Page 12 of Blaze

“Desperate to what?”

“Find a significant other, get them to the altar, and reproduce.”

Vicky’s breath hitches.Can I blame her?“That’s ridiculous.There can’t be something in the water or air to cause that.Like an aphrodisiac?”

I shrug.“Judge for yourself.I’m just warning you.”

“Warning me?”Her voice rises.

After lifting her hand to my lips, I kiss her knuckles.I wonder if she can feel the pull between us as strongly as I can.There’s no way for her to grasp what I’ve told her because it’s not believable until one experiences it.I, on the other hand, have left the house every day fully expecting to meet the woman of my dreams.I’ve been rather surprised that it has taken as long as it has.

But I found her.She’s sitting next to me.She just doesn’t know it yet because who the fuck would believe such a thing?

“Ready to go inside?”

She twists to look at the back of the mansion.“Maybe you should take me back to the ravine.I bet I could survive another night.Someone else would have found me eventually,” she jokes.Her voice is a bit shaky.

I laugh.“It’s too late, baby.You’re here now.And don’t take this the wrong way, but there’s no escaping.”

She jerks her gaze back to me.“Pardon?”

Perhaps I shouldn’t have worded it that way.I shrug.“I don’t mean you can’t leave.Of course, youcanleave.Anytime you want.It’s just that you won’t want to.”

She swallows.

“Everyone knows we’re here, Vicky.For one thing, the woman who was leading that hiking group—Reagan—is the wife of one of my cousins.I’m sure she texted the other wives in a group chat before I even carried you up to the path.For another thing, I let my cousins know we would be arriving.”

“I think I must have hit my head when I fell.In fact, maybe I’m still lying at the base of that ravine, hallucinating.”

I smile at her.“You’re not.You’re safe now.Hold tight.I’m coming around to get you.”I stare at her for a few seconds longer before opening my door.

The rest of my life starts now.

Chapter6

Victoria

My heart is racing as I wait for Blaze to round the car.I could open the door myself, but I’m frozen, absorbing his words, or at least as many of them as I can.He dumped so much bizarre information on me that I doubt I could repeat even half of it.

On the one hand, I’m exhausted and still in shock from being rescued from what I considered a near-death experience.In addition, his story sounded like something out of a science fiction novel.I’m not entirely sure I believe all of it, yet I’m too intrigued to tell him to take me to the bed and breakfast I had reserved.And how am I going to take care of myself?I really do need a bit of help for the next few days.

Blaze opens my door before reaching across me to unfasten my seatbelt.He had to do that earlier, too.Apparently, I’m not operating at full speed.

The next thing I know, he’s lifting me into his arms.He kicks the door shut and heads toward the back of the mansion.It’s huge.I’ve never been in a house like this before.

I’m surprised when the back door opens.An older woman wearing an apron pushes it wide and beckons us inside with a wave of her hand.

“You poor dear,” she says as soon as we’re in a spacious kitchen that smells like heaven and looks like it belongs on a television show.It’s modern, but at the same time, many of the elements from the early nineteen hundreds have been preserved, like the floors.

Blaze holds me tight.“Vicky, this is Gretchen.She’s the house manager and a gem.Anything you need or want, she’ll make sure you have it.”

Gretchen pats my hand where it rests against my stomach.Her eyes furrow with worry.“I hear you’ve had quite the experience.I’m sure you’re starving.I’m heating some soup for you.I’ll send it up with some warm bread.I bet you’d like a bath first.”

My stomach grumbles at the suggestion and the scent of bread that permeates the air.I suspect this kitchen always smells like fresh baked goods.“Thank you so much, ma’am.”

She waves a hand between us.“It’s just Gretchen.We aren’t formal around here.”

Blaze nods toward her.“I’ll get Vicky settled and come back for a tray.”