Chapter 8
Not. Enough. Sleep. Not nearly enough sleep.
Addie pulled the sheets over her head to prevent the sun that was already poking through the curtains from hitting her in the eyes.
The house was old and it groaned and creaked all the time. Add the wind and the animals outside and there were no peaceful, quiet nights. Heck, she might even have a racoon or something living in her attic, there was so much noise.
Of course, it probably didn’t help that she’d been on the phone to her mom until far too late, and the woman had asked her three times—three—whether she was ready to come home.
Her mother meant well. But she didn’t understand that Addie needed to do this. She needed to live somewhere different and have a bit of separation from her parents.
With a deep sigh, she crawled out of bed before stepping into the shower. It was a quick shower because she wanted to go for a run. She needed to do something to clear her head. And not just a run around the block. She needed trees and mountains. She needed open Montana air.
All of which she could get at work. The mountain bike trail was perfect for running, she just had to get there before the place opened.
She didn’t usually work up too much of a sweat, especially with the cold air, but if she did, she could just sneak home and take a shower at lunch while Cass covered for her.
Back in the bedroom, she pulled on some leggings, a sports crop, and a sweatshirt. She’d just stepped back into the bathroom to pull her hair up when her gaze caught on something in the sink. She frowned.
What was that?
Slowly, she lowered her head to look closer. Were they…hairs? Short, black hairs…
No. That wasn’t possible.
She had blond hair, and she was the only person who used this bathroom. Hell, apart from Noah, she was the only one who’d spent any time in this house.
Wait, no—a plumber had come yesterday while she’d been at work. It was from him. It had to be him.
Air rushed from her chest.
She was so shaken by that text and the feeling of being watched that she was scaring herself.
Quickly, she turned on the tap and washed them down the drain.
She hadn’t received another text since the bar. And she was praying it stayed that way. Because she was not running home to her parents scared.
She’d considered going to the sheriff’s station about it, but it was probably just some prank texter. At least, that’s what she was trying to convince herself.
Quickly, she pulled up her hair in an elastic band, then grabbed her work clothes and shoved them into a bag before leaving. When she reached the park, the sun was only just rising. It almost looked amber and was beautiful. But then, all of Amber Ridge was beautiful.
The second she climbed out of the car, her first real smile of the morning stretched her lips. At the sound of the birds—maybe mountain bluebirds—in the forest. At the cool morning air on her skin.
In her office, she dropped her bag onto her desk before stepping outside again and going straight to the mountain bike path. Then she started running, her feet hitting the ground.
God, it felt good.
Why didn’t she run more? She should. That, combined with the fresh air in her lungs, just made every heavy thought inside her feel lighter. Every worry about Noah, every fear about the person who sent the text… it suddenly felt like she could carry the load and not crumble.
She wasn’t sure how long she ran—it had to be close to half an hour. It was enough time to let the endorphins kick in and her mind get lost in nature. It wasn’t until she neared the end of the loop that the familiar crunching sounded behind her. The first time since the text.
She glanced behind her but continued to move.
No one was there.
She looked back ahead, a strange feeling now in her belly. A ripple that made her uneasy and even a bit sick.
The noise sounded again. She shot another glance over her shoulder. Again, nothing.
She ran faster, sprinting down the path, pushing to get to the office cabin. It was in view. She was almost there.
When the noise sounded again but closer, she turned her head for the third time. When she looked back in front of her, she saw the large rock too late.
Her foot hit it hard, and she toppled over, landing on the ground with a thud. Pain erupted across her side, making her groan.
Jesus freaking Christ, that hurt.
She tugged her sweatshirt up to see a nasty scrape. It wasn’t bleeding, but her skin was red and raw.
Great. Just what her morning needed.
Her gaze lifted to the path behind her one more time. And nope, no one was there. Because no one was ever there. She was just losing her goddamn mind.
With a groan, she pushed to her feet. It wasn’t just her side that hurt. Apparently, her entire body couldn’t handle a fall.
At least no one had seen. The embarrassment probably would have hurt her ego more than the scrape.
In the cabin, she pulled the office door closed behind her.
Facing away from the door, she quickly tugged off her sweatshirt and switched her sports bra for a lacy black one.
After toeing off her shoes, she stepped out of her leggings and pulled on a high-waisted skirt.
She’d just done up the back when a knock sounded at the door.
She turned but didn’t have time to say anything before it was pushed open and Noah stood there, eyes wide as he took in her shirtless chest.
Noah parked his truck beside Addie’s black Jeep Cherokee.
She was early. Why? To get extra work done? Or did she suffer from the same kind of insomnia as him?
Yeah, right. He was pretty sure that kind of sleep was reserved solely for him.
He climbed out of his truck, his phone weighing heavy in his pocket.
He was going to call Toby today. He’d almost called yesterday but just…
hadn’t. The guy had made it obvious he was good at his job, so Noah just needed to man the hell up and call him.
Yeah, he hated therapy, but maybe Toby would be different.
His mind conjured the image of Addie on the floor of the bar where he’d shoved her.
Yeah, he needed help and he needed help fast.
He stopped inside the reception area. The desk was empty. Where was Addie? Maybe back in the kitchen?
