ISAIAH
Isaiah approached the Emerald House warily. He wasn’t sure of the best way to initiate a conversation with Sofia. Though he didn’t want to spook her, he needed the information about where he’d been hiking. Something told him he generally had a good sense of navigation, but he’d still been disoriented when they drove to the hospital, so he didn’t think he could find the way back on his own.
The cashier at the convenience store had seemed to associate Ash with the Emerald House, so Isaiah guessed that Ash would be at the party. Maybe he could seek him out to ask about the trailhead and bypass Sofia altogether.
Isaiah heard raucous music as he approached the building, and he pulled open one of the large wood front doors, hoping to slip in unnoticed and find Ash.
But as soon as he stepped inside, his gaze landed on the woman who’d found him on the trail, and his pulse quickened. The smatterings of freckles across her nose were hard not to find endearing, andwow, she looked stunning in the sparkling dress she was wearing.
The warm sensation that had leaped into his veins at the sight of her quickly evaporated as her eyes widened in shock andher glass slipped from her hand to shatter all over the floor. At least half the room turned to look in their direction.
So much for flying under the radar.
A beautiful woman in a deep-red dress approached Sofia and started to pat dry the floor with napkins. Isaiah took a step forward, wanting to help.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking around for something to clean up the broken glass.
Sofia’s eyes were narrowed, and she pointed a shaky finger at him. “You’re supposed to be in the hospital.” Her voice was a tad accusatory, and he took a step back.
“I was released,” he said, deciding it was best to keep it simple. The woman didn’t need to know any more about his medical history than she already did. There were HIPAA laws for that.
If possible, her eyes narrowed even further. “Released?” She said the word as if she were trying to sound it out. “Dr. Margo released you?”
Isaiah stood up straighter, looking around uncomfortably at the handful of people who seemed to be watching them. They quickly turned away when he made eye contact with them.
He swallowed. “I’m here, aren’t I?” He hadn’t meant to sound snarky, but he wondered why she didn’t realize they shouldn’t be having the conversation in front of everyone at the party.
A movement to the right pulled his eyes from Sofia’s, and he noticed that the woman in the red dress had brought a broom and was surreptitiously cleaning up all the broken glass. Sofia took a few steps to the side, leaving her to it.
“Yeah, why exactlyareyou here?” She tilted her head as she studied him, and he couldn’t read whatever was going on in her expression.
Isaiah took a deep breath again and let it out in a soft whoosh.Oh boy.This is going to be more challenging than I anticipated.He looked around, trying to spot Ash.
“Did you hear me?” Her voice had his eyes snapping straight back to hers. Clearly, she thought he still had some kind of brain injury, and he didn’t blame her.
“I came to find you,” Isaiah said in exasperation. Maybe there was no way to finesse the situation. He would have to barrel through it, as Sofia seemed to insist on doing.
Her eyes widened. “Me?Why?”
“I need to get back to the trailhead, and I don’t remember where it was.”
“So your memorieshaven’tcome back?” Sofia pressed, her eyes still boring into him.
“I didn’t say that. I just was a little confused when we made the drive into town, so I don’t know how to get back to the trail.”
Sofia stood there staring at him, crossing her arms and tapping one high-heeled shoe on the ground, and he realized she looked cute even when she was fired up. He let out a deep breath again and ran a hand through his hair, trying not to lean away from her.
Her eyes sparked like fireworks. Then ever so slightly, she shifted. The spark calmed just a little, and her shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.
“Fine. I’ll take you to the trailhead.Tomorrow.You’re not messing with my New Year’s Eve even more than you already have.”
Even more than I already have? Did I mess up her morning earlier on the trail?A loose curl was dangling from her forehead, and Sofia blew it to the side. Isaiah tried not to grin. He wondered what had her so wound up.Or is she always like this?She was direct—he would give her that. “Of course. Whenever you want.”
Sofia was still studying him in a somehow intensely offhand way, but he was relieved that she didn’t seem to be about to change her mind. “Where are you staying tonight?” she asked.
Isaiah shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. He hadn’t planned on staying overnight and had no money or identification. Running a hand through his hair, he tried to formulate a response.
Before he could open his mouth, the beautiful woman who had been cleaning up the glass straightened and looped her arm through Sofia’s. “He can stay here at the Emerald House.”
