The next morning, I roll a little too far to the left and end up tangled in my comforter on the floor in the living room. The couch wasn't as comfortable as it originally looked when I decided that I couldn't bring myself to sleep in the memory bed upstairs. I squirm about until I shrug the quilt off of me and I hear a buzzing coming from the kitchen counter. I immediately spring up off the floor and dart into the kitchen to retrieve the burner phone Austin and Ryan left me with. I flip the small black phone open and answer, "Hello?"

"Good morning baby girl," Ryan replies and his morning voice is deep and scratchy.

"How are you this morning?" I ask him and I grin at his husky voice.

"I'm tired. Austin and I thought we had a lead on Simon last night and we did a stake out a few miles outside Hollis all night."

"Anything turn up?" I eagerly ask and I hear Ryan's "Nuh uh," before he murmurs something to Austin. I roll my eyes as I wait for them to finish up their conversation and Ryan's attention is quickly back to me.

"Sorry. Austin is giving me the parameters for our phone conversations when he is in the room."

"Well tell his ass to leave the room then," I joke and I hear Ryan laugh.

"Apparently we are not allowed to use pet names. I am to call you Sawyer or Miss Sweeney. That, and there is to be no sexual context to our conversations," Ryan relays to me and I scoff, "I hope you didn't agree to his conditions. If you want to tell me all the dirty things you want to do to me when we see each other next you go on ahead."

Ryan laughs again before replying, "Nah I don't want Austin stealing my moves. He's not as creative as I am, so he'd be taking notes for when he gets back to South Carolina."

I hear Austin mutter some smart-ass reply back and Ryan and he razz each other a few more moments before Ryan is back to me.

"Well Miss Sweeney, I just wanted to check in and let you know nothing came up last night. But we have a couple more agents that are being added to the team today so we'll have more coverage."

"Well, hopefully you'll get Simon in the next couple of days. I hope I don't have to be here much longer than that." I say flatly and Ryan quickly asks, "Jackson is staying away from you though, right?" Even though he can't see me, I smile at the thought of Ryan being jealous.

"Yup, jackass Jackson has been in the main house. Don't worry."

"Okay, well remember no contact with anyone and try to stay in the carriage house as much as possible. We'll get you out of there soon."

"I know. And you and Austin better stay safe. I'll talk to y'all later."

"We will. Bye Sawyer," Ryan says and I can hear the smile in his voice. My heart swells and I clutch the phone to my chest after we hang up. I had no idea I'd miss him so much after only being away from him for less than twenty-four hours.

He had insisted on helping me pack for my stay at the Hemming's but unfortunately, the Captain denied his request to escort me to the carriage house. We had to say a short goodbye in front of my mother and Austin.

I walk back into the warm, bright living room and scoop up the plush quilt from the floor. I manage to fold it up nicely and drape it over the back of the couch. I look around the living room and realize there is no television or computer and I wonder when they had that removed. I continue to glance around the space and am horrified to see they only have three books that aren't some form of an encyclopedia on their bookshelf.

So, I am not allowed to leave the carriage house, but I also don't have any form of entertainment inside the carriage house either. I frown at my lousy environment and wonder what the hell I am going to do while I'm stuck here.

I trudge up the creaky wooden steps back into the loft and dig through my trunk to find comfortable clothes to change into. I push the bathroom door open and notice the bathroom has been remodeled from when I had lived here. Instead of an old deep bathtub with a flimsy light pink shower curtain circling it, there is now a beautiful white clawfoot tub with bright silver hardware taking up the back wall. The peeling pink floral wallpaper has been replaced with a fresh coat of powder blue paint and fluffy cream towels hang from a modern silver towel rack on the opposite wall. I'm surprised at the modern contrast and frown when I realize the design stinks of Whitney. She loves the modern farmhouse style and her favorite color is splashed all over these walls.

I am actually shocked that Mrs. Hemming let her remodel considering I was denied having a dishwasher installed when I lived here. She insisted that no modern changes happen in the charming cottage as she didn't want it to lose its vintage appeal. I drop my clothes onto the darling silver bench sitting under the neat towel rack and I curse myself for liking her bathroom remodel. She always did have a good eye for interior design.

Since such a beautiful tub sits before me, it would seem wrong not to enjoy a long hot one. What else do I have to do anyway? I quickly fill the tub with warm water and add bath salts to spruce it up a bit. I dump half the bottle of bubble bath I found under the new sink into the stream of water and waste no time slipping into the inviting bubbles. I pull my long blonde hair on top of my head and secure it into a messy bun before resting my head on the comfortable porcelain.

It only takes a few moments for the water to cool off and for boredom to wash over me. I have no relaxing music, no magazine to enjoy, or any revenge plot to ponder. I literally don't have any idea what to do with myself while being held hostage here.