8. Georgia
Chapter Eight
GEORGIA
I’ve made a huge mistake.
I was in my own head so much this morning that I stupidly thought that getting away from Declan’s cabin as fast as I could was the most important thing. Trying to protect myself at all costs, I’m now out in the elements wearing an evening dress and a pair of highly unsuitable shoes.
The fine mist when I left Declan’s place is now a heavy, driving rain. My dress is soaked again and there’s no gorgeous woodsman to put me in a bath to warm up. I used my phone to plot out the route, which looked like a pretty straightforward path between our cabins, through the woods.
But now, on the side of the mountain, I have no cell phone service. And, even worse, the path that I’ve been following branches into three. I stand there, rubbing my arms and moving from foot to foot in an effort to keep warm.
I pick the right-hand path and follow it for five minutes, before it becomes clear that it’s leading me uphill. I trace my steps back to the beginning, then try the middle path. I’m deep in the woods now.
The trees are so thick overhead they offer some protection from the rain, but there’s a rumble of thunder which worries me. I keep expecting to see the trees thin out, but instead the dark green forest continues endlessly.
Biting my nails, I stop. My shoes are starting to rub my feet. At least they aren’t high, even if they’re not hiking boots. But I’m not on the path anymore. A wave of panic rises in my throat as a flash of lightning illuminates the trees around me.
I have no idea where I am.
This is all so stupid. Coming here, thinking I could run away from my problems by living by myself. And now those same problems have led me out here on my own. Because I couldn’t believe that someone as amazing as Declan would love me, scars and all.
Tears run down my face, mingling with the rain and I stop under a gigantic tree. I’m sure I saw something on YouTube that advised finding an open field during a lightning storm. Out here, the trees are so tightly packed that there’s no chance of that. I scoot down so I’m leaning against the tree and try to work out my next move.
Once I’m down, I can’t get up again. I start to sob. Then I make wild promises out loud, praying that if I get out of here, I’ll be more careful in the future. I swear I’ll be more grateful for what I have. Falling silent, the only noise is the wind in the trees, the occasional boom of thunder and the steady rain.
My eyes are sore and my head hurts. I close them and rest my head on my knees.
A tap on my knee makes me jump.
Albert is standing in front of me, his head tilted to one side and one little paw on my knee. I reach my arms forward and he scuttles up into them. I never thought I’d be so happy to see a racoon.
He only stays in my arms for a second, before making a screeching noise and jumping away, disappearing among the trees. Lightning flashes again and I heave myself to my feet, leaning against the tree.
“Wait! Albert!” I call.
“Peaches! Where you hiding?” That deep growl of a voice sends a wave of relief straight through me. I can barely stand as I start waving, wondering where Declan is and if he can see me.
“Here! Albert found me!” I call, my voice cracking.
Another flash of lightning illuminates the broad, burly figure striding confidently through the trees. He’s completely at home out here and it’s as if he owns these woods.
“Are you hurt?” His brow wrinkles in concern as he closes the distance. Albert scampers around his feet.
I shake my head. “No. But I feel stupid. And I’m wet.”
He reaches me and pulls my body against his. “Tell me what you’re doing wandering in the woods like this. You’re exposed to the elements, gorgeous. People get lost out here.”
I can’t speak, overwhelmed for a second.
He takes off his jacket, wrapping it around me.
“You’re coming home with me and Albert. I don’t know where you were headed, but we can talk about it once you’re not soaking wet.”
My voice is small. “I was trying to get home.”
“Last night was that bad, huh?” He looks down at me, wrapping his arm around my waist so he’s almost carrying me across the muddy ground.
I can’t help smiling. “Last night was the opposite of bad.”
“I went searching for you. Started to get worried when you weren’t at your aunt’s or at your cabin. Albert was trying to tell me the whole time, but I was too dumb to pay attention.”
Albert chirps at the mention of his name, then runs ahead. The trees are less dense as we walk on and then we’re back on the path.
“For future reference, you need the left hand path. Leads back right past your cabin.”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure I want to come out here on my own.”
“Oh, you’ll get used to it. I’ll teach you how to navigate without a map. These woods have all kinds of markers you can follow. It’s much harder in a storm, of course.”
I sag against his body, suddenly overcome with exhaustion. “Can we rest for a moment? I’m tired.”
Declan shakes his head. “No. We need to get inside.” He swings his arm under my legs, lifting me to his broad chest. I want to tell him he can’t carry me all the way back, but I know he won’t listen. Instead, I bury my head into his skin, drinking in his woodsy, fresh scent. I can’t get enough of it. He smells like home.
Once we’re back at his cabin, Declan runs me a bath. He leaves me to get in and I lie there, surprised at how much dirt comes out from my trek through the forest. He’s left me a fluffy red towel and an enormous bathrobe. I put it on, staring at myself in the mirror. I have a scratch on one cheek and my eyes are still red.
I come out of the bathroom and he brings me a cup of coffee, guiding me to the sofa. He grabs a blanket from one of the beds and wraps it around me, then makes me eat a donut. He doesn’t let me talk until I’m finished.
“Feel better?”
I nod. “I think the sugar helped. Look, Declan. I’ve been so dumb.”
His lips quirk upwards into a grin. “Not as dumb as I was, not listening to what my genius raccoon was trying to tell me about the woman I love.”
My heart beats faster. “What did you say?”
“The raccoon part? Or the woman I love part?”
“That part.”
Declan takes the cup from my hands and puts it down on the table.
“I love you, Georgia. Everything about you is exactly what I want. And I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how goddamn wonderful you are. If you’ll let me. Don’t run away without telling me, okay? I couldn’t bear to lose you.” His eyes are intense.
I reach my hand up and stroke his jaw, running my fingers through his beard. “It’s going to take me a little while to get used to being so open. But I love you too. I knew it last night, I think. I just doubted that you could ever feel the same. That’s why I ran away.”
His big hands stroke my damp hair. “You can stop running now, Peaches. Stay with me. I promise I’ll spend every day making you glad you did.”