When he came out, she was standing at the entrance of the police station, waiting for him.
September in Brindleton. It was autumn—a season of crisp breezes, falling leaves, and the most crimson of sunsets.
She just stood there at the entrance. The sunset stained the sky for miles, casting a beautiful glow around her.
When Erin Lowell saw him, she rushed to explain, "Just so you know, I wasn't the one who reported you."
He didn't respond to that. The corner of his mouth just curled up as he stared at her for a moment before speaking. "Anything else?"
"Huh?"
Zane Jennings raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
Erin Lowell's face was expressionless, almost painfully bland. She was beautiful—the kind of top-tier beauty that would stand out even in the entertainment industry, which was full of gorgeous women. Especially when she smiled.
Zane Jennings had seen it before.
Her personality was cold, one that kept people at arm's length. "Yes, there is."
"What is it?" He habitually raised his hand, only to find nothing there. After the awkward moment passed, he mercilessly called her out. "Something that you could personally handle here in Brindleton, even though you were supposed to be on a plane right now."
She couldn't really argue with that. The police had "caught" her at the airport.
Erin Lowell looked up, a hint of distance appearing in her eyes. Having caused him trouble out of nowhere, she couldn't bring herself to refuse him too harshly. "Is there something you need?"
Zane Jennings held back a laugh, but he couldn't hide the triumphant glint in his eyes, the look of a successful conquest. "I'm taking you sightseeing."
She lowered her gaze, naturally finding an excuse, though her tone didn't sound like one. "I don't like sightseeing."
He was also dressed all in black. He raised a hand to fix his hair, his wrist still visibly bulky with a bandage. "What's wrong? Afraid I'll sell you off?"
Erin Lowell didn't speak.
"Look." He pulled up his sleeve, revealing the white bandage she had wrapped for him yesterday. Then he pointed toward the police station. "I've helped you this much. Asking you to go sightseeing with me isn't too much, is it?"
Knowing she was in the wrong, she fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, at a loss for words.
"You're really afraid I'll sell you off?"
She shook her head, refuting him. "It's not—"
'It's that I'm not in the mood for any sightseeing.'
Before she could reject him completely, he cut her off with a smile, his brow arched playfully. "Don't worry. I don't do business at a loss."
"..."
"Where do you want to go sightseeing?" Erin Lowell hated owing people favors. She looked up to meet his gaze, getting a clear look at his features. Unlike the first time they met, that unapproachable, warning-sign quality had faded.
His features were coolly handsome, but his eyes were especially beautiful—so bright, like the first shooting star streaking across the night sky, brilliant and luminous.
Zane Jennings suppressed a grin and ran a hand through his hair, the gesture casual and a little roguish. "It's a secret. Just follow me."
His clothes seemed simple, but they were clearly expensive. He probably wasn't a human trafficker. Plus, he had saved her before. Erin Lowell forced a smile, trying to suppress her feeling of detachment toward him.
'Maybe he's just lonely.'
He walked ahead a few steps, then turned back when he saw she was still standing in place. "Don't get left behind."
Erin Lowell answered, "Coming."
Zane Jennings didn't look back, but the smile never left his lips.
He was being intentionally mysterious, and she didn't press him. She followed him into a taxi. He didn't take the front passenger seat, sitting next to her instead, but kept a safe distance between them.
The window was cracked open a bit. As the car drove into a more remote area, Erin Lowell leaned against the window. The autumn breeze drifted in, and she wrapped her clothes a little tighter around herself. The wind brushed against her forehead, tangling her hair. It was surprisingly comfortable.
For the first time, she discovered that the wind could be warm and pleasant.
Zane Jennings leaned back against his seat, his posture casual. His eyes were fixed on her profile, and his fingers tapped an irregular rhythm on his leg. His usual roguish air was gone, replaced by a certain gravity.
After about an hour's drive, they reached their destination. Zane Jennings woke up Erin Lowell, who had fallen asleep, completely off her guard.
After getting out of the car, Erin Lowell glanced around, her eyelashes fluttering.
Mount Valerius. A famous scenic spot in Brindleton with the most beautiful autumn views. It used to be her favorite place.
When Zane Jennings came over after paying the fare, she asked, "Are taxis in Brindleton that much of a rip-off?"
She saw him give the driver a lot of money—at least enough for two round trips.
Zane Jennings just smiled, hummed in agreement, and didn't explain further.
"You were sleeping so soundly in the car. In a foreign country like this, weren't you afraid I'd sell you off?"
After walking for a while, the crowds grew thicker and the atmosphere became more lively. He suddenly leaned close to her and said,
Her pace didn't falter in the slightest. "I'm not worth much. You wouldn't make a lot selling me."
"Not worth much?"
She was walking a step ahead of him when she suddenly stopped and turned around, looking remarkably calm and composed. "Didn't you also say you don't do business at a loss?"
Zane Jennings was speechless. It was the first time someone had used his own words against him. He wasn't angry, though. "True. I would be taking a loss if I sold you to someone else."
It was a bit noisy at the foot of the mountain, so Erin Lowell didn't hear him clearly. She followed the flow of people inward, navigating the path with ease.
Zane Jennings followed behind her. As they passed a certain spot, his gaze swept to the side, finally settling on something. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, his fingers closing around her bare skin.
It was warm. His heart skipped a beat, and his breath hitched.
Erin Lowell turned her head and glanced at her wrist. "What's wrong?"
He casually let go of her hand, arching an eyebrow with a smile. "Don't wander off. Wait for me here."
"Oh."
He took a couple of steps, then looked back and saw her staring at the ground. He turned back around, closing the distance between them until they were nearly touching. He raised his hand and lifted her chin.
The proximity was intense. Erin Lowell's eyes reflected his image, and her composure shattered. Only then did she get a clear look at his eyes. They were so clear, the whites and blacks distinct, as if they held stars within them.
She had an inexplicable aversion to strangers. She silently took a step back, her brow furrowing slightly. "What is it?"
Zane Jennings grit his teeth, took a step toward her, and slowly leaned down until he was right in front of her face. He smirked. "Brindleton has a lot of bad people with ulterior motives. Don't walk with your head down. People will think it's your first time here and that you're an easy target."
After saying that, he pulled back, reached behind her to pull the hood of her sweatshirt over her head, and pressed it down gently. He asked naturally, "Understand?"
Erin Lowell's shoulders trembled slightly, unused to such contact. "Got it."
"We've been through a life-or-death situation together, and I still don't know your name." He smiled, trying to ask as naturally as possible. "I'm Zane Jennings. What's your name?"
He asked with a smile, a hint of roguishness in his tone.
Erin Lowell's heart tightened. She turned her head to avoid his hand. After steadying her breath, she explained, "Sorry, I'm not used to being touched by strangers."
After explaining, she answered his question. "Erin Lowell."
Her voice was soft and quiet, but crisp and direct. It was obvious she had little desire to talk.
"Erin Lowell." Zane Jennings repeated the name, his Adam's apple bobbing. He stared at her fluttering eyelashes, and the corner of his mouth curved up. "Is that 'Erin' as in... enchanting?"
Erin Lowell didn't feel like talking, so she didn't correct him, simply nodding.