Bridger paced outside the bathroom door while Avalyn showered, prepared to go in there if he heard a crash or bang of any sort. She had to be a mess right now and he hated leaving her alone, but he needed to respect her privacy, and if he saw her in the shower … well, all of the self-control his parents had instilled in him and he’d maintained throughout the years would probably fly out the window at that point.
A rap came from the hallway. He hurried over and opened the door. Mike handed over his bag. Then he gestured, and a younger man walked in with trays of food on a rolling cart. It smelled delicious. The young man nodded to him and walked back out. Mike stood by the door, rubbing his bald head.
“Thanks.” Bridger started to shut the door.
Mike put his hand on it. “You did good today, man.”
Bridger stared at him, not sure what to make of the compliment. “Thank you.”
“Is Miss Shaman … okay?”
Bridger shrugged. “As good as she can be.”
Mike opened his mouth, but then he closed it. He nodded once before turning and striding back down the hallway.
Bridger shut and locked the door, then returned to his post by the bathroom door. It was torture to think of Avalyn showering in there, but he pushed his longing far away. He couldn’t get distracted by wanting to hold her or kiss her. He had to play Ramsey’s games and save her each day until they could escape.
What was up with Ramsey? Bridger still couldn’t wrap his mind around this twisted competition Ramsey had created. The moment Ramsey had shoved Avalyn into the ocean, with an anchor tied to her ankle, kept replaying over and over in his mind. Would Ramsey really do something that malicious to gain more followers? Not the Ramsey he’d thought he knew.
The shower stopped, and still Bridger waited. Quite a while later, the bathroom door swung open and Avalyn appeared with a mist of steam. She looked fresh and beautiful with her long hair wet and smooth down her back, wearing a simple white sundress. Her dark skin contrasted so perfectly, he wanted nothing more than to run his fingers along her smooth shoulder and reassure himself that she was all right.
“Have you been standing out here this whole time?” She planted her hands on her hips and tossed her hair.
Bridger couldn’t help but smile. “Had to make sure you were okay.”
The teasing light in her dark eyes went out. “I’ll be fine.”
It was fake bravado, but he was proud of her for it. She was Avalyn Shaman, and nobody was going to conquer her. At least, he hoped not. “I’m going to shower quick,” he told her.
She nodded, her shoulders straight and her chin tilted at a proud angle. “I’ll be fine while you shower, Bridge. I’m not a helpless female.”
“I know that, it’s just …”
She met his gaze. “We’re in a horrid situation. I know. Shower quick.”
He gave her a smile, grateful she wanted him close by, and then rushed into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. It smelled like vanilla cupcakes, and he felt heat rush through him. Why did she have to look so good and smell so good? He rushed through his shower and within minutes was pulling on some gray shorts and a white T-shirt.
He hurried out of the bathroom door. Avalyn was curled on her side on the bed. Her body trembled as she sobbed.
“Oh, Ava,” he murmured. He hurried to her side.
She sat up, brushing angrily at the tears.
“I’m fine. You were too quick.”
Bridger laughed in surprise. She was so tough and brave. He shouldn’t have been surprised by how well she was dealing with this nightmare; she was one of the most impressive and independent people he knew. It just made him fall for her even harder.
“You are not fine.” He sat down on the bed and pulled her against his chest. Thankfully, she didn’t resist. She laid her head against his shoulder, and Bridger knew he could conquer anything for this woman, but for the first time in his life, he didn’t want to conquer. He wanted to get her far away from here and hold her like this until she tired of him.
Avalyn’s arms wrapped around his waist and she clung to him. Bridger trailed his fingers along her back.
After much too short of a time, she gazed up at him, her dark eyes bright with more tears. “What do you think he’s going to do to me tomorrow?” she whispered.
Bridger’s breath caught. He hadn’t let himself go there. “I don’t know.” Her eyes were so full of fear it ripped at him. “But Ramsey doesn’t want you to die.”
She blinked at him. “You’re insane. I think he only wants to hurt you, and he thinks by killing me—or close to it—he can accomplish that.”
Bridger didn’t know what Ramsey’s motivation was. Until a few hours ago, he’d thought they were friends. Yes, they competed fiercely and Ramsey always wanted to beat him, but to want to kill the woman Bridger loved? That was insane, even for Ramsey. How Ramsey knew Avalyn was the woman of Bridger’s dreams was beyond him. They’d spent a lot of time together competing and at parties after competitions, but Bridger didn’t realize he was so transparent when it came to Avalyn.