On the way back, Conner made a point of walking next to her.
“So, why do you talk about your adventurous friend when you get nervous?” He reached out for the wadded-up sheet Jillian had been carrying.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, handing it to him. “Guys are usually more interested in her, and she’s… a little more willing to take risks than I am. Whenever we were out together and I’d get nervous around a guy, I could easily direct his attention to her, and guys would forget all about me.”
“I don’t buy it.” Conner tucked the sheet under his arm.
“What don’t you buy?” Jillian looked at Conner, walking casually on the ground with his bare feet. She had to take slow, precise steps to avoid rocks and twigs. “Are your feet made of leather or something?”
“Some hot girls don’t know that they’re beautiful, others like to pretend that they don’t know. You don’t seem like you fall in either of those categories.”
“Oh? So, what category do I fall under.” She clasped her hands together and batted her eyes. “I’m dying to know.”
“I think you know you’re beautiful. And you know that you can have pretty much any guy you want.”
“That seems a little…” She started to protest, but he cut her off.
“But, you’re afraid of what you want because of your parents.”
“My parents?” She laughed.
“They expected you to behave a certain way because politics is all about what the public thinks of you.” He moved in front of her and walked backward. “Your parents compressed you into this boring little mold that your soul is way too big for, but you stayed there because… well, I’m not sure yet.”
“Sounds like you’ve got me all figured out, huh?” She stopped walking.
“Definitely not.” He smiled. “You’re way too interesting to figure out in two days, but it won’t stop me from trying.”
The rest of the walk, he was kind enough to stop talking, but she kept mulling over what he said. Was it true? She’d never been the kind of girl to have a one-night stand while she was on vacation. She’d only slept with four guys in her entire life, and she’d been in relationships with all of them. But she hadn’t been committed to those standards because of her parents. Sex with strangers was scary, not to mention gross.
When they reached the cabin, Finn had something long and tubular kebabbed on a spit over the firepit outside.
“What is that?” Jillian grimaced as she leaned in.
“It’s an old friend of yours.” Vincent sprinkled some seasonings on it. “Doesn’t it look familiar?”
Jillian’s stomach growled at the smell, but she couldn’t for the life of her identify the kind of meat it was.
“Rattlesnake,” Conner whispered.
Jillian waved at Finn, who nodded to her before getting up and heading around the side of the cabin.
“Where are you going?” Vincent called after him, shrugging when he didn’t answer.
“I swear he’s mad at me.” Jillian sat down on a stump by the fire, resting her chin on the heels of her hands.
“I told you,” Vincent turned the spit, “he knows you’re not staying. He’s trying not to get attached.”
“Well, he doesn’t have to give me the silent treatment.” Jillian wasn’t sure why it bothered her so much.
She was practically a social media celebrity. Sure, most of her followers praised her, but there were plenty of trolls that did their best to tear her down. Hateful comments from total strangers were one thing. Finn being temperamental because she wasn’t moving in was just ridiculous. More than ridiculous, it was childish. They barely knew each other, and she knew that the mature thing to do was to let it go.
Jillian spent several minutes seething over the situation before she realized that wasn’t going to happen. Getting up from her toasty perch, she headed off to see what Finn was doing. Maybe they could air out whatever was bothering him.
As she rounded the corner, she looked around, following a little beaten path to a wooden shed. The door creaked as she pushed against it, and she peeked inside. The color instantly drained from her face. It wasn’t just the sight of all the blood; it was the smell.
CHAPTER FIVE
Four tiny headless bodies hung from their hind-legs over a five-gallon bucket filled with a dark-red liquid. Finn made a few quick cuts before pulling the tan, furry skins downward. Jillian’s eyes rolled back, and the blue sky came into view as she hit the ground with a thud.
“Holy shit.” Finn turned around, rushing to her side. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Jillian blinked, rubbing the back of her head. “I didn’t faint. I just got a bit dizzy and lost my balance.”
“Are you a vegan or something?” He grimaced.
“No.” She chuckled. “I mean, I wasn’t, but maybe I should be. Raw meat has always kind of grossed me out, but I don’t spend much time in the kitchen.”
“Shocking.” Finn wiped the blood from his hand onto his pants, reaching out to help her up. She hesitated but accepted. “I guess you’ll be our potato-peeler.”
“Your potato-what?” She sat up.
“Everything all right? Vincent peeked around the bushes from halfway down the path.
Did he hear that from the other side of the house?
“I’m fine.” She waved. “Just got a little woozy.”
Vincent shook his head and turned around to head back to the firepit.
“You’re staying for dinner, aren’t you?” Finn walked over to the hand well next to the path.
“Well, yeah.” She crossed her arms. “Do you not want me to?”
“I didn’t say that.” Pumping the handle a
