Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 23

“I have a cabin. It’s nothing fancy. But I remember how much you enjoyed being out in nature. I thought it would make a nice change from Boston.”

It sounded wonderful to me, but once again, I gave him a chance to back out. Not because I didn’t want to go, but I wanted us both to enjoy ourselves. “And you’d rather go there than maybe…the beach?”

“For some reason, I thought you’d be more excited about this,” he said.

Damn. I didn’t want Jace to think I didn’t appreciate his effort. I was only trying to respect his schedule and business needs as well. I needed to fix things before he regretted asking me.

“I am. It’s just that you’re picking something that I would’ve chosen. It feels…”

“Are you forgetting that I know you? I know what makes you smile. What makes you happy,” Jace stated.

You sure did last night. But the cabin wasn’t about sex. It was the type of place people go to connect on a different level. They wouldn’t have any interruptions unless a bear decided to come knocking.

“Will there be fishing?” I asked.

Jace laughed. “Will I still have to put the bait on your hook?”

“Only if you want me to catch something. You know me. I just enjoy the cast and reel part.” It was silly. I’ve performed surgery on children, but my hands shake taking a hook out of the mouth of a fish.

“It’ll be just like the old days,” he said.

Nothing will ever be that good again. “Well, I’m game if you are. When do you want to leave?”

“I can pick you up in a few hours.”

“Today?”

“Yes. Unless you have something pressing to do?” he asked.

“I guess I can leave a note for my father. And if you don’t mind stopping at the store on the way, I’ll like to grab a few essentials.” I could text my father, but that would mean getting a ‘don’t you dare leave with him’ response. I not only wanted to go, I needed to. Being home wasn’t a vacation. Hopefully, going with Jace would be. And it would give us some time to figure out what exactly was going on between us. Was it just the freaking amazing physical connection, or something more? Either way, I was looking forward to waking up in Jace’s arms for the next few weeks.

“If you text me your list, I’ll have it picked up for you,” Jace offered.

I laughed. “Although that is thoughtful, there are things a woman likes to pick up herself.”

Feminine products were probably something Jace had never bought before. I might be in the woods, but still liked to have certain things with me.

“We’ll stop, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to do so after we’re out of the city.”

“That’s fine with me. And I’ll be ready.”

He ended the call and I rushed to my room to do some packing. It was September, and nights could get cold in the mountains. I assumed the cabin had heat, but Jace hadn’t given many details. Even if all we had was a wood-burning stove, I’m sure we’d find ways to keep each other toasty.

As I packed, my cell phone rang again. It was from a blocked number. Since it could be someone from work, I answered it.

“Hello.”

“My Shannon. Have you forgotten me?” Babboo’s voice rasped.

I wanted to fling my phone across the room. I had nothing to say to him. But why he was calling me now? It was over between us. I made that very clear when I boarded the plane and left. I never said it to his face, mostly because I had been too afraid to see him again. Even now, just hearing his voice sent a ripple of fear throughout me.

Mustering all the confidence I could, I asked, “What do you want?”

“The same thing I have wanted since I first saw you. I want you to be mine,” he stated.

Over my dead body. If I’d have stayed any longer, that might have been the outcome. He wasn’t a man to play with. But at least while I was in the United States, I shouldn’t have to worry about that. He has no authority here. Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to rattle his cage.

“Prince Babboo, I have told you before. I’m not…interested in settling down.” Not with you.

“I know what you have said. It changes nothing.”

My hands trembled, and I wished I’d never answered the call. “I do not wish to talk about this any further,” I said in a firm tone.

“It wasn’t something you needed to discuss. It is a fact. You are mine, Shannon. And anyone who tries to take what is mine, well, you know how we handle things here.”

I’d never actually witnessed it, but I had heard stories of beheading and all different forms of torture. My mind flashed to Jace, grateful he asked me to go camping and not on a trip around the world. I could never live with myself if something happened to him because of me.

Don’t think about it. It’s not going to happen. I’m safe here. So is Jace.

I hung up on Babboo and tossed my phone onto the bed. I knew this would anger him, but I didn’t care. It didn’t take long for my phone to ring again. I wasn’t going anywhere near it, not even to check the caller ID. I wanted to think happy thoughts. Like going away with Jace. If I let Babboo get to me now, Jace might pick up on it and wonder what was wrong. But I’m not so sure I can hide my feelings. I’d tried before, and he had always been able to see right through me.

That’s one of the things I had missed about having Jace in my life. There was a connection unlike any other. Not that we were psychic, but we could finish each other’s sentences. Knew how to make each other happy. No one else, even