Night Visions (Night Series) (16 page)

* * *

Ian glanced over his shoulder when he heard Trent's footsteps enter the room.

"Why didn't you tell her?"

Ian arched an eyebrow. "Are you kidding? Let her deal with this first."

Trent dropped into the chair he abandoned earlier. Leaning back
, he propped his booted foot on the table in front of him. "I hope you're right, but I think she can handle herself. She wouldn't have been chosen if she couldn't."

Ian scrubbed his hand over his face as fatigue began to settle in. He knew she could handle herself. The problem was he wanted to bear the burden for her.

“Are you sure that you don't want to stay here?” Trent asked, drawing Ian's attention back to the chair. “I have plenty of room or you can stay in the guest house if you want more privacy. You're really isolated up there."

But it was his home. And the need to share that with her overpowered everything else. “No. It's better if we go up to the cabin. She's going to need time to absorb everything that we threw at her tonight. With what I have left to tell her, I think it's better if we do it alone."

Shrugging, Trent's focus shifted to his boots, still propped on the table. “If that's what you want to do, I can't stop you. Call me if anything changes. I'll keep the guys on patrol as backup."

“Were you able to get everything on my list?” Ian asked.

“Yeah. Can you guys survive on that?” Trent chuckled.

“No, but I want her to feel at home. You should have seen what she devoured on the way up here." One thing hadn't changed about Sam. She ate when she was nervous. And with the condition her nerves were in now, he probably didn't have nearly enough supplies waiting for her.

“I stocked you up with plenty of wood too, and aired the place out for you already.”

“Thanks Trent. I owe you." He didn't know if he would have survived tonight's confrontation with Sam alone. He couldn't deny the fact that if he didn't have Trent backing him up, she may never have believed him. If she believed him.

Trent dropped his feet to the floor and stood. The smile that lifted his lips disappeared as he approached Ian. "I'm the one that owes you."

"Hopefully this will be over soon.”

Trent slapped Ian on the back. “For your sake, I hope so too."

CHAPTER 14

Sam lifted her hand in farewell to Trent. Turning in her seat, she watched his shrinking figure in the side mirror. With arms crossed over his chest, he didn't attempt to hide his disapproval over their leaving. But in the end, his final pleas were no match for Ian's
stubbornness.

She wished they could stay. Wished she could get to know Trent better. In the short time she knew him, she realized what type of man he was. Loyal. He would do anything for those he loved. Like support his friend when he revealed a long-time secret. Her secret. No wonder Ian trusted him with his life.

The one thing she would miss the most about Trent. His sense of humor. If not for his witty banter, breakfast could have been a whole lot worse.

When daylight streamed through the curtains this morning, Sam awoke with the hope it had all been a dream. But the somber expression that greeted her when she appeared for breakfast dispelled that theory. She felt like Ian had more to say as he kept glancing at her over his cup of coffee, but he remained silent. And after the night she had, she wasn't in the mood to press him.

Since leaving Trent's, her head felt like a thick fog had taken up residence. Thankfully, the voices remained silent. Maybe they had abandoned her indefinitely. Right when she needed them most.

With all of the visions tumbling through her mind, she attempted to sort through them. As her breath fogged the glass, she pressed her finger to the moisture, letting her mind replay each dream. The most troubling being where the man slumped against the tree. How could she prevent that person's death when she couldn't see their face? What if it was Ian or Jason? A lump formed in her throat. Blinking back tears, she didn't want Ian to see her distress.

Maybe if she found a way to release her gift, she would see her vision more clearly. But what if she couldn't change their fate, even if she saw their face?

T
hen there was the dream at the motel. The bear and the wolf. She couldn't even begin to make sense of that. How did they fit into all of this? If her visions came true, wouldn't they have encountered the wild animals in reality? They'd left the motel without incident. Or were the animals some type of metaphor? The more she tried to make sense of it, the less it did.

Catching Ian's reflection in the glass, she lifted her last vision to the surface, remembering the gruesome details. The blood. How it trickled down his face, soaking his shirt. She turned her head toward him. Closing her eyes, she inha
led then released a sigh of relief.

He wasn't hurt. But would be.

Opening her eyes, she studied his clean-shaven face. His mouth pinched with worry. Worry over her. She wanted to lift her hand, run it down his cheek, erasing the stress she caused him. Instead, she clasped her hands in her lap, too afraid to let herself get any closer to him. To fall in love with him. But what scared her the most, was she already had.

They turned off the main road onto a one-lane dirt road. “Where are we?” she asked as they started to climb up a mountain. The first words spoken since they had entered the car.

What the hell...did this road just get narrower?

He turned towards her, giving her a make-your-toes-curl smile. “We're almost there. Just a few more miles.” The heat in her cheeks rose so fast she turned away. Pressing her forehead against the cool glass of the window helped disperse the fire in her face. Then she made the mistake of looking down. Way down.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” she chanted. In one swift motion she unbuckled her seatbelt and scrambled onto the center console, putting as much distance between her and the door as possible. Digging her nails into the back of Ian's seat, she held on as if the devil himself would try to pry her away.

“Um, there's no guardrail and our tires are skimming the edge,” she whispered in his ear. Afraid to move or make a sound, she feared he would jerk the wheel and send them careening off into the abyss.

Now I know how an elephant on a tightrope feels.

* * *

The warmth of Sam's breath tickled Ian's ear. A chill followed, spreading ice-filled goose bumps over his body. He clenched the steering wheel tighter, doing his best to focus on the road instead of her. It took all of his willpower to not slam on the brakes and take her right there on the front seat.

