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cars was a genius idea.
    “Ready?” he asked, getting in behind the wheel.
    She nodded quickly. “It’s not far, is it?” Her voice shook in trepidation.
    Benny smiled at her, trying to make her feel at ease. “I promise we’ll be there in less than five minutes. You can trust me. I’m not going to hurt you…or touch you,” he explained, his face sincere.
    “Okay,” she whispered. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against the headrest and listened to a Jimmy Buffett song that had just come on the radio, the gentle sound of the steel drum soothing her nerves.
    “Where are you from?” Benny asked a few minutes later.
    “I’d rather not say,” she responded forcefully. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but the less you know about me, the better off we’ll both be.” Her eyes met his and she sent him a pleading look. All she wanted was somewhere that no one knew her name or what her story was. She wanted peace. She wanted to finally feel free, and if anyone knew her name, it would only be a matter of time before someone came asking questions…too many questions.
    Sighing, Benny shook his head. “Okay. I won’t press you. But if you’re not going to tell me your name, what am I supposed to call you?”
    “Maybe I’ll tell you my name tomorrow.”
    “Okay,” Benny nodded. “Tomorrow.”

CHAPTER THREE
SECOND CHANCE

    “T HIS IS IT ,” B ENNY said as he pulled down a narrow sandy road and into a small driveway, turning off the ignition. He ran around and opened the passenger door for Jolene, taking a step back as she jumped down from the cab.
    The sound of the ocean surrounded the area, the steady wind whipping her hair in front of her face. She couldn’t see the water in the darkness of night, but it was unmistakable that she was on the shore. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. A calming sensation ran through her body and she said a silent prayer, thankful that, after over a decade, someone had finally listened. Someone finally thought she was deserving of a second chance.
    Setting her eyes back on the quaint two-story beach cottage, she grew giddy with excitement over the thought of never having to share her bed, her home, or her body again. She couldn’t wait to fall asleep with the windows open and listen to the sound of the ocean, instead of her cries and screams for once.
    “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
    Jolene snapped out of her trance and followed Benny around to the front of the house. “I bet the sunrise is amazing out here,” she commented as they climbed a short flight of stairs onto a decent-sized deck.
    “Yeah. You could say that. I’m usually out here every morning surfing with a few of my friends. Actually, the guy who owns this house is one of my surfing buddies,” he explained as he punched a four digit code into a lock box attached to the door handle.
    “You don’t own it? Then why are you renting it out?”
    Benny shrugged. “I work in real estate. My buddy bought this place with no intention of living here, so I kind of manage the property for him.”
    “Why doesn’t he live here? If I had a house on the beach, I’d never leave.”
    He stared at the door for a moment. “He lives on the island, but can’t bring himself to step foot in here. That’s all I can really say.”
    Jolene gazed at the solemn look on Benny’s face, wondering what horrible memories the house she was about to spend the night in held for its owner. “Okay. I won’t pry anymore. I know all about wanting to keep your past in the past. I just hope that no one died in this house,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood.
    Benny smiled, unlocking the front door and pushing it open. “No. No one died. Don’t worry about that.” He walked through the entryway and found the light switch, flipping it on.
    “It’s a homey little place, isn’t it?” she commented as she walked into the small living room just off the front entrance. “I love the high ceilings.” She leaned her