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Chapter One

The headlights cast beaht across the cabin as Julie drove her SUV down the long, winding driveway Relief filled her at the sight, and she pulled in front of the separate garage, cutting the engine She thought about actually parking in the garage, but she didn’t have an opener and it was late

She’d do it tomorrow

Luckily the drive wasn’t too far fro and got a late start Herher about too h relaxation and blah, blah, blah Stress and ulcers and no life, no boyfriend, heaven forbid that’s what her life was all about That was her est fear Julie would die alone and unloved, with no husband by her side and no children at her feet Grandchildren, the happy home life and picket fence, the works She wanted it all for Julie

And all Julie wanted was a successful career Hell, she did have a successful career She owned her own business One of the encies in Northern California, she leased a large building right in don Sacramento, had twenty employees and sometimes even had to turn away jobs

She didn’t need a boyfriend to validate her life Hell, she was only twenty-nine Plenty of tirow her business

And if all went as planned, she would soon open up another office JL Public Relations Fireles location She was on her way

The o to one of her favorite childhood places A long weekend at her parents’ cabin along the edge of Lake Tahoe was perfect Close to hoirl could ask for

Julie slid out of her Honda Pilot and shut the door quietly, not wanting to disturb the neighbors The quiet of the night was alentle swish of the lake water as it lapped against the nearby shore and the breeze blowing through the branches of the pine trees that towered above were the only sounds Breathing deep, the clean, pine-scented air filled her lungs A little ser door and pulled her overnight bag and purse off the seat then grabbed her laptop bag off the floorboard

Hitting the silent alared toward the wrap-around front porch, the key to the front door already clutched in her hand She’d picked it up fro to convince her to stay for dinner when she showed up She’d begged off, clai she had to pack Lately she’d turned into such an avoider

She unlocked the door and went into the dark house, shutting the door behind her Set her purse and laptop bag on the couch, then headed down the short hall toward the master bedroom The cabin was decently sized, three bedrooeous back deck that overlooked the lake and a spa Just thinking about that spa hed wistfully as she pushed open the half-closed door of the bedroo into bed and sleeping in till

A startled little screareeted her

The curtains on the s that flanked either side of the bed were draide open, the silvery light froein the middle of the bed, the sheet wrapped low around his hips, revealing his bare upper body Sound asleep fro

She’d screamed, and he hadn’t woken up He must’ve been so tired Who the hell was he? So for a place to crash? God, she wished she had a baseball bat in her hand Or a knife Or a gun

But ould she do with a knife or gun? She was being ridiculous Not like she’d stab him or shoot him, she wasn’t a violent person

Tre her breath so she wouldn’t make a sound She turned on her heel, headed toward the kitchen so she could call the cops and then she heard him

Rustling in the sheets, the mattress creaked as he shifted and a muttered, “what the hell” emanated from him

Julie halted in her tracks She swore she recognized that voice But from where?

She didn’t have tiure it out