He knocked once on the office door before opening it.
His jaw immediately dropped, blood burning in his veins. Addie stood a few feet away, shirtless.
His mind blanked of everything but her. She wasn’t even naked, but it was like the sight of her short-circuited his damn brain.
Her ample breasts pushed up against the lacy material. Her skin was smooth and looked so damn soft that his fingers itched to touch her.
He bit back a curse.
He was staring. He was staring like a fucking scumbag. Great.
He was about to turn when something on her side had him pausing. “You’re hurt.”
She glanced down. “I had a little fall.”
“That’s not little.”
He moved over to the cupboard and pulled out the first aid kit.
Addie shook her head. “Noah, it’s nothing.”
“Sit.”
“Noah—”
“Either I clean it, or I call someone to do it. Either way, that needs to be seen to.”
Her mouth opened and closed, like she was debating arguing some more. Then she sighed and dropped into the seat at the desk.
He knelt in front of her, and her breasts were right fucking there.
Don’t look at her, don’t be a scumbag, Noah.
He gritted his teeth before taking out the saline and cleaning the scratch. “How did you fall?” At her silence, he glanced up. “Addie?”
She didn’t look at him while she answered. “I didn’t see a rock in front of me.”
“You don’t seem like a careless person.” He ran the saline-covered pad over the wound again before throwing it into the trash and taking out some gauze.
Addie lifted a shoulder. “I thought I heard something.”
His gaze shot up, his hand holding the pad against her ribs. “Addie…this isn’t the first time you’ve thought someone was there who shouldn’t have been.”
She squirmed, like she was uncomfortable. “Yes. But again, I didn’t see anyone.”
The muscles in his forearms flexed. Because that didn’t mean shit, and she knew it. “Has anything else happened that I don’t know about?”
Her eyes widened slightly.
There was something. “What?”
“I got a text.”
Something hard and uncomfortable pitted his gut. “From who?”
“An unknown number.”
“What did it say?”
“That I’ve overstayed my welcome. And to get out.”
Jesus fucking Christ! “Have you reported it to Jesse?”
She shook her head. “I’m sure it’s—”
“Don’t say nothing. You can’t put all that stuff together and still believe it’s nothing. You need to report it to the sheriff’s office.”
“But—”
“No buts, Addie. I also want you to make sure you’re not going outside alone. Let me or one of the guys walk you to your car. Don’t get here before everyone else. No more runs by yourself.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“If someone is following you and trying to scare you out of town, then yes.” He stuck the pad onto her ribs with surgical tape before leaning back. “Promise me, Addie.”
She didn’t want to. He could see it in her eyes. But then she blinked. “Fine. I’ll call Jesse.”
“And be careful.”
This time she rolled her eyes. “Of course I’ll be careful.”
“Good.”
For a moment, neither of them moved, he just watched those blue eyes like his gaze was fucking stuck.
Suddenly, the click of a door opening sounded.
Shit.
Addie swung around and grabbed her top, while Noah quickly went into the reception area and pulled the door closed behind him.
A family bustled inside.
He smiled at them. “Hi. Welcome to Wilderness Adventure Park. Addie will be out in a moment.”
He waited for Addie to step out of the office. When she did, her eyes briefly met his, an emotion he couldn’t place flaring within them, before she turned to the people on the other side of the desk. “Hi. Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m Addie.”
Noah waited until he was outside to let the full weight of the anger bear down on him.
Someone had messaged her. Threatened her. And that same someone was probably following her around.
His hands fisted, the need to know who this asshole was raging inside him. Why did they want her out of Amber Ridge? And what would they do if she didn’t heed their warning?
He stopped at the base of the bouldering and climbing wall, confused at the sight of Rhett rummaging through the equipment box.
What the hell was he doing? He wasn’t even scheduled to work for another hour.
“What are you doing?”
Rhett jumped and swung around. “Noah.”
“I’m going to ask you again, Rhett.” He stepped closer. “What are you doing in the equipment box? You’re not scheduled to work at this wall today, and your shift hasn’t started.”
“I lost my watch yesterday. I thought it might have fallen in.”
Noah studied his bare wrist. “What kind of watch was it?”
“Garmin.” Rhett shook his head. “I’m sure it will show up. Keep an eye out for me, would you?”
He started walking away, but Noah called out to him.
Rhett stopped and a couple of seconds passed before he turned.
“You weren’t working on this wall yesterday. Why would it be here?”
The muscles in Rhett’s shoulders visibly tensed. “I lost it a couple of days ago. Only realized this morning.”
Noah didn’t respond straight away. Instead, he let the silence stretch. It was usually the best way to make a liar break. Rhett didn’t break, and eventually Noah nodded.
Once Rhett was gone, Noah studied the equipment box. Maybe he should do a little digging into the guy. He wasn’t assuming Rhett was the person harassing Addie, but it didn’t hurt to double-check his background.
But first, he needed to make the call he’d been dreading.
He pulled his cell from his pocket. If Addie needed help, then there was even more reason for him to get help. He needed to be okay, and that wasn’t going to happen unless he actively did something.
He hit Toby’s number.