Chase’s expression was half pissed, half amused. “Do I have a choice?”
“Sure,” Tate said. “You could drop me off at the motel, then go back to your office in Paris and tell the sheriff I’ve left already. Then you can go back to your normal everyday routine.”
Chase snorted. “Like that’s going to happen.”
Chapter 6
Zarina gazed at Tanner from where she sat in bed, her heart aching at how incredibly beautiful and peaceful he looked sleeping atop the cot on the far side of the small cabin. Early morning sunlight was just creeping through one of the small windows, enveloping Tanner in an almost heavenly glow. Which was fitting, since he was already an angel in her mind.
It took all her willpower to keep from climbing out of bed and walking over to caress his scruff-covered jaw simply so she could feel the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers without him pulling away from her.
But she didn’t move, afraid she’d wake him up and ruin the moment. Tanner needed his sleep. He’d pushed himself hard last night, spending almost two hours after they’d come back from town putting supplies away. Then he’d stayed out half the night with Spencer and the other hybrids, patrolling the woods around the prepper camp and making sure no additional trouble came their way.
Even though he’d been quiet, Tanner had woken her when he finally slipped into the cabin a few hours ago. She’d thought he might want to talk, but instead, he’d tumbled onto his cot in an exhausted slumber. She hated seeing him that way. It was like he was carrying the weight of the entire camp’s safety on his shoulders.
She sighed. At least he’d slept in the cabin with her. When Chad had told them Bryce’s house was the only place he had for the two of them to sleep, Tanner had resisted. Okay, that was an understatement. What he’d said was he preferred to sleep outside on the ground than share the small space with her. She’d known he wasn’t trying to be hurtful with his words, but they’d cut deep nonetheless.
She’d solved the problem by announcing that if Tanner was going to sleep outside, then she would, too. It might have been juvenile, but if Tanner could be stupid, then so could she. Besides, it had worked. He’d agreed to stay in the cabin with her, even if he’d slid his cot as far away from the bed as he could. He was in the same room with her. That was a big improvement as far as she was concerned.
Zarina swung her legs over the side of the bed and tiptoed over to Tanner, needing to be closer to him. She loved him so much, it made her heart ache. How could they ever be together if he kept working so hard to keep them apart? As much as she’d wanted to come here and make everything better for him, she didn’t know how that could ever be possible. She wasn’t sure where that left her. If he kept shoving her away, how much longer could she hang around and pretend she could make this work all on her own?
Tears stung her eyes, and she stifled a sob. If she didn’t get out of there, she was going to start crying and wake him up.
Grabbing her coat from where she’d tossed it on the chest at the foot of the bed, she slipped it on, glad she’d decided to sleep in her shirt and jeans last night instead of pajamas. Picking up her boots, she carefully opened the door of the cabin and left, closing it quietly behind her.
She was a little surprised she hadn’t woken Tanner up. Perhaps he was even more exhausted than she’d thought. Or maybe he was faking sleep so he wouldn’t have to face her.
Pushing that horrible thought from her mind, she put on her boots and stepped off the tiny porch, trying to remember where the main building was. In addition to serving as the camp’s meeting hall of sorts, it was also their communal kitchen and dining area. Hopefully, she’d be able to find something to eat there. She was famished. It was why she was awake at this ungodly hour in the first place.
“You’re up early,” a voice said behind her, and Zarina turned to find Lillie standing there with a basket in her hands. “I thought you and Tanner would sleep in this morning since you were out so late last night.”
Zarina didn’t mention she and Tanner weren’t actually sleeping together. It was too complicated to get into.
She smiled. “Tanner was up late last night, so I let him rest while I went looking for breakfast.”
Lillie’s mouth curved. “I know what you mean. I like getting up early to grab something to eat before everyone else is up and about. In fact, I was just about to make some breakfast. Want to join me?”
“I’d love to.” Zarina glanced at Lillie as they made their way across the camp. “Any word on Bryce and Josh?”
The girl’s face fell. “Uh-uh. Dad was out all last night talking to people in the other nearby settlements. He’s hoping someone will turn up something soon.”
Zarina hoped for the best, too, but limiting the search like Chad was doing seemed myopic to her.
The building Lillie led her into was bigger than she expected. Based on the number of benches and tables set up along one side of the interior, it looked like it could easily seat thirty or forty people.
Lillie set the basket on the counter in the kitchen, then stirred up the embers in the four wood-burning stoves at the back of the room and added some fresh wood to