Her body pressed to his summoned all sorts of images. Things that he fantasized about when he was lying alone at night. But all of those sinful thoughts came crashing down when Ginger made a snort from the back. A snort that had the effect of a cold shower.

“
Get out of my head, Cara. You're like a damn peeping Tom. Are you enjoying the show?”

“I'm not in your head. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what you're thinking. The sexual tension in this car has my hair standing on end.”

Sam interrupted his thoughts when she released a long sigh, unhooked her nails from his seat and crawled back into hers. They'd left the one lane road, his cabin up ahead. Had she noticed the porch swing? The one they used to sit on at his house, while they watched the sun set over the lake.

Once the Rover rolled to a stop, Sam didn't waste any time hopping out. She dropped to her knees, resting her forehead against the cool grass.

"Why would you build anything up here with a road that small?" she asked, her voice muffled by the thick grass.

He couldn't help but chuckle at her dramatic behavior. Some things never changed. Especially her love of nature. Which is why he knew she'd enjoy the area once she started to explore it. "When you see the view, you will understand."

She sat back on her heels, surveying her surroundings.

Ian smiled as he walked towards her with their bags. Ginger passed him, heading for the porch.

“It wasn't that bad, was it?” he asked as he reached a hand down to help her up.

“Are you kidding me?” Staring at his hand, she cocked a brow toward the sky. “How can you even call that a road? The car barely fit on it. What happens if another vehicle comes along?”

“Since my house is the only one up here, that really isn't a problem. And if it ever did happen, then one of us would have to put it in reverse.”

When she finally grasped his hand, prickles of electricity skimmed up his arm. He couldn't tell if she'd felt the same. Not with the way her eyes roamed the property.

“You don't mind being so isolated up here? Especially when there is only one way down?

“No. Not many people know that my house is up here and most people are as afraid as you to maneuver the road.”

She shot him a death stare before the corner of her mouth curled up. Then she slapped at his arm, but he caught her hand instead, enjoying the warmth of her skin. It was good to see her smile. He missed it. Was worried after last night, he would never see it again.

Guiding her to the porch, Ian unlocked the door and placed their bags inside. “Welcome to my home,” he said as he held the door for her.

* * *

Sam stepped over the threshold, peering around the inside of the cabin. One word came to mind. Cozy. A modest sofa and two overstuffed chairs flanked a well-used fireplace. One wall held a built-in bookcase overflowing with paperbacks and hardcovers. Connected to the room was a beautiful gourmet kitchen that any chef would envy.

The heat of Ian's body warmed her back as she eyed the wine rack. “We have three guest bedrooms and a master. Each bedroom has it's own bath. You can have your pick,” he said as he threaded his fingers through hers, tugging her toward the hallway.

She glanced down at their hands, loving the feel of his warm fingers entwined with hers. Yet
, her gut thrummed a warning. To keep her distance. At least until he proved she could trust him. No matter how comfortable she felt in his presence, she couldn't let her guard down. It wasn't just the fact that he left years ago. He'd kept things from her. Important things.

Maybe this was the reason Adirah had tried to warn her. That Ian
would hurt her again. But even after the lies, being around him brought a sense of peace. For the first time in her life she felt safe.

“Sam?” He gave her hand a slight squeeze.

Blinking away the thoughts, she turned to him, noting the tightness in his jaw. How long had he been trying to get her attention?

“Sorry. What did you say?”

Ian stared at her thoughtfully before continuing. “To the left are two of the guest rooms and to the right are the master and third guest bedroom. Which one would you like?”

“Um…how about you pick. Do you mind if I step outside for some fresh air?” With all this talk about beds, she definitely needed to clear her head.

“No problem. I'll put your bags in the room next to mine.”

Sam watched him walk away, resisting the urge to go after him. She needed to put some distance between them. Having him this close, made it impossible to think. She spun on her heel, retracing her steps to the front door. Stepping onto the porch, she inhaled the clean scent of pine and mountain air.

When she walked around to the back of the house, her breath caught in her throat. Ian was right. The view…no words could describe it.

Large
, fluffy white clouds kissed the tops of the mountains that surrounded her. The sun glinted off fields of flowers. Layers of woods stretched for as far as she could see. Now she understood what drew Ian to this place. It was breathtaking. His own little piece of heaven.

Sam sat in the cool grass, leaning back on her elbows. She lost herself in the warmth of the sun, allowing its rays to flow over her body.

Clouds drifted lazily across the sky. She used to love lounging by the water with Ian, finding pictures in the clouds. He always seemed to find the most outrageous ones. Like the one hovering over her now that resembled a giant UFO. If only it were real, zapping her away from the madness she found herself buried in.

Closing her eyes, she pressed her shoulders to the ground
, releasing some of the tension in her neck. So much had happened since Ian showed up. And there were still so many unanswered questions.

But was she ready to face them?

Sitting back up, she sensed someone watching her. She tilted her head to the side, catching Ian staring at her through the glass door. It was as if time stopped and they were the only two people in the world.

He slid open the back door and stepped out on the deck just as she pushed herself to her feet.

"Is something wrong?" she asked as she approached him.

"Not really." He leaned against the railing, waiting for her. "Was just wondering what was taking you so long? I figured the scenery would distract you."

She gazed over her shoulder, smiling at the thought of his concern. "You act like I've been out here for hours." When silence filled the air, she met his gaze again. Pinched brows stared back at her. "What?"