She’d given these fantastic males no warning in regards to the threat they had been taking by simply being together with her. So as to add insult to harm, she heaped lie on high of lie and nonetheless they gathered round, keen to guard her towards an unknown evil.

One man had already died for her selfishness. She wouldn’t let anybody else pay that value.

“We have to get again to the inn, Rodney.”

Rodney nodded. “Yeah. I feel possibly that may be greatest. Um…possibly you must dress.”

She blinked in shock, then glanced down, mortified to find her naked legs protruding from beneath the blanket. Mercifully, Rodney couldn’t see precisely how bare she was from the waist down.

“Okay.”

“Wait,” Matt mentioned, placing his hand on her arm to forestall her from rising. “Why don’t you two spend the night time right here? Now that we all know what’s happening, we’ll be higher ready.”

She shook her head, combating again the tears at his chivalrous supply. He had no thought what sort of shit storm awaited her. Even when Thompson’s henchman didn’t discover her, she had no alternative however to return to New York Metropolis. Whereas there, she’d proceed to be sequestered throughout what was sure to be a extremely publicized trial.

“No.” She couldn’t proceed with the charade. A lot as her coronary heart longed to remain right here, she knew she’d solely be dwelling on borrowed time. That wasn’t truthful to Matt and Mark. “We actually ought to head again.”

Wrapping the blanket securely round her, she headed towards the visitor room and her personal garments. She’d solely made it one step within the room when she felt a tear slide down her cheek. She batted it away shortly. Matt and Mark would by no means let her go away in the event that they noticed her crying. She took a deep breath and dressed shortly.

All 4 males had been standing in the lounge when she returned. Whereas Jacob appeared disillusioned, Matt and Mark appeared downright depressing.

“I had a good time.” She felt like she owed them at the least a bit little bit of fact. The truth was tonight had been among the best evenings of her life. She reached for Matt’s hand, then took Mark’s in her different. Squeezing tightly, she smiled, making an attempt to cover the disappointment behind it. “Actually. You’re each wonderful males. I can’t thanks sufficient for…” She paused, one million phrases flying by her thoughts—the using classes, the omelet, the friendship, the intercourse. Lastly, she simply mentioned, “Every little thing.”

Mark’s face darkened. “You make this sound like a goodbye.”

Whereas it needed to be farewell, she additionally realized how a lot more durable this might be in the event that they knew she was planning to run. “Does it? I don’t imply it that means. I suppose I’m simply overly drained. I’ll see you each tomorrow.”

And that was essentially the most painful lie of all. She swallowed, however the lump forming in her throat held tight. She was saved from having to talk once more when Rodney stepped up beside her.

“You able to go, Bridge?”

She nodded and let him lead her away from the ranch.

Away from them.

Chapter 6

Bridget opened her eyes the following morning, then closed them once more shortly to close out the brilliant stream of morning sunshine.

Nonetheless right here, she thought.

She and Rodney had gotten right into a hushed-voices model of World Conflict III final night time after Jacob dropped them off on the B&B. It had been their first main disagreement since being thrust into one another’s lives six months earlier.

After they’d tiptoed as much as their room shortly earlier than two a.m., Bridget had been prepared to start out packing their baggage instantly, however Rodney informed her she was overreacting. She’d simply managed one of the crucial tough duties of her life—strolling away from Matt and Mark to be able to preserve them secure—and he mentioned she was overreacting?

Her head had exploded as they heatedly argued—in whispers lest they get up the opposite patrons of the inn—for practically an hour. She’d misplaced the battle.

Rodney knowledgeable her that they had nowhere to go and no cash to buy transportation out of city. He additionally insisted that he was decided to crack Lyle’s code and discover that flash drive. In response to him, he couldn’t return to New York with out it and count on to maintain his job. Even with it, he feared he was dealing with the unemployment line. Rodney supposed to proceed trying to find Ellen, the godmother, regardless that Bridget was starting to suppose that clue was as improper as “God’s grave” had been.

She’d informed him as a lot after which accused him of solely wanting to stay round for Jacob. Rodney bought indignant and mentioned she solely wished to run as a result of she was sizzling for 2 cowboys and too hen to do something about it. After that, they’d gone to mattress, the silence within the room suffocating her till she lastly managed to drop right into a stressed sleep.

“I do know you’re awake.”

She didn’t open her eyes or acknowledge Rodney’s remark. She was nonetheless mad.

Her mattress dipped and she or he felt Rodney’s thigh press towards hers as he sat subsequent to her. “Bridget? I’m sorry about final night time.”

She opened her eyes and checked out him. She didn’t just like the drained look in his eyes or the disappointment on his face.

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