Page 28 of Blaze

I reach out for him before he can turn away.When he looks at me, I pull in a breath.“I hate the name Vicky.”

He cocks his head.“Is it not your name?”

“My mother named me Victoria.My stepmother started calling me Vicky after my dad died.She insisted it was a good nickname.She told all my teachers that I went by Vicky from the moment I started school.”

“Poof.I’ll never use it again.I’ll call you Victoria unless you decide you like a different nickname.”

Another wave of peace settles over me.I feel like I’m dumping my old, stupid life, and I suddenly grabbed onto a new one.Maybe I’m being ridiculous.The man barely knows me.He’s super confident that we’re meant to be together, but I’m not sure I trust that yet.

After kissing me again, he grabs some clothes from the dresser I still think is a valuable antique and heads into the bathroom.

I close my eyes, and I’m out so fast I don’t even see him return.

Chapter11

Blaze

She’s exhausted.Even though she slept all afternoon and through the night, she’s still tired.I’m not surprised.I can’t imagine how scared she was, lying trapped under that tree in the ravine overnight.

Nothing like that will ever happen to her again because I’m never letting her out of my sight.I’m growing more possessive of her by the hour.She’s fucking precious, and I will cherish her for the rest of her life.

I’m slightly concerned about how much she has slept, but I keep telling myself not to worry.After all, as soon as she woke up, I started grilling her for information.I’m sure it took a lot of energy to share her story with me.On top of that, I feasted on her cunt until she came.

Maybe I should have given her another day or two to recover before I pounced, but she was the one who grabbed my shirt and hauled me down for that first earth-stopping kiss.

If I’d had any doubt in my mind at all that she’s mine, it all evaporated the moment our lips connected.

Part of me wants to stay and watch her sleep.I don’t want her to wake up alone.I hate the idea of her trying to hobble to the bathroom on her own or possibly falling.Kinsley said no pressure on that injured leg.

I need to get her a phone.That’s first on my list.I’m sure I can make that happen quickly.And then I should touch base with Ryder and see if he knows anyone local who can make sure my girl’s car doesn’t have a tracker.If it does, whoever is watching it knows exactly where she is.

I’m not worried about that.She’s safe here.Safer than anywhere else.If I find out there’s a tracker, I will alert everyone who works at the gate.But I’ll also hire a PI to follow her stepmother and that asshole she was sent on a date with.I don’t like how that went down.Tracker or not.

After taking the stairs at a jog, I find Ryder in his office.He looks up.“Hey, how’s Vicky?”

“Sleeping again.She’s exhausted.”

“I bet.I can’t imagine spending a night at the bottom of a ravine.She must have thought she would die there.”

“She did.”I drop into the chair across from his desk.“And she hates the name Vicky.Her name is actually Victoria.”

“Noted.I’ll spread the word.”

I get right to the point.“She needs a phone.And do you know anyone who can check her car for a tracking device?”

His brows raise.“I’ll have Dallas pick up a phone for her in town.He’s at the library with Arianna.And we can definitely find someone who can check her car.Maybe Sheriff Johnston knows such a person.Or perhaps the estate lawyer, Thomas McAndrews.Is she in danger?”

I run a hand over my hair.“I’m not sure.She doesn’t think so, but I have a weird feeling in my gut.Sounds like her stepmother is a piece of work, and she went on one date with a man who makes my skin crawl.I’m just being overly cautious.”

“I don’t blame you.If I’d found my woman at the bottom of a ravine and realized she was alone and had even a remotely sketchy past, I’d hire a PI.”

“That’s my next step.”

Ryder reaches for his phone.“I’ll find someone to come sweep the car ASAP.We’ll go from there.”

“Thank you.I’m going to unload everything from it now.I’ll look around under the frame, but I’m not an expert.We need someone with a detector.”

“Agreed.”