Escaping Parker - F.T. Zele Page 0,47

hiding behind the tall grass. I shift for a better angle, but I can’t see anything. Hands grab my shoulders from behind me and I scream, the kind of shriek that knocks your fillings out.

“It’s me,” Rig says, turning my body around.

“You scared the shit out of me!” I glare at him. “Wait . . . were you just over there?” I point over to where I thought I saw something.

“No, I just got back and came from the house. Why?”

“I swear I saw someone creeping around, and it kinda freaked me out.”

He pulls his phone from his pocket and dials. “Hey, Parker thinks she saw someone on the property, over by east end. I’m heading over there to check it out. Can you send someone to the lake where she is?” Rig ends the call, narrowing his eyes at me. “Stay here. Someone is coming to be with you. I’m going over there to check things out.”

I nod As Rig walks away, he slips a gun from his waistband, the same gun from the glove box. My breaths become labored, nervously waiting for some big gun battle.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Finally Rig comes walking back, gun safely tucked away from sight. He finds me exactly where he told me to stay, holding up his index finger while he talks to the security guard watching over me. Once he’s back, he gives me a hug and my heart can leave my throat.

“So, things are okay, nobody that isn’t supposed to be here is here. You probably just saw someone doing the rounds,” he says.

Relief floods me. It’s a little too close to my worst nightmare for my taste. “I didn’t know. Sorry to cause such a big stink. Crap, I feel like such an idiot.”

“Don’t. You did exactly what you needed to do. Everything is fine, so let’s head back to the house and get ready to grab dinner.” He takes ahold of my hand, and we walk back to the house together.

Hand holding, dinner out. Things are going so perfectly that I start to question myself. Is this all to make me feel like I’m being protected? Am I mixing up all these needy feelings of mine and giving myself false hope?

I was at such a low point in my life, where times I had considered giving up ever breaking free. Then Rig comes along, like a white knight, making my dead, broken heart beat again and come back to life. I can’t get my hopes up, only to fall flat on my face when it’s time to leave each other.

My hand fits so perfectly inside of his, and when he touches me, even if it’s completely innocent, it sets my soul at ease. These should be huge red flags going up, letting me know I’m getting too involved. But I just can’t see it that way right now. Maybe I’m blinded by the infatuation, or I’m grabbing on to anything, and he happens to be the one around. I don’t want to make another huge mistake in my life that will leave me grasping for life again.

“You’re so quiet today,” Rig says.

“A little tired, nothing really. Just have a lot on my mind.” I don’t want the conversation to turn heavy or ruin the day.

“Ok, well don’t worry. There was nobody here. You’re safe. So go get ready and we can head out soon.”

On my bed, Rig has laid out new clothes for me. I smile, realizing this is where he went earlier. It’s really nothing fancy at all: a white maxi skirt with a matching top—something cool to wear instead of jeans in this heat. It’s more of the thought that counts with this gesture.

I get ready and suddenly feel shy. It’s not like the jeans or the plain T-shirt. This is different. I walk with my head down, hoping I look like he imagined when he picked it out for me. I’m so used to being covered up to hide the bruises, I feel exposed

Rig stands there, mouth open like he just saw something surprising. He moves closer to me, sending trickles of electricity through me.

“Wow, you look beautiful.” His eyes roam my body. ”Please excuse my lack of words right now. Just . . . wow.”

I don’t know whether to cover up, or let myself reel in this moment. The intimacy feels so foreign. A deep breath calms me.

“Thank you. You don’t look too shabby yourself.” I fumble over my words.

I’m so accustomed to his everyday black or navy