Tag: short story

Her eyes widened in shock at his declaration and Adam prepared to see the fear seep into her warm brown eyes, followed by the horror that she was in the presence of a monster. None of that happened. Instead her eyes narrowed and she shook her head. “I don’t buy that at all.”

What was it about this woman? She was fearless, determined, and seemed to see things in him that weren’t there.

Guess that also meant she was crazy. 

Moving further into her personal space he used his height to his advantage, towering over her. “My wife and daughter are dead because of me.”

“Maybe,” she conceded. “But that doesn’t mean you killed them.” Her tone was kind and her touch when she reached out and placed a hand on his chest, right above his heart. “I can’t imagine what that loss would be like, but if you want to talk about it I’m here, if you don’t want to talk thats okay too.”

Her smile was genuine and when she turned to leave the room he felt like she was taking the tiny beam of sunlight she’d managed to shine on him in that moment of physical contact with her. 

“Zara, wait.” The words were out of his mouth before he could even think about it. But when she turned and looked up at him with patient empathy he realised he didn’t regret them. He needed to make her understand how dangerous he was, she was sweet, he didn’t want to wind up hurting her worse than he already had.

“Lets sit.” She took his hand like he hadn’t almost strangled her to death, and guided him to sit on the edge of his bed. Once they were both seated she didn’t say anything just waited and held his hand. 

“I attacked her, my wife,” he said softly, unwanted memories pawing at his brain trying to get out. “I was asleep, dreaming, nightmares, I threw her up against the wall. She tried to wake me but she couldn’t. I tore up the bedroom, she was terrified, grabbed our daughter and ran. She crashed the car.”

“I’m so sorry, thats awful. But, Adam.” She waited until he met her gaze before continuing, “That doesn’t mean you killed them. It was a horrible accident. She must have been afraid, I was when you grabbed me, but it was clear you weren’t deliberately doing it. She might have been scared, might have wanted to protect your daughter, but she knew that it wasn’t really you she was running from. I’m so sorry you lost them, and I’m so sorry about whatever happened to you to cause the dreams.”

This woman had to be an angel. She was still sitting beside him, still holding his hand, offering him kindness and absolution he didn’t deserve.

It wasn’t right. 

Anger and grief warred inside him and unable to handle sweet Zara and her understanding a second longer he stormed across the room and out the door. Zara called his name but he ignored her and ran through the house and out into the cool night. 

“I should have been there,” he screamed into the darkness. He should never have left his family so often to go on missions with his Delta team that a rift developed between him and his wife, he should never have allowed himself to get to the point where he became a danger to his family, and he should have been there in the car, driving his wife and daughter to a safe place. 

He had failed. 

Diving into his swimming pool he began to swim, punishing his body was the only way he could cope with what he had lost.

Well at least now she knew why Adam had haunted eyes. He was retired from the military, his nightmares were no doubt related to that. She might not know anything about fighting wars but she knew all about nightmares.

Including those you couldn’t escape because they were just your life.

“You wouldn’t have hurt me if you hadn’t been asleep,” she reminded him.

“You have no idea what I’m capable of,” he growled, his voice hard, his expression even harder.

She gave him a sad smile. She might not know what he was capable of but the way he was beating himself up for attacking her in his sleep was a bit of a giveaway that he didn’t go around strangling women.

“Stay away from me, Zara,” he said, then he rushed to his room locking the door behind him.

Zara sighed, it was clear he didn’t want her help but that was just too bad. She was here, for the next year, and it was obvious he needed someone, why shouldn’t she see if she could help him?

She shuffled over to his door and rested her back against it, absently she traced her fingers over the bruises on her neck. They weren’t the first given to her by a man.

“I know you think you’re a bad guy, Adam, but you’re not. Bad guys don’t care when they hurt people. Trust me, I know.”

Even though she couldn’t see him she could sense that he was listening to her and she smiled. Her family had never understood why she hated her dad for what he’d done to her, her mom, and her sister. They made excuses for him, he didn’t mean to hit them, he lost his temper, it was really all their own fault anyway, it wasn’t very often. She’d never made those excuses, and it had ostracised her in her family.

“My dad used to hit us. He liked to do it where no one could see, chest, back, stomach, those were his favourites. He never apologised, never felt bad, he never would have gone running into a room and locked the door to try to keep us safe. You’re not that kind of man, Adam.”

She could hear him moving in there and a moment later she tumbled backwards as the door was opened.

“I’m sorry, Zara,” Adam said as he reached down, took her hand, and helped her up. “I keep hurting you.”

“Its no big deal, Adam,” she assured him.

“You’re not the first person I’ve hurt,” he admitted. Pain swirling in the blue depths of his eyes and she ached to be able to ease his hurt, even just a little. His gaze was dark, dangerous, and yet she didn’t fear him. She felt his goodness even if he didn’t.

“I’m sure whatever you did it wasn’t on purpose.”

He crowded closer, towering over her. “You want to know what I did?” he growled. “You think you can handle it? That knowing the monster I am won’t change anything. Make no mistake about it, Zara, I am a monster. I killed my wife and daughter.”

Something slammed into the side of his head.

Pain bloomed.

Heart pounding, body shaking uncontrollably, Adam sunk to his knees.

Beside him something also clunked to the ground.

No not something. Someone.

Oh no. 

Zara.

Adam blinked and his worst nightmare was confirmed. Zara sat before him, her back pressed against the wall, knees drawn up to her chest, one arm was wrapped around them as though she needed to hold herself together, her other hand was caressing her neck. 

