likely to hear it from someone. And if he was trying to make sense of this sealed-off suite…She shuddered.
Bryce shone the flashlight into the closet, shook his head, and strode over to the bedroom door. “I’ve seen enough. You ready to get out of here?”
Chapter 6
Bryce stepped out onto the lodge’s sprawling front deck with Holly gripping his arm lightly, just as she had all the way down from the fourth floor. He squinted against the blazing sun. Everything looked electric after the drab and dusty atmosphere inside—neon-blue sky, rich green trees, color bursts of wildflowers in yellow and pink and orange. He blinked a few times, taking a second for his senses to adjust.
If only it was as easy for my mind.
Holly hadn’t asked questions when he’d been ready to leave the suite upstairs. His plan for spending a carefree afternoon with her—and changing her mind about the lodge—had backfired as soon as they’d busted their way into the hidden suite. He hadn’t known what they’d find on the other side of that ragged hole in the wall, but he damn sure hadn’t expected it to be some creepy time capsule.
The jewelry. The clothes…even lingerie.
And several years’ worth of weekly newspapers in the bottom drawer of the bureau, random articles marked with thick, reddish circles. Bryce inhaled deeply, hoping the fresh air would get the hint of that cloying perfume out of his nose.
He and Holly had found a huge piece of plywood in the fourth-floor stairway foyer—likely meant for covering a window—and placed it over the hole in the paneling leading to the suite. There’d been no way to secure it, but odds were slim that anyone would break in, find their way up here, and figure out there was a hidden suite. If it hadn’t been for Holly’s keen observation, he wouldn’t have found out about it for a while himself. During inspections, or maybe even renovations. But it was best that it had happened now while he had some time to make sense of it—except that it had happened with Holly.
Bryce’s heart thrummed. Now she’d be curious, talking and asking people about it—especially considering the rumor she’d mentioned. But how could he convince her to keep quiet about it without telling her secrets he never wanted her to know?
You have no choice.
He had only a limited amount of time before someone else saw the suite. Holly was familiar with Thistle Bend, with its rumors and history and characters. They could figure this out together if she was willing. It would be their little secret and, if he was careful, he might be able to keep his big secret buried. He’d have to stay close to her, which he was eager and willing to do. Whatever she found out, so would he. Then, if needed, he could shift into damage control.
Did a woman disappear from the lodge?
His shoulders tensed as he mulled over several unanswered questions. Maybe together he and Holly could make sense of the suite and its former occupant. But there were some things he couldn’t allow her to see, such as the item he’d found in the bedroom and stowed in his backpack while she’d been in the living area. He’d have a closer look at it later, but he hoped she’d never see it at all.
He led her to a shady spot at the edge of the deck, where the railings were missing. Overhanging aspen branches formed a natural canopy, and the lake and mountains made for a killer view.
“Wanna sit?” he asked.
“Sure.” She gracefully leaned down, sat, and dangled her feet over the edge of the deck.
Bryce joined her, sitting close. “About that suite.” He risked a sidelong glance at her, hoping his eyes wouldn’t reveal the true depth of his concern. “I’ve gotta figure out why it was sealed off that way, why all those things were left behind, and who that stuff belongs to.” He struggled to stay positive, using present tense. But what woman would leave all those clothes and shoes behind—not to mention the jewelry and
Bryce shone the flashlight into the closet, shook his head, and strode over to the bedroom door. “I’ve seen enough. You ready to get out of here?”
Chapter 6
Bryce stepped out onto the lodge’s sprawling front deck with Holly gripping his arm lightly, just as she had all the way down from the fourth floor. He squinted against the blazing sun. Everything looked electric after the drab and dusty atmosphere inside—neon-blue sky, rich green trees, color bursts of wildflowers in yellow and pink and orange. He blinked a few times, taking a second for his senses to adjust.
If only it was as easy for my mind.
Holly hadn’t asked questions when he’d been ready to leave the suite upstairs. His plan for spending a carefree afternoon with her—and changing her mind about the lodge—had backfired as soon as they’d busted their way into the hidden suite. He hadn’t known what they’d find on the other side of that ragged hole in the wall, but he damn sure hadn’t expected it to be some creepy time capsule.
The jewelry. The clothes…even lingerie.
And several years’ worth of weekly newspapers in the bottom drawer of the bureau, random articles marked with thick, reddish circles. Bryce inhaled deeply, hoping the fresh air would get the hint of that cloying perfume out of his nose.
He and Holly had found a huge piece of plywood in the fourth-floor stairway foyer—likely meant for covering a window—and placed it over the hole in the paneling leading to the suite. There’d been no way to secure it, but odds were slim that anyone would break in, find their way up here, and figure out there was a hidden suite. If it hadn’t been for Holly’s keen observation, he wouldn’t have found out about it for a while himself. During inspections, or maybe even renovations. But it was best that it had happened now while he had some time to make sense of it—except that it had happened with Holly.
Bryce’s heart thrummed. Now she’d be curious, talking and asking people about it—especially considering the rumor she’d mentioned. But how could he convince her to keep quiet about it without telling her secrets he never wanted her to know?
You have no choice.
He had only a limited amount of time before someone else saw the suite. Holly was familiar with Thistle Bend, with its rumors and history and characters. They could figure this out together if she was willing. It would be their little secret and, if he was careful, he might be able to keep his big secret buried. He’d have to stay close to her, which he was eager and willing to do. Whatever she found out, so would he. Then, if needed, he could shift into damage control.
Did a woman disappear from the lodge?
His shoulders tensed as he mulled over several unanswered questions. Maybe together he and Holly could make sense of the suite and its former occupant. But there were some things he couldn’t allow her to see, such as the item he’d found in the bedroom and stowed in his backpack while she’d been in the living area. He’d have a closer look at it later, but he hoped she’d never see it at all.
He led her to a shady spot at the edge of the deck, where the railings were missing. Overhanging aspen branches formed a natural canopy, and the lake and mountains made for a killer view.
“Wanna sit?” he asked.
“Sure.” She gracefully leaned down, sat, and dangled her feet over the edge of the deck.
Bryce joined her, sitting close. “About that suite.” He risked a sidelong glance at her, hoping his eyes wouldn’t reveal the true depth of his concern. “I’ve gotta figure out why it was sealed off that way, why all those things were left behind, and who that stuff belongs to.” He struggled to stay positive, using present tense. But what woman would leave all those clothes and shoes behind—not to mention the jewelry and
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