“Tessa!” Nathan’s voice was hoarse, laced with an emotion she couldn’t quite name. Was it panic? Worry? Or anger?

She didn’t open her eyes. The first thing she noticed wasn’t the sound of his voice or the light in the room, it was his scent. That familiar mix of cedar and clean soap that clung to him like a signature.

Nathan scooped her up from the floor with too much force at first, his panic showing through. But when he realized she wasn’t responding, his grip softened. One ...