And if I wasn’t careful, I was going to get burned.
No matter how hard I focused on my investigation, my mind incessantly drifted back to those penetrating eyes, that low, gravelly voice, and his uncanny ability to meld with the shadows whenever I approached. It wasn’t merely curiosity. It was a deeper, more unsettling sensation I wasn’t ready to confront.
I wasn’t supposed to feel this way, about a stranger, and certainly not after everything I had experienced.
But this wasn’t just physical attraction. There was an invisible force drawing me towards him like we were linked by an unseen thread.
But whenever I tried to get closer, Mateo fell back like a shadow, always just beyond reach.
That afternoon, after another unproductive day of interviews, I found myself wandering aimlessly through town. My feet unconsciously guided me towards the edge of the forest.
I knew my destination before I consciously decided on it. My heart raced as I approached the forest’s edge.
I hesitated, staring into the approaching darkness. A part of me recognized the danger of venturing into the woods alone. But a stronger urge pushed me forward, compelling me to seek him out once more.
So, I continued.