a beard but I know it’s you. I think I knew from the moment I first saw you but I didn’t make the connection. But it’s you! You’re Da—”
“I’m not him!” he yells and spins around to pin crazy eyes on me. “Now eat your goddamn food and be done with it.”
I’m speechless. And I’m disappointed. I hadn’t imagined this when I pictured finding him. “Why?” I whisper. “Why would you lie when I know I’m right? Do you know what your brother has gone through to find you? He’s been looking for you ever since you left. He thought you were dead. He was desperate when he came to me. That’s why I was in Alaska in the first place. So why would you lie when it’s so obvious what the people who love you are willing to do to get you back?”
His face stays impassive as I speak except for his wild eyes and that muscle still ticking in his jaw. He takes a step towards me and I fight the urge to back away, repeating to myself that he’s not going to hurt me. When he’s only inches away from me and I can almost feel his breath on my lips, he speaks in a low, dangerous voice.
“I’m only going to say this once. That guy in the picture? He’s not me. He is a stupid boy who thought things would one day get better, that he would get everything he wanted. That guy is who the man who hired you is looking for. He’s not me. I’m not him. I don’t know what other words to use to make you understand.” He holds my gaze for a long, silent moment and then walks to the door. “Eat and leave the plate there. I’ll clean it in the morning.”
And then he’s gone.
Chapter Six
D amon didn’t sleep in the cabin the last two nights. He hasn’t said a single word to me in two days. He comes in to leave a plate of food on the table for me and he goes out again. He thinks that way I’m going to drop the subject but he doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know I can be an annoyingly stubborn bitch.
So I have a new plan. Get him to admit – even in anger – that he is, in fact, Damon Sawyers. After his little speech that night, I know he must have had good reasons to leave and I don’t want to know them. Okay, no. I’m dying to know. I’m just not going to bother him about it. If he wanted to tell me, he would have already.
I’m seriously considering telling Mr. Sawyers that I found his brother’s grave here in Alaska if Damon really wants to be left alone. This place has become his home in these seven years and I would never want to take someone out of their home. I just want him to admit that it’s him I’ve been looking for.
I’m thrilled that I found him. Actually thrilled, with the urge to jump around and shout out in glee. Other than the small detail that he’s not admitting it, he’s exactly like everyone described him. He took care of me when I was hurt, makes sure I don’t die of hunger or thirst every day and let’s not forget the part where he took me to the hot spring. I mean, what better way for a guy to show his true character than carry a half-naked woman on a rocky path so she can have her hot bath? And not molest her, mind you.
My feminine ego is still a little bruised by that actually. Here I am, drooling over him whenever I catch a glimpse of him shirtless and he had me half-naked against his body and wasn’t affected. I mean, it’s not like he has much of a choice in women out here in the wild. And if my assumptions are correct, he must have been all on his own all this time. So how can a girl not be offended?
I’m being paranoid, I know. If anything, his non-action shows more about his character. But that crush I’ve developed on him – yes, I can now admit it is a crush – has me wishing he wouldn’t be so nice. That he would see me half-naked and do something about it. I mean, something other than find me a hot spring to bathe in.
So, as I said before, I have a plan. And it starts as soon as he comes back from wherever he is currently hiding.
He walks in as usual
“I’m not him!” he yells and spins around to pin crazy eyes on me. “Now eat your goddamn food and be done with it.”
I’m speechless. And I’m disappointed. I hadn’t imagined this when I pictured finding him. “Why?” I whisper. “Why would you lie when I know I’m right? Do you know what your brother has gone through to find you? He’s been looking for you ever since you left. He thought you were dead. He was desperate when he came to me. That’s why I was in Alaska in the first place. So why would you lie when it’s so obvious what the people who love you are willing to do to get you back?”
His face stays impassive as I speak except for his wild eyes and that muscle still ticking in his jaw. He takes a step towards me and I fight the urge to back away, repeating to myself that he’s not going to hurt me. When he’s only inches away from me and I can almost feel his breath on my lips, he speaks in a low, dangerous voice.
“I’m only going to say this once. That guy in the picture? He’s not me. He is a stupid boy who thought things would one day get better, that he would get everything he wanted. That guy is who the man who hired you is looking for. He’s not me. I’m not him. I don’t know what other words to use to make you understand.” He holds my gaze for a long, silent moment and then walks to the door. “Eat and leave the plate there. I’ll clean it in the morning.”
And then he’s gone.
Chapter Six
D amon didn’t sleep in the cabin the last two nights. He hasn’t said a single word to me in two days. He comes in to leave a plate of food on the table for me and he goes out again. He thinks that way I’m going to drop the subject but he doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know I can be an annoyingly stubborn bitch.
So I have a new plan. Get him to admit – even in anger – that he is, in fact, Damon Sawyers. After his little speech that night, I know he must have had good reasons to leave and I don’t want to know them. Okay, no. I’m dying to know. I’m just not going to bother him about it. If he wanted to tell me, he would have already.
I’m seriously considering telling Mr. Sawyers that I found his brother’s grave here in Alaska if Damon really wants to be left alone. This place has become his home in these seven years and I would never want to take someone out of their home. I just want him to admit that it’s him I’ve been looking for.
I’m thrilled that I found him. Actually thrilled, with the urge to jump around and shout out in glee. Other than the small detail that he’s not admitting it, he’s exactly like everyone described him. He took care of me when I was hurt, makes sure I don’t die of hunger or thirst every day and let’s not forget the part where he took me to the hot spring. I mean, what better way for a guy to show his true character than carry a half-naked woman on a rocky path so she can have her hot bath? And not molest her, mind you.
My feminine ego is still a little bruised by that actually. Here I am, drooling over him whenever I catch a glimpse of him shirtless and he had me half-naked against his body and wasn’t affected. I mean, it’s not like he has much of a choice in women out here in the wild. And if my assumptions are correct, he must have been all on his own all this time. So how can a girl not be offended?
I’m being paranoid, I know. If anything, his non-action shows more about his character. But that crush I’ve developed on him – yes, I can now admit it is a crush – has me wishing he wouldn’t be so nice. That he would see me half-naked and do something about it. I mean, something other than find me a hot spring to bathe in.
So, as I said before, I have a plan. And it starts as soon as he comes back from wherever he is currently hiding.
He walks in as usual
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