetta sat on a log at the edge of the tree line, watching me.

“Why are you following me?” Her expression was pure anger.

“It’s a long story,” I said.

She crossed her arms. “I have time.”

I needed to think of something quick. “I was worried about that creepy troll guy getting to you.”

She raised one eyebrow. “I don’t think so.”

“You don’t?” I had no idea where to take my lie from there.

“No.” She stood and then crouched down in front of me. Her eyes searched mine. “How did you get into my cave?”

“Uh . . .” I was the one hit on the head, so why was she asking the stupid question? “I walked in.”

“How?” she asked again.

I looked down at my legs, wondering if I’d somehow overlooked an inability to use them that I didn’t know about.

“With my legs,” I replied slowly.

She stood and paced. “That’s not what I mean.”

“I have no idea what you’re asking me, then.” I tried to stand, but I was still a bit wobbly on my feet and needed a nearby tree to steady me. “What the hell did you hit me with?”

“A shovel,” she said absentmindedly, then turned and looked me in the eyes again, as if she were trying to drive a point home. “Only very specific people can enter that cave. Very specific.” She stared at me as if she were waiting for something. “Are you going to tell me your secret? It’s not like I don’t already know.”

I felt my throat close. She knows I’m after the box? After her? “Listen, it wasn’t my intention to deceive you. I was going to tell you the whole truth once I figured things out.”

“Why does everyone say that after they are caught lying?” She still watched me closely.

“I couldn’t tell you, yet.” I didn’t know how to explain my feelings and all that had happened over the last three days. Had it really only been three days? It felt like I’d known her forever.

She let out a harsh laugh. “This is Havenwood Falls, Conrad. People like us, we don’t have to hide from each other. It’s safe here.”

“People like us?” I asked. Now I was really lost.

“Oh, you stubborn man.” She kicked a fallen branch. “What clan did you originate from?”

“Clan?” I asked again.

“Are you a parrot? Why do you keep repeating my questions?”

“Because they aren’t making any damn sense,” I shot back, pain in my head stirring up my irritation.

“This.” She pointed to the tattoo on her neck.

“Your dragon tattoo,” I said.

She nodded.

I shrugged, still clueless.

“Only dragons can enter that cave!” she shouted as she pointed in the direction of the falls.

“Dragons? What is that, some kind of club?” I stretched my back, feeling every spot that had been stabbed by rocks and twigs as I lay on the forest floor.

She stepped closer and took my hand. The friction that existed between us flared to life. “I’m one too, Conrad. It’s okay.”

I was really getting tired of this odd conversation. “One what?”

“A dragon, just like you.”