The thought was sobering, especially since the lake house was our vacation home. A party place.
Not this time. This time, I was hiding out for as long as it took for my stalker or whoever he was to be caught.
Timofey punched the code into the panel at the gate out front. The gate opened and we drove down the long, winding drive to the house in the trees. Everything was dusted with a thin layer of snow. Icicles draped from the roof and the branches of the pines. Winter in Tahoe was every bit as beautiful as summer.
Moments later, Timofey parked the SUV in the large, multi-car garage and pressed the button to open the hatchback. He turned to Adrik. “I’ll get the bags. You get Annika.” Winking at me, Timofey shoved open his door. Though I sensed Adrik’s unease, he didn’t argue with Timofey.
Timofey slid out of the car and Adrik followed suit, both of them heading toward the back of the vehicle. Did something about me bother Adrik, or did he truly think I would be afraid of whatever he was hiding underneath that hoodie? I wanted Adrik to be comfortable around me. I wanted him tolikeme. I wanted to be his friend. I wanted to have an easy relationship with him like the one I had with Timofey.
I planned to get to the bottom of it.
While Timofey hauled the bags inside, Adrik wheeled my chair around and paused next to my door.
None of the family properties had ramps for wheelchairs, and because I didn’t plan to be in this chair forever, I wouldn’t let them go through the expense of making the houses wheelchair accessible. Which was why someone had to carry my chair in and out of the house every time I went somewhere.
I vowed someday I would regain my independence and not have to rely on others.
Pushing the door open before Adrik could reach for the handle, I quickly scooted toward the edge of the seat. I might not be able to walk on my own, but I could still do everything else just fine, thank you very much.
Adrik hovered back out of the way, keeping his head bent.
“I know you like your independence,” he said quietly. “But if you need help, please ask.”
My chest warmed. How did he know I liked my independence? Most everyone else just assumed I needed help with everything without bothering to ask first. I appreciated that Adrik respected me enough to not assume what I wanted or needed.
“Thank you.” Edging closer, I reached for the chair.
Don’t ask me how it happened, but somehow, I misjudged the distance to the chair, which was silly because it was only a few feet away. Maybe I was just tired from the long drive. Or maybe I was just distracted by Adrik’s presence and his effect on me and not paying attention to what I was doing.
At any rate, the next thing I knew, I was tumbling out of the car and missing my chair entirely.
Adrik darted forward, catching me before I hit the garage floor, his strong arms securing me against his wide, powerful chest.
My breath caught.
My own arms instinctively wound around his neck, noting how much leaner he was than Timofey.
As fascinated as I was by the man, no, I didnotfall out of the car on purpose, though I couldn’t deny it was nice being held in his arms like this.
I tried to gaze up at his face, but he kept his head turned away so that I only caught a glimpse of his lightly scruffy jaw. If I wanted, I could shove his hoodie aside and see what he was hiding, but I sensed that would be crossing the line. An invasion of privacy. I wouldn’t push him. I wanted Adrik to show himself whenhewanted to. I wanted him towillinglylet me see him.
So, I resisted, turning my face into his chest, and breathing him in.
He smelled good, a hint of spicy cologne on his skin, his torso rock hard wherever my body touched his.
Suddenly, I was very aware of how purely masculine he was. And how small and feminine I felt in comparison.
Heat curled deep in my belly.
My pulse skyrocketed.
My skin prickled.
I didn’t understand the man’s pull over me. I’d never felt anything like it better.
Slowly, he straightened, gently setting me in my chair. “You okay?”
The concern in his voice pulled at something in my chest. Almost simultaneously, I recalled how stupidly clumsy I’d been.