Free A Mate's Denial: by P. Jameson Page B

to. He was different than he seemed, than she had expected. Attentive, instead of careless. Rational, instead of fly-off-the-cuff. He surprised her at every turn.
    “My dad and sister. It’s where I grew up.”
    He nodded.
    “What about you? Where do you call home? Joplin?”
    He stared at his plate. “Sort of. It’s a good thing you asked though. Finish eating. I want to show you something.”
    “What is it?”
    He smirked, looking up at her through his lashes. “Finish eating.”
    “Oh, fine.”
    Kerrigan ate her breakfast in record time, and Trager cleaned up while she dressed.
    It wasn’t until they were in his hunk-a-junk SUV that she asked him again. “So, where are we going?”
    He reached across the console and grabbed her hand, lifting it to his mouth. “I want to show you my home.”
    A smile spread her cheeks. “Really?”
    He nodded.
    “Where do you live?”
    “Out of town a ways. In the mountains. That okay?”
    Kerrigan snorted. “Yeah. I have no commitments now. I’m free.”
    The mountains. Honestly, she missed mountain life sometimes. The crisp, clean air. The sweet tang of the evergreens. The seclusion. Where time seemed to stand still while you lived your life. It was nice.
    They’d been driving for about thirty minutes when Trager pulled onto a dirt road that cut into the forest.
    Rocks and ruts made it a bumpy ride. Kerrigan was knocked sideways once banging her head on the window.
    Geez. No wonder his vehicle was a mess. And no wonder he liked his motorcycle.
    “You okay?”
    “Yeah, fine.”
    “We’re almost there.”
    Ten more minutes and Trager parked the truck along the road and turned off the ignition.
    “Here we are.”
    Kerrigan looked around. There was nothing. Just the thick foliage on either side of the road. “Where? I don’t see anything.”
    “Well, we have to walk a little ways. Right through there,” he said, pointing to a spot in the trees.
    A hint of trepidation pecked at Kerrigan. Nobody knew she was out here with him. What if… what if this was something else?
    Trager got out and walked around to her side. She checked her phone. A quick message to Braeh, so someone at least knew where she was. But no, she had zero cell service.
    He opened her door with a smile, but instantly, his face drew up. “What is it?” he asked.
    “Nothing.”
    “You’re afraid.”
    How did he know that? Was her face that transparent?
    “No, I’m not.”
    “I can smell it,” he spat. “What are you afraid of?” He scanned the woods, apparently looking for a threat.
    What he’d said caught her attention. “Smell it?”
    His eyes focused on her, his hand cradling her cheek. “What is it that has you scared?”
    Oh, this was silly. “Nothing. I’m not scared. It’s just… remember what I said about creepers? A girl can never be too safe.”
    His face fell so fast and hard, it was like watching lightning strike. “You’re afraid of me ? I could never hurt you. Don’t you know that?”
    No. She didn’t. She’d been with a man that claimed to love her for three years and yet, he hurt her repeatedly. She’d known Trager a week.
    But she believed he was different. She knew that much.
    He stepped away from her, staring at the ground. “I’ll take you back if you want. Just say the word.”
    Kerrigan climbed out of the truck, and shut the door. She’d trusted him with her body, she might as well trust him now.
    He glanced at her, his eyes troubled.
    “I have trust issues,” she blurted. Damn it . But maybe he could understand.
    Brushing a strand of hair from her eyes, he sighed. “Do you want to go back?” His voice was soft.
    She shook her head. “No. I want to see your place.”
    He nodded. Kissed her forehead. “We’ll talk about your trust issues when we get there.”
    ***
    A ten minute trek through the woods brought them to a quaint little log cabin. A door and a large double window took up most of the front, and a small stone chimney rose from the