Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

"This isn't something you need to know."

After that, Dean never brought it up again.

There were two empty rooms in the house. Dean turned one into a little herb pantry-the rainy season left him with time on his hands, and while Maja was healing, he cleaned up the space and built a simple bed himself, tossing the wood shavings straight into the fire.

Once the room was ready, he had Maja move in. He still slept outside.

Two weeks passed, and Maja's foot was almost as good as new.

She started talking about leaving again. Dean, realizing he couldn't change her mind, offered, "At least let me take you somewhere you can catch a ride."

He borrowed a car, and together they headed into town.

On the way, Dean remembered the time Maja had asked to borrow his phone. Wanting an excuse to keep a piece of her life with him, he asked, "Do you want to call home again?"

Of course, she did.

She nodded.

Dean was practically cheerful as he led her into a big supermarket that had international phone booths.

This time, Maja dialed her family's number. The sound of her little sister's voice on the other end was a comfort she didn't realize she'd missed.

came the words: "I'm

She froze.

"It's Conner's."

couldn't even process

eyes flickered to the side- and caught sight of

saw the man with the gun,

instant, Maja spun away, hung up the phone, and her heart shot into her throat

noticed how quickly

He was about to step forward and ask where she was going-he even meant to give her what money he had left. He barely got the words out:

Stay away

said it fast, yanked her jacket zipper up, and ducked her

went on high

behind her. Without thinking, he turned, caught up to her, and threw his arm around

you. Stay away

even flinch. "Enough.

back to the car, Dean insisted, "My place might not be comfortable, but at least you'll sleep safe. When they're gone and it's safe, go wherever

stop you."

"You're

won't

my patients walk into danger. I don't care if