Chapter 40 A Man

• Drifting in and out of consciousness, I get snippets of Shane’s scent, his strong arms as they carry me from the field to the packhouse walls. Soft Baltic linen was smooth against my skin and passionate kisses pressed to my wrists. Sweet promises and dark eyes are the last thing I see before I wake up in the morning. When I do, he’s gone.
• The sheets are cold and he’s nowhere to be seen. I hate waking up without him. Especially after last night. I flinch as I sit up. My muscles and my core hurt. My cheeks flush as memories of last night flit through my mind. I cover my face with my hands. I want to squeal.
• There’s a knock at the door and I look down at my dress from last night. I hide it beneath my sheets and hope for the best. I jump to my feet and throw on my nightgown. Taking a deep breath, I walk over to the door as the knocking grows louder. As I unbolt the door, Ava pushes it open and walks through the room. She doesn’t greet me, instead, she looks in every corner of the room, even beneath my bed.