Who really killed Wanda Day! - Wedding Bells (DAY! Series Book 2)

Chapter 27 - A Hint, Something Hidden, And A Halt

Colin's eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, he found himself in unfamiliar territory. The ceiling above him was not his own, and he blinked a couple of times, trying to regain his bearings. That's when he noticed the unexpected weight on his chest. His gaze drifted downward, and he was met with an even more perplexing sight - Wanda, the woman he had encountered the previous evening at the bar, was currently using his chest as a personal pillow.

He couldn't believe his luck - he'd stumbled upon a kindred spirit, someone who spoke his language. And oh, how his heart had danced the flamenco when they talked for hours, their conversation flowing as effortlessly as a river over smooth stones. Not only was she a vision of beauty, but she also possessed a mind as sharp as a samurai sword.

Colin tenderly ran his fingers through Wanda's hair, like a maestro coaxing a symphony from a delicate instrument. The gentle caress roused Wanda from her slumber, and she lifted her head, blinking sleepily at him. "Hey," she murmured.

"Good morning."

Wanda sat up, her hair a delightful bird's nest that would make any self-respecting sparrow jealous. "Breakfast?" she asked, punctuating the question with a yawn. After a quick stretch that would make a yoga instructor nod in approval, she rose to her feet, ready to tackle the day ahead.

Colin mirrored her movements, rising from their improvised bed. He then trailed behind her as she led the way out of the library and through a dining room. From there, they climbed a grand, wide staircase, as if ascending the steps of a royal palace. After navigating a long, impossibly narrow corridor that seemed to be the architectural equivalent of a funhouse mirror, they finally arrived at a door that Wanda unlocked, no doubt relieved to have reached their destination without getting stuck sideways in the hallway.

Astonished, Colin's eyes went wide. The small apartment before him was a study in minimalism, containing little more than a bed, a TV, two dressers, and a kitchenette that looked like it could barely accommodate a single hot plate. But through the balcony door, Colin caught a glimpse of the vast, untamed wilderness of Alaska, a panoramic view that made the cramped quarters seem like a mere afterthought. "Wow," he murmured, as if afraid of shattering the serene beauty that lay beyond the glass.

"Isn't it just beautiful?" Wanda giggled, taking a step back and eyeing Colin with a mischievous glint. "I'm in the making of moving in. I currently have a small apartment in the city, but now that this is renovated, this will be MY place." He felt her gaze burning into the back of his head, and he wondered what she was up to. Moments later, she sauntered in front of him, her expression one of pure fascination. "You know, you're a lot like me," she breathed, leaning in a little closer.

"I think so."

"Would you... do you want to... have you ever..."

He understood her unspoken questions like they were communicating on some cosmic wavelength. "Yes, yes, and no," he replied, his tone equal parts amused and cryptic.

Wanda's eyes flashed with an intensity that caught Colin off guard, and he felt his heart start to do a wild tango in his chest. He couldn't believe it - After years of dismissing the idea of true love as nothing more than a fairy tale, he had to admit - he had finally found the real thing. The elusive, mythical love that everyone was always going on about. The kind of love that people waxed poetic about. The real deal.

In the weeks following his escape from Trenton, Colin had come to a rather sobering realization - he was probably destined for a life of solitude. After his tumultuous experience with Leyla, he knew he was, well, a bit of a unique snowflake. He just wasn't interested in sex. Leyla really tried but the only thing that truly got his motor running was thinking about murder. And after overhearing the boastful conversations of his peers, he knew there was no way he could keep up with the 'at least once or twice a week' routine.