Chapter 13 #2
It would make no sense, though. Because she was an unemployed accountant who also couldn’t shift, so why would it matter to her if he couldn’t turn into some sort of animal?
Certainly it wasn’t the kind of thing she went looking for in men’s dating profiles.
She didn’t think most of them would find it necessary to specify Unable to change forms at will in their bio, and with good reason.
If, somehow, this was the issue, she was going to have to set him straight.
She literally didn’t care about any of that.
What she cared about was that he’d rushed over and caught her when she’d tripped, even though they’d barely even met and all she’d done was embarrass herself and stare at his naked torso.
What she cared about was the fact that he’d single-handedly dug her out from under an avalanche and saved her life.
What she cared about was his smile, and his handwritten notes, and the way he savored every bite of food he ate, and the way he looked at her.
What she cared about was Max.
Poppy sighed and concentrated on the action of putting one foot in front of the other.
At last, the B) she could believe he’d written it, though she doubted he’d lead her on some kind of sexy wild goose chase right after she’d been buried in snow and had to get medical attention.
But to do something designed to make her worry for his safety just to get her to come after him?
I might not have known him long, but I can’t imagine he’d do that.
Nothing about this made sense. Could someone really have kidnapped Max? Poppy found the thought of him having enemies extremely unlikely, but could she really take the chance of just ignoring the note altogether? Would she only believe it once they started mailing body parts to the B&B??
In the sudden wave of horror that overtook her at that thought, it took her a moment to realize that there were some coordinates written below, and she quickly fumbled for her phone, looking them up.
She didn’t know what she was going to do if she had to travel somewhere far away.
Just how much would a cab to literally anywhere cost from here? !
Maybe Levi could fly me there, she thought, before dismissing the idea in irritation.
Although, if it came down to it and Max had been taken somewhere she couldn’t reach, she would be willing to at least ask him.
What would she have to lose? If Levi really could fly, then she would be happy to swallow her pride and let him take her to Max.
At least she’d have the satisfaction of thinking Hah!
I knew it! when Levi presumably had to admit he’d made the whole thing up.
It was moot in the end, though, because the coordinates turned out to be close to the B&B – only a couple of miles away, in what appeared to be a secluded wooded area. Her quickest option was definitely to walk straight there, and anyway, she’d been told to come alone.
As long as the area isn’t prone to avalanches, Poppy thought uneasily – but then she pushed the thought aside. She knew that Max needed her, and that was all that mattered.
She didn’t know how, or why, or what was going on, but she knew it.
She knew she should call the police… but what would she say? That the window had opened itself, and a pen had magically started writing, all without her seeing it? They’d think she was crazy, and would probably waste precious time grilling her instead of rescuing Max.
She took a few seconds to quickly finish off the ham and down a glass of water. There’d be no point in bursting in to rescue Max if she keeled over from hunger and dehydration a moment later.
Hesitating for only a moment, she slid the knife into its plastic cover, before placing it inside her purse. She wasn’t about to go in completely unarmed, after all.
Her fingertips brushed over the forgotten box of macarons at the bottom of her purse, battered from the day’s events, but still intact.
Poppy’s resolve hardened.
These macarons were given to us so we could eat them together – and I’m going to eat them with Max, no matter what.
Feeling energized, she threw on her jacket once more and headed for the front door, gathering the notebook she’d given Max on the way.
After she’d closed the door behind her, she slid the open notebook underneath so that just the coordinates peeked out.
After a moment of thought, she scribbled Look for us here beneath them with the cheap ballpoint she kept in her purse.
If all else failed, she supposed, the B&B’s owners would know where to collect the bodies if she didn’t succeed in her mission.
Poppy had no intention of failure, though. She was going to get Max out, and they were going to eat macarons together, and she was going to tell him that whatever concerns he may have had about their relationship, they could be worked out.
Setting her jaw, she locked the door and hurried down the stairs.
Hold on, Max, she thought grimly. I’m coming.