Rx Missing (Decorah Security Series, Book #10): A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novel by Rebecca York Read Free Book Online Page B

life, but maybe not more empty than hers. Was that part of what made him attractive to her? Two lonely, scared people reaching out to each other.
    Maybe part. But from the moment she’d set eyes on him, she’d felt something for him.
    When he started across the lawn toward the stucco wall that marked the boundary of the hotel lawn, her stomach clenched.
    “Come back.”
    “I want to see what’s in the woods.”
    Her hand shot out and grabbed his arm. “No!”
    “Why does that idea frighten you?”
    “It’s outside the hotel grounds.”
    “So what?”
    “You heard what Paula said.”
    “I don’t trust her either.”
    “You’re saying you don’t trust me?”
    He turned to look at her. “I want to. Should I?”
    She longed to say, “Yes.” She longed to tell him that she had his best interests at heart, but she couldn’t get the word past her suddenly parched lips. When she’d taken on this part of the assignment, she’d been excited about a new adventure, but she hadn’t been thinking about these people as individuals. Talking to them had changed her perception.
    “You trust everyone here?” he asked.
    “Why shouldn’t I?”
    “Why does Tom Wright want to go off alone? Is he waiting to contact someone?”
    “Who?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “And I don’t know where Paula got her information about this place.”
    “She’s been here.”
    “Has she? And what’s Jenny Seville hiding?”
    “I don’t know.” She moistened her lips. “You’re suspicious of everyone?”
    “I have to be.”
    She wasn’t exactly coming from the same place as he was. Still, now that she was part of the group, her stress level was off the charts, and her feelings for Mack Bradley were a big part of her roiling emotions. He interested her. Excited her. Inspired her admiration. She was even impressed by the way he wasn’t taking anything at face value—even her.
    He kept staring at her, and she managed not to look away.
    Silent messages passed between them, messages neither one of them could acknowledge aloud. She stood her ground when she wanted to close the distance between them and grasp his shoulders.
    The moment was interrupted by a creaking noise like rusty hinges. As they watched, the door in the wall opened—like an invitation.

Chapter Eight
    Mack heard Lily suck in a sharp breath as she stared into the darkness.
    As she stared at the open door, the expression on Lily’s face was a mixture of panic and uncertainty.
    When Mack started forward, she grabbed his arm. “Don’t go out there.”
    “Why not?”
    “Paula said it could be dangerous,” she answered.
    “Paula was talking about India. This isn’t India.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Too many weird things—like Douglas disappearing. The temperature being the same inside and out. The sky going wonky.”
    When he tried to tug away, she held fast.
    “I want to know what’s going on,” Mack answered, unable to fight the sudden reckless impulse that grabbed him. “Is there something you know about this place that I don’t?”
    She hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “No.”
    “Then let’s not waste this opportunity.” Shaking off her hand, he charged toward the door in the wall.
    Lily caught up with him and grabbed his arm again. “Stay here.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    He felt the impatience bubbling like a boiler set to explode. It came from frustration with this whole out-of-kilter situation and from a compulsion he couldn’t name—as though some impulse outside himself had taken control.
    oOo
    If he’d been thinking straight, that feeling of compulsion would have stopped him.
    Instead he stepped through the open doorway into the woods. The light was suddenly dimmer, because the trees were blocking out the sun. There was no sound. No movement of the vegetation. If he was going to find out anything, he had to go farther in.
    Mack started down a forest trail, leaving Lily behind. From the other side of the wall, the woods had