The Fifth Season by Julie Korzenko Page A

appropriate accommodations.”
    “And?”
    “It’s Seamus Adams.”
    Emma froze. “What?”
    Stone held his hands up. “Don’t panic. Actually, I think this is a good opportunity to determine whether he’s a threat or simply here doing what he says he’s been doing. I didn’t discourage the request.”
    “There’s no way, Stone. It’s too dangerous.” Emma paced in a tight circle. “I’ll go. I’ll stay with Nate or out at River Edge. You can’t ask me to be in the same room with that man.”
    “It’s what I’m asking.”
    She exhaled a shaky sigh. “For a second there I thought we were on the same team.”
    Emma clearly noticed that Stone bit back a grin. “We are.” He gripped her shoulders gently, rubbing his thumb against the edge of her arm. “Trust me. I’ll protect you. This is a step toward your freedom. There’s just one other slight problem.”
    Her emotions were ricocheting in all directions and culminated in a shallow laugh. “What other problem could possibly trump this?”
    “The only available suite is mine.”
    Emma shrugged and headed into her small cluster of rooms to find some peace and perhaps a Teton sized chunk of bravery. “So? Move.”
    “Where to?”
    “You’re the boss, you figure it out.” Her indifference didn’t seem to be sitting well with Stone. When she turned to shut her door, she noted his face was flushed a deep crimson. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of his tightly clenched fist.
    “I believe then, that I’ll be joining you in your quarters.” He smirked and left her there, open-mouthed and in shock.
    He couldn’t stay with her. Could he?
    Emma slammed the door and took stock of her little world. Small office to the left, even smaller bedroom to the right, and tiny bathroom in the middle. Surely, he must be joking.
    She crossed the miniscule hall and entered her bedroom. Her full sized bed jammed tightly into the corner couldn’t accommodate Stone’s height not that she’d ever entertained any ideas about allowing him access.
    “I’m here.” Stone spoke softly over her shoulder, and Emma refused the urge to turn around and smack him. She’d tried assimilating his stealth into her daily routine, but he still managed to scare the lucky charms out of her.
    “You can’t stay, Stone.” She turned and blocked his entry into her bedroom. His shaggy mop had been groomed into a relatively tame cut, but there were still strands that insisted on falling over his brow.
    “Why not?”
    “This is my space.” She stared into his steel blue gaze refusing to back down. Stone dropped his duffel bag, eyed her bed thoughtfully and shrugged.
    “No choice, Emma. I’ll be staying here.” The gate bell rang in her office, and his attention quickly switched focus. He walked over to the security monitor and punched a code into the computer. “The closer we are, the safer you’ll be,” he called over his back. “Our guests have arrived. You’ll need to inform the add-on that his room isn’t quite ready. I’ve already snagged Lola, and she’s cleaning as we speak.”
    Emma stuck her tongue out and moved gracefully past him and out of the intimate arena. A frustrated sigh escaped, but she focused her attention on the task of welcoming this next slew of vacationers.
    “Wait for me,” Stone called quickly catching up and matching his pace to hers.
    She cast her eyes up at his face. Sudden anger suffused her entire body. “This is an evil plan.”
    His brows shot up in surprise. “Not of my making. But often forces align to show us a window of opportunity.”
    “I’m glad you find it easy to play with other people’s lives.”
    Stone flinched. “I don’t play.”
    “I’m sorry,” She shook her head, mad at herself. The nature of his nightmares testified to a dark story. She hadn’t meant to awaken the memory. Instead, Emma straightened her shoulders, attempted to harvest some courage from the man standing by her side and opened the front