I gulped. “You didn’t—” I couldn’t say the word.
“No, I didn’t. But he may wish I had. If he’s smart, he’ll stay far the fuck away from the circuit from now on.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Reed’s face fell, staring into his own mug of coffee. “I’m not.”
He’d been right. He couldn’t leave my side. Not anymore. Not when it was so easy for my stalker to slip something in my drink and drag me away without anyone noticing.
My head shot up, almost too quickly, the room spinning with it. I grimaced. “You didn’t happen to get his name, did you?”
Reed’s mouth turned down at the corners. “No, we still don’t know who he is.”
I nodded in understanding. We could go to the police about this, but all I had was a description, and from the sound of it, Reed delivered a message that we didn’t need the cops knowing about.
“I don’t think I—” I forced down the vomit as the acidic taste flooded my mouth. I popped to my feet, ready to dash to the bathroom. “I don’t think you need to give me space to breathe anymore,” I forced out before covering my mouth, desperately needing the toilet.
“Are you going to be sick?” Reed’s brows rose in concern as he hopped up, ready to help.
I only nodded before rushing to the bathroom.
I was shook.
I needed my dad. One more rodeo, and he’d be out here with us.
I totally tanked my time at the Salmon Ridge Rodeo. Mushu felt my shot nerves, and of course, he struggled making those turns when I was on edge. I felt like I was being watched, and no matter what Reed did to stay in my line of sight, I couldn’t shake the feeling—like insects were crawling all over my skin. I was in a damn pissy mood, and Reed, of course, got the brunt of it. I hated that I needed him now more than ever, but not being next to him gave me anxiety like I’d never experienced before.
14
lina
“Dad!” I squealed, running into his arms as soon as he climbed out of his truck.
“Darlin’.” He chuckled, taking me into his embrace, giving me the biggest squeeze we both could muster.
“I’ve missed you so much.” I gripped his shirt, not wanting to let go, letting his firm, warm arms wrap around me, and his familiar scent of fresh soap and spicy aftershave comfort me. My heart finally felt as though it could return to its natural rhythm instead of the heightened rate it had been at since St. John.
He rubbed my back. “I’ve missed you, too. So glad I was able to come out. We gotta get you that win today, baby girl.”
I gave him a final squeeze before pulling back. He looked good, his salt-and-pepper mustache trimmed and … “Are you growing a soul patch?”
He stroked the new hair on his chin. “Do you like it?”
“You’re giving me Riley Green vibes, but if he were forty-seven,