Had he …?

It was all a blur. He’d been sleeping, then he’d heard something, he’d thought he was awake but now that he was looking at Zara’s huddled form he knew he’d been dreaming.

Again.

Stricken he stared at the terrified woman. He’d known hiring her would turn out to be a mistake but he hadn’t been able to help himself. There has been something about her that had drawn him in and now because of his weakness she was suffering.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, already trying to stand.

Zara shuffled closer. She lifted a tentative hand and reached for him, lightly touching his cheek. “You were dreaming. I’m sorry, I didn’t know how else to stop you, I hope it wasn’t valuable.” She nodded to something beside them and he saw a shattered vase. That must have been why his head had hurt, she’d hit him to wake her up. 

“Actually it was,” he said hoarsely. 

“I’m sorry.” Zara snatched her hand back and went to shuffle away from him. 

Without thinking he snapped out his hand and caught her wrist. “I don’t care about the vase, Zara. I’m so sorry I put you in that position.” He reached out and tugged her hand from her neck. There were angry red marks there which would be horrible mottled mess of black and blue by morning. Adam swore and released her abruptly like she’d burned him. 

Again Zara stopped him when he would have fled to his room where he would have spent the night berating himself for his mistake. “You had a nightmare, its not your fault. You’re bleeding.”

He touched a hand to his head, it came away sticky. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Its okay, I can do it,” Zara said softly. 

Why was she being so nice to him? So understanding? He could have killed her. “I can do it myself,” he growled, needing to get away from her before he hurt her again.

Zara flinched at his harsh tone but she didn’t back down. Her eyes met his, her skin glowing white in the moonlight, her long hair loose around her shoulders. “I want to help, I’m the one who hit you. I’m not afraid of you, Adam,” she said softly. 

Stupid woman. 

Stupid, stupid woman. 

She had no idea what he’d done, what he was capable of doing. 

Adam met her gaze just as squarely. “You should be.”

Zara wandered around her bedroom. It was late, she’d chosen a room with a view of the woods that surrounded the house, then she’d given herself a tour of the house, from the looks of things Mr. Rittner didn’t use many of the rooms. Although she’d gone to the kitchen in time to read through the list of her responsibilities and to make dinner for seven he’d never shown up so she’d eaten alone then retired to her room. It had its own bathroom and she’d taken a long hot bath but instead of relaxing her it had only left her wired.

What was she doing here?

Running, escaping her life, yes, but was it worth it risking herself out here all alone with a man who terrified her?

Adam Rittner was a big man, tall, muscled, handsome. He had haunted blue eyes and thick blond hair, and a voice that sounded like sex.

Great.

She was attracted to him. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised, he was a powerful man and most women’s dream, but it was the last thing she needed right now. Besides, Mr. Rittner didn’t seem like the kind of man who would welcome infatuation from an employee, he was obviously all alone out here for a reason.

Their first meeting, yeah, that went well. He could barely look at her, couldn’t get away from her fast enough. She might be lusting after him but she doubted he had given her a second thought.

Since Mr. Rittner had told her to make herself at home, Zara slipped on an oversized t-shirt and panties, she slept naked but she was pretty sure that Mr. Rittner didn’t want her feeling so at home she walked around his house naked.

Dressed she snuck out of her bedroom. Although this was her home for the next year she still felt odd sneaking about at midnight. She’d go to the kitchen, make some coffee, then maybe she’d eat it on the back terrace.

Zara was passing the door next to hers when a shadow suddenly lunged at her. A hand wrapped around her neck and she was thrown up against the wall so hard pain flared through her body.

Cold blue eyes stared at her in the moonlight.

Empty eyes.

Adam Rittner’s eyes.

Eyes of death.

What was he thinking?

No way he should have hired Zara Wentworth as his housekeeper. The woman was stunning, long silky black hair hung to her waist, large brown eyes framed by the longest lashes he’d ever seen, and soft white skin that would tempt any man.

This had bad idea written all over it.

He was a dangerous man, one not fit to be around, yes the estate was a lot to manage on his own but it wasn’t like anyone would be around to see the mess. He really only lived out of three rooms, and he could manage to keep those clean himself. He had nothing to do all day so he should be able to manage the gardens but he couldn’t face another day alone here in this huge house.

Not that Adam would admit he was lonely.

He watched the woman walk slowly down the driveway. There was a hesitancy about her that befitted the situation she had willingly walked into. It was too late for her to back out now, too late for him to back out as well.

With a groan he dragged himself out of his chair and made his way through to the foyer to greet his guest.

A woman.

A beautiful woman.

Staying here alone with him in the middle of nowhere.

The woman would have been better off if she’d never answered that ad.

The doorbell rang and he opened the door to see Zara’s wide brown eyes staring up at him. She had a ‘is he hiding from someone?’ look on her face but she pasted on a bright smile.

“Mr. Riitner?” she said, smile still in place.

Adam ignored her outstretched hand and gave a sharp nod. “Adam,” he said gruffly, he wasn’t used to talking to people anymore, it had been a long time since he had been in anyone’s company. “Make yourself at home, choose any bedroom you want as yours. Dinner is at seven, and there’s a list of your responsibilities on the kitchen table.”

Having said more in the last fifteen seconds than he had in the last few years, Adam turned abruptly and fled the room as quickly as he could. Back in his study he locked the door and leaned heavily against it, unsettled by his new houseguest.

Zara Wentworth was a beautiful woman but that was the problem.

He broke beautiful things.