Chapter 5 #2
The trembling began then, a telltale sign the panic attack was ending. Long ago, a doctor explained why this happened, something about hormones and adrenaline, cortisol and enzymes, but she was a human development major, not an expert on biochemistry.
She just recognized it as a stage. A positive one.
A sign that this betrayal of the body and mind would end.
“Your hands are icicles.” He squeezed, gently but over and over, trying to help get blood flowing, she knew. “Are you in danger of hypothermia?”
“I’m warm,” she finally said, teeth rattling. “It’s stress. Panic. Not t-t-emperature.” Talking was like walking through a landmine field, only words and thoughts were the dangerous explosives.
“You’re good. We’ve got all the time in the world. Not leaving until you’re ready.”
And yet, the sooner he left, the sooner he could get her out of here.
Too bad her stupid autonomic nervous system didn’t understand rational, linear thought.
His hand, though. Warm and caring, the skin of his fingers worn and thick. This was the hand of a man who did hard work. It anchored her to the world, made her feel less fear, connected her to someone who cared. He cared with his touch. Luke made her feel seen.
Other than Wendy, who cared about her, anyhow?
Mom, a little. Dad, less.
Perry?
No. He was the reason she was here.
As her mind wandered, Luke squeezing her hand with a compassionate, steady, determined rhythm, she did one final shake, like a dog walking out of a lake.
She was centered again. Shaky, but centered.
“Go,” she said, his hand jolting as if startled.
“What? No. You need me.”
“I do,” she said, the verbal intimacy accentuated by the warm touch of his hand. Her skin throbbed with something deeper than simple desire.
Though there was plenty of that.
“I do, but I need to be freed more.”
He squeezed her hand once, hard. “You sure?”
She wavered for a split second.
“Yes.”
And let go of his hand.
The loss chilled her.
Luke stood in the shadows, flashlight pointed considerately to the side, illuminating but not blinding her. He sighed.
Then one corner of his mouth crooked up in an amused and–dare she think it?
Sexy as all get out smile.
“But Kylie, before I go–you have to tell me what happened.”
“I feel so stupid.”
“It is pretty stupid,” he said in agreement, making her grind her teeth.
“Luke.”
“Come on, Ky.” Her nickname coming from this grown man’s rumbling baritone made her blood race. “It’s objectively stupid that you’re trapped in a charity donation box.”
“Yes,” she admitted, finally starting to laugh. “And it’s all my boyfriend’s fault.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Ex. Ex-boyfriend.”
“He put you in here? Are you injured?” The change in Luke’s tone was extraordinary, suddenly furious. Murderous, even. Perry better watch out. Good thing that jerk was thousands of miles away, for his own sake. “Why didn’t you say so?”
“No! No. He’s in Thailand, deep in Systina.”
“Systina? Is that… a province? A city?”
“His soulmate. True love.”
“You’re not making sense, Kylie. Did you bang your head when you fell in there?”
“That would have been merciful. I’ll take being unconscious over having to explain myself.”
“Look. Before I drive away and leave you in a metal box with a granola bar, a bottle of water, and a pile of other people’s discards, I need to know that you’re uninjured and safe.
I promise I’ll be back, but I won’t leave you if you need immediate assistance.
I really should call a county sheriff’s deputy to come and–”
“NO! PLEASE!” The thought of Perry’s family hearing about this was unbearable. “I’m fine. Just humiliated.”
“Awww, Kylie. It’ll make a good story to tell your kids someday.” He paused. “You have kids?”
“No. You?”
“I do. One. She’s six.”
“That’s amazing.” Kylie sighed. “I heard you married Amber McFarland.”
Silence.
“Luke?”
“Yeah. I did.” Something in his voice made her go guarded.
“Nice.”
“I’ll go now. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can get you out of there.”
The coyotes in the woods invaded the quiet, their howls making Kylie’s heart race.
Or maybe that was Luke.
“I’m fine,” she assured him. “Eighty-nine percent battery life on my phone, a granola bar, and a bottle of water. I can burrow in the bags of clothes for warmth. What more could a girl ask for? This is a budget spa night for me. Just throw me some cucumber slices and a hot washcloth and I’m in heaven. ”
“You have really low expectations, Kylie.”
A flash of Perry filled her mind.
“Oh, Luke. You have no idea.”
The glow of the flashlight illuminated his eyes just enough to catch the deep concern in them.
“I’m coming back for you. Promise. You’re fine in here.”
“I know.”
“I know you know. Just making sure you know.” The emphasis on that last word, how it made his voice go soft and deep, blanketed her with warmth.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
But he didn’t hear her, the bang of the steel door his response.
And with that, she heard a car engine turn on, tires on gravel, as Luke Luview, the one who got away, got away again.
But this time, he was coming back.
And he would save her.