squatting on his land. Said they made a big mess and never cleaned things up when they left.” Cole sniffed with distaste.
“You sound like you knew him.”
Cole tensed. “May as well have. I’ve heard all the stories.”
“I’ve only been here a few hours, and I’ve heard some myself. Why do you think people died on the fourth floor?”
“They didn’t die on the fourth floor.” Cole’s expression hardened to stone. His jaw worked as he walked. Faster. “They fell and died in the flower bed.”
“You didn’t actually witness a death, did you?”
“Do you always ask so many questions?” His jaw worked harder.
“Only when I feel someone’s not being truthful.”
“Another rule. When it’s not your truth to know, keep your nose out of it. Now could you hurry? This isn’t a leisurely stroll. I might work for you, but I am off the clock right now, and this is my time you’re wasting. Some of us have to eat, you know.”
“Do you have to be so mean?”
“Yes. It keeps unwanted attention at bay.”
“Seems to me you’re masking a semi-decent personality with a masculine I-don’t-need-anyone front. That has to be lonely.”
“Just the way I like it. We’ll cut through and go in the back way.” He nodded toward a long stretch of fence. He pushed three vine-covered bars inward, causing an awful metal on metal moan. A hidden gate. Cole disappeared through overgrown foliage, leaving me behind.
I followed and jumped at the rattle and clash of the gate slamming, with me barely through it.
“You have to slam it to get it shut,” he explained with a sexy flick of his brow. Inside the fence, this remote corner of the property was lamp lit, spotlighting Cole’s wicked grin.
That was it. I hated him.
“You could have waited till I was through.” I could have slapped him.
“I told you to hurry.” He walked on, not waiting for me.
I hadn’t seen the back of the house from the pasture. It had to be the house from my dream on the plane. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognized the pond.
How had I dreamed of the pond, the house, and this ridiculously rude guy, never having been here?
I wobbled, unable to breathe.
In dream-like slow motion, Cole turned. His hands fell limp at his sides, and his mouth hung open. When he saw my face, the shock left him.
My legs became heavier, and my head could have floated off into the stars.
Cole had been steps away but was beside me in seconds.
“What did you just—are you okay?” He gripped my forearms, steadying me.
“Low iron.” He’d make fun of me if I told him.
Did the woman in the bottom of the pond want the house?
Over my shoulder, the dark path to the pond beckoned me back to the dream. The dank water choked me. The sludge suctioned my feet. And those hands, ugh, those horrible detached hands.
Cole shook his head slowly, still holding my arms.
“Another rule. Do not, under any circumstances, go any farther than the rose maze without an escort.” The breeze stilled. No crickets chirped. Cole’s eyes glazed over. An electric current sizzled under his palms. He jerked back. “If you have fainting spells or whatever, then the last thing we need is you lost in the wilderness. Women have a place, and it’s not meddling all over in the dark. You won’t find any money buried anywhere outside, I can assure you.”
Cole did an about face and left me.
“You have serious issues.”
Cole stopped, yet kept his back to me. “You have no idea.”
* * * *
We reached the back steps of the house, where Thomas charged us from the rear entrance.
“I see you two have formally met.” He glared at Cole, but when he saw my makeshift-bandaged hand, he shot Cole an accusing look. “Another injury?”
Another?
“It was an accident. I assure you.” Cole’s tone was sharp.
Thomas was angry. Too angry.
“I wasn’t paying attention and fell down that ravine behind the rose maze. If it hadn’t been for Cole, I’d have probably broken my
“You sound like you knew him.”
Cole tensed. “May as well have. I’ve heard all the stories.”
“I’ve only been here a few hours, and I’ve heard some myself. Why do you think people died on the fourth floor?”
“They didn’t die on the fourth floor.” Cole’s expression hardened to stone. His jaw worked as he walked. Faster. “They fell and died in the flower bed.”
“You didn’t actually witness a death, did you?”
“Do you always ask so many questions?” His jaw worked harder.
“Only when I feel someone’s not being truthful.”
“Another rule. When it’s not your truth to know, keep your nose out of it. Now could you hurry? This isn’t a leisurely stroll. I might work for you, but I am off the clock right now, and this is my time you’re wasting. Some of us have to eat, you know.”
“Do you have to be so mean?”
“Yes. It keeps unwanted attention at bay.”
“Seems to me you’re masking a semi-decent personality with a masculine I-don’t-need-anyone front. That has to be lonely.”
“Just the way I like it. We’ll cut through and go in the back way.” He nodded toward a long stretch of fence. He pushed three vine-covered bars inward, causing an awful metal on metal moan. A hidden gate. Cole disappeared through overgrown foliage, leaving me behind.
I followed and jumped at the rattle and clash of the gate slamming, with me barely through it.
“You have to slam it to get it shut,” he explained with a sexy flick of his brow. Inside the fence, this remote corner of the property was lamp lit, spotlighting Cole’s wicked grin.
That was it. I hated him.
“You could have waited till I was through.” I could have slapped him.
“I told you to hurry.” He walked on, not waiting for me.
I hadn’t seen the back of the house from the pasture. It had to be the house from my dream on the plane. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognized the pond.
How had I dreamed of the pond, the house, and this ridiculously rude guy, never having been here?
I wobbled, unable to breathe.
In dream-like slow motion, Cole turned. His hands fell limp at his sides, and his mouth hung open. When he saw my face, the shock left him.
My legs became heavier, and my head could have floated off into the stars.
Cole had been steps away but was beside me in seconds.
“What did you just—are you okay?” He gripped my forearms, steadying me.
“Low iron.” He’d make fun of me if I told him.
Did the woman in the bottom of the pond want the house?
Over my shoulder, the dark path to the pond beckoned me back to the dream. The dank water choked me. The sludge suctioned my feet. And those hands, ugh, those horrible detached hands.
Cole shook his head slowly, still holding my arms.
“Another rule. Do not, under any circumstances, go any farther than the rose maze without an escort.” The breeze stilled. No crickets chirped. Cole’s eyes glazed over. An electric current sizzled under his palms. He jerked back. “If you have fainting spells or whatever, then the last thing we need is you lost in the wilderness. Women have a place, and it’s not meddling all over in the dark. You won’t find any money buried anywhere outside, I can assure you.”
Cole did an about face and left me.
“You have serious issues.”
Cole stopped, yet kept his back to me. “You have no idea.”
* * * *
We reached the back steps of the house, where Thomas charged us from the rear entrance.
“I see you two have formally met.” He glared at Cole, but when he saw my makeshift-bandaged hand, he shot Cole an accusing look. “Another injury?”
Another?
“It was an accident. I assure you.” Cole’s tone was sharp.
Thomas was angry. Too angry.
“I wasn’t paying attention and fell down that ravine behind the rose maze. If it hadn’t been for Cole, I’d have probably broken my
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