“Yes?” I call out.
“I made some food if you’re hungry,” a deep voice sounds from the other side of the wood sending shivers down my spine. “Come out when you’re ready. I’m the only one here. Everyone else went home for the night.”
Darkness is the only thing I see when I glance out of the window on the far side of the room. No streetlights or headlights from cars. We must be out of the city. My hand shakes as I reach for the doorknob. Fear and curiosity war inside me. What will I find when I open this door? The clean and nicely furnished room was the last thing I was expecting. The hardwood floor is cool on the bottom of bare feet. The scent of grilled meat fills the air as I make my way towards the kitchen. The living room flows into the dining room and into the kitchen. Standing with his back to me is a veritable giant. Dark brown hair lies on gentle waves to his mile wide shoulders. A long sleeve forest green shirt stretches taut against the muscles on his back and shoulders. Faded jeans mold to his ass and thighs. Wiping a hand across the back of my mouth, I check to make sure I’m not drooling.
“Have a seat. It’s almost ready,” his voice rumbles out. There’re two chairs on my side of the kitchen island and I pull one out. The metal legs scrape on the floor, and I cringe.
“Sorry,” I whisper. With plates in both hands, he turns around and I’m captured in his golden gaze. The world fades as my heartbeat fills my ears. His lips move, but for the life of me I have no idea what he said. Shaking my head to clear it, I ask, “I’m sorry. What was that?”
His lips quirk up in a grin, almost. I bet he even has a dimple in those whiskered covered cheeks.
“I said I hope you’re hungry.” He slides the plate across the granite top. A thick steak takes up most of the plate, along with a small garden salad.
“I am. Thank you.”
“I’ve got beer, water and tea. Which would you like?”
“Tea please.”
The brown liquid tinkles as it’s poured over the ice, and he places it in front of me. He grabs himself a beer before sitting down next to me. No words are spoken as we dig into the food. The steak melts on my tongue and I groan as the taste explodes in my mouth. Next to me, Slash sits up straighter. The grip on the beer bottle tightens until I’m afraid it’ll break in his giant hand.
“Everything okay?”
“Fine,” he growls, “everything is fine. I’m glad you like it.” He shifts in his seat before taking a bite of his steak.
I’ve barely put a dent in my food when he finishes his last bite.
“Can I ask you a question?” He turns towards me in the chair. The heat radiating off him is comforting, and I want to climb in his lap.
“Sure.” I take a sip of tea.
“What’s your name?”
“What? Oh, I’m Molly. Molly Lynch.”
“I’m Kellen Hudson.”
“Kellen? I thought she said your name was Slash. Is that not you?”
“Slash is my road name. My mother named me Kellen.”
“Road name? What’s that? A nickname?”
“Yeah something like that,” he smiles. Not just a smile. One of those melt your panties off smiles. Full on sexy. Bend me over the counter and have your way with me sexy.
“What should I call you?”
“Whatever you want to Sweetheart.”
“I think I’ll stick with Kellen. Slash is kinda scary.” His face falls. “Not that you’re scaring me. I mean, I probably should be scared. I’m in a strange place with a guy I don’t know who could do whatever to me and we’re in the middle of nowhere and no one would hear me scream and—”
“Molly,” he whispers. “Take a breath, honey.”
“Okay.”
“I get that you’re in an awkward situation right now, but I promise I’ll never hurt you.”
The promise rang heavy in the air. And for whatever stupid reason, I believe him.
“Shyla said that you found me?”
“Yeah, Kid and I were picking something up,” he hesitates, “merchandise. I found you in the other train car.”
“A train car? What the heck was I doing in a train car? Merchandise? What kind of merchandise?” I inquire.
“That’s not important. These guys took you for a reason. We need to figure out why. Any ideas?”
“What guys? No, of course not. I don’t have a clue who or what happened to me!”
“Then let’s start with the basics. What do you do for work?”
“I’m a filing clerk at the county courthouse?”
“Then you would have access to sensitive information? Maybe a court case that was high profile?”
“High profile?" I scoff. “The most high-profile cases we get are someone’s cows broke through a fence and tore up someone’s pasture.”
“Uh, what county do you work in?”
“Delta.”
“Where the hell is that?” He asks, eyes narrowed.
“I guess we’re not close to it then huh,” I laugh. “It’s the second smallest county in Texas, about seventy-five miles northeast of Dallas.” I look around for some sign to clue me in to where I’m at. “So, where am I?”
“Nacogdoches.”
“Nacka what?”
“Nacogdoches, east Texas,” he chuckles.
“Ah okay. Never heard of it.”
“We’ve ruled out your work. Any friends into anything sketchy?”
“I don’t really have any friends. I go to work and go home. There’s not a lot to do there.”
“Ex-boyfriend?”
My cheeks flood with heat. “No, no boyfriend. Ex or otherwise.” I take a drink of tea.
“What about your parents?”
“What about them?”
“What do they do?”
“Mom’s a high school English teacher. Dad’s a Port Operator.”
“Port Operator?” His eyes spark with interest. “Where at?”
“Texas City.”
“Damn, I bet that’s it,” he mutters.
“What’s it?”
“The guys who took you are probably trying to use you to make your dad compliant. If he’s a port operator, he’s the one who checks the cargo the ships bring in right?”
“I guess,” I shrug. “I’ve never really asked him what he does. I think he overseas cargo and has to approve it
