Glancing over my shoulder as I took another turn, I slammed against a hard chest and the blow threw me backwards. But a pair of strong arms shot out to me and pulled me back, securing me in their hold.

For a second I almost stopped breathing, assuming I got caught, but then I looked up. Narrowed stormy grays met my eyes, they held concern.

“What’s wrong with you? You could get hurt if I wasn’t here to hold you!”

Yes, I could. But you saved me.

I took a deep breath. Relief washed over me. I subconsciously stepped closer to him, casting a glance at my back. No matter what I said, I wasn’t brave enough to be alone with that man in those eerie hallways. Not when there was a whisper at the back of my mind that he knew what I was up to. Though it didn’t make any sense, he couldn’t have known about my suspicion. Still, after hearing his phone conversation, fear etched in my mind.

But that wouldn’t stop me from exposing him.

“Rosebud?” Cupping my face, he made me look into his hard eyes. My fists were now clenched around his black shirt. “What happened? You look scared. Is everything all right?” He looked behind me. “Did anyone do or say anything to you?”

Gulping, I shook my head. “Nobody said or did anything. I’m fine, don’t worry. I kind of got lost. I was just looking for the exit.”

He didn’t look convinced. “You know this house quite well, Rosebud. You can’t just get lost here so easily. What are you hiding?”

“I’m not hiding anything.” Now that I had his arms around me, I felt safe. His mere presence gave me security. “I was just looking around out of boredom and got a bit lost. There are so many hallways, after all. Anyway, you came? I thought you weren’t going to join tonight’s dinner.”

Even if he was aware of my subtle way of changing the subject, he let me. His tight jaw and steely glances over my shoulder were the evidence.

“Ace?”

His head snapped to me. “Yeah. I was busy with a meeting.”

What Caleb said back at their engagement party floated into my mind. My heart clenched in my chest.

“It must be difficult, isn’t it?” I whispered.

“What?” His head tilted to the side.

“Coming here,” I said. “It must be difficult for you to come to his house. The house that only brings you hurtful memories.”

His shoulders tensed as an unknown emotion flashed across his eyes.