Chapter 4

"Are you done checking me out?” Andrew raised his brow at her. “And to answer your question, I bought this cabin from Robert. So, he was your grandfather?" he added, giving her a glass of water. "Here, drink this. I know you’re thirty."

"Well, uh-huh, thanks?” she bit her lips. “I'm not checking you out.”

What the fuck?

She breathed in and tried to forget her embarrassing words: "I—I'm, uh, Diana Moore. We are, um, neighbours? I mean, I'm not sure if you can remember me." She cleared her throat. “Yes, he was my grandfather." She added quickly, took the glass and pressed the rim against her parched, cracked lips, and savoured it with all her might. Her throat charred when a burning sensation in her throat grew even after emptying it.

She was embarrassed, but she was so thirsty as hell, and he was kind enough to offer her, not to mention saving her life from the bad guys. Yeah, she owes him.

"Thank you for saving me from those, um, those guys. Are they all dead? What are they? Are they on drugs? They looked creepy, like—" Please tell me they aren't dead. I don't want the authority asking me weird questions. She thought to herself.

"Yes. Don't worry about them; what the hell are you doing in these woods anyway? Didn't your grandfather warn you not to venture here alone, especially in this bloody weather?" His eyes drifted lower, and he noticed that although her lips were slightly chapped, they were also very appealing, being neither too thin nor too thick and shaped enticingly. They fit her mouth perfectly, and he caught himself wondering what it would feel like to kiss them. Again, he wondered if she remembered her dreams. Not that erasing such a part of her memory wasn't enough, but he wanted to be sure.

"Yes, he did," she answered. Is he checking me out? She thought to herself: A red scarlet blush brushed her cheeks, so she pretended to scan the room.

Yes, this was her tiny room, since god knows when. This cabin was their hideout. Her grandfather loved to stay here for days and just live with nature.

I miss you, grandpappy, and why on earth did you sell this cabin without asking me first, especially to this hot stranger?

Andrew smiled. Reading her mind was like watching television.

"I'm sorry that your grandfather died. He was a dear friend of mine."

Since when did he become sentimental? He thought to himself.

Diana nodded her head. "I got that a lot. Don't worry, I'm done with the grieving stage. By any chance, do you have my clothes? I want to go now. Um, this cabin isn't my property anymore."

Such a waste. She thought she'd be enjoying her holidays here, away from those boring people.

"Yes, it is dry now. I'll go get it so you can start your journey back home." Andrew responded and turned away. He wanted to invite her for breakfast, but he knew he wouldn't last a minute with this woman in this cabin. He almost couldn't help but drive his fangs into her delicate neck. The sooner she was gone, the better.

Diana rolled her eyes. She expected him to ask her to stay longer, or maybe even offer her a little breakfast.

But then she noticed that everything about him was screaming confident and understated sarcasm, like he breathed in money and knowledge, though he moved with a leopard-like grace, eyes flush with triumph, and a snobby demeanour. He seemed cautious of her.

Why the hell why?

She frowned as she watched him from behind! And damn if she wasn't impressed! That butt cheek. She smirked. That was high-level maintenance, like he was a model for male underwear.

A few moments later, when the door was closed, she suddenly stopped thinking when she remembered that this cabin was no longer hers. Her grandpappy didn't mention anything about selling this place or this land, and it was unnerving that he didn't leave this cabin in her care.

Diana felt a little disappointed. The man was a stranger, but she couldn't help but feel so unwanted and undesirable for a company. He didn't even give her the benefit of the doubt when she asked for her clothing, like he wanted her gone immediately. Bleh! She wanted to go home anyway.

She halted. Wait. Her headaches were gone, and she didn't even notice them. How strange?

Ten minutes later, with her backpack on her shoulder, she opened the door of the bedroom and went straight to the kitchen. She looked around, the kitchen table cooling her palms as the warm golden hues rekindled her soul. It was a steady companion to the aroma of freshly baked bread and the birdsong that flutters in from her grandfather's garden. She sighed and said goodbye.

On her way out, she didn't turn her head.

Somehow, she knew he was watching her retreat.

Then she started her journey away from the cabin. Goodbye hotty! I hope to see you soon, or not.

Diana walked through a maze of trees and snaking side branches as the sky thundered and rumbled.

Really, rain? She asked herself as the heavy rain bounced off the muddy trail. A storm suppressed the morning sun in the canopy above, greying the woods around her.

What the fuck is wrong with your luck, Diana? Are you this unlucky? She asked herself. Though her tense muscles were the mirror of her anxiety, she was still confident that she could go home without a problem. Looking around, she grumbled to herself, looking for a shelter.

“Damn it!”

Drops of rain beat against her pale skin like hammers when Andrew's voice could be heard from a distance, trying to stop her from running.

“Diana, stop running!”

Did I just hear something? Or am I getting fucking crazy?

Andrew sighed. Other than being frozen in place, she gave no indication she was even aware of his presence, staring unflinchingly into the nothingness. Her pupils were tiny pinpricks, her eyes narrowed, and her face was overflowing with primal rage to move, but she was frozen like someone had stopped her feet from strolling.

Oh, my God. Did I just freeze, like freeze freeze?

She clenched her jaw shut tight, and her nostrils flared. Weird, she thought.

When Andrew got closer, she suddenly could move. "What the hell is wrong with these woods?”

Everything was so weird and scary.

“Stop!” his voice echoed.

"Oh, piece of crappy abs! You scared me! Mind making noise next time?" Diana yelled back as she stared at Andrew in shock. Her hand was on her chest.

Okay, she is overreacting, but she scared the hell out of her knickers.

He was getting closer, and Diana got a better view through her hazy eyes as the pale light from the canopy fell on him.

Wow, this man knows how to make an entrance.

Reaching her, Andrew murmured, "Slowly, little mortal, or you're going to fall down the cliff below, and we both don't like that, don't we?"

"Will you stop calling me that? And what are you doing here?" Diana answered. The heavy rain bounced off her face as she knitted her brows. The emotion in his eyes, however, was intense. Like he was confused and angry at the same time.

Diana looked at him with the same desire and shook her head.

His eyes had a thousand hues of blue and a tiny touch of scarlet creeping on the edges. And she thought he had the most elegant eyes she'd ever seen.

A flush crept up Diana's face, realising that Andrew was staring at her. His face went blank, and he scowled. "We need to look for a little shelter, or you'll end up having a fever on your way down the mortal's settlements."

WTF?

She raised her brow and said, "Wow, you talk like you're in the mediaeval era."

Was he serious? Was he the long-lost cousin of Shakespeare? He talked like he was older than her grandfather.

“I just want you safe!”

"Why do you care anyway?" She asked.

"I do not care, but I don't want any repeat of what happened yesterday if only you aren't that stupid to venture alone."

The fuck?

"Seriously? I'm still scared about what happened yesterday, but I adopted the idea of them now being food for the wild animals without questions, and now you asked me to justify myself?"

"If I didn't kill those bastards, they might come after you again, so please understand, this isn't ordinary woodland, you know that," he muttered with irritation, but there was no heat in his voice.

"Fine!" She nodded her head as they surveyed the depth of the cave behind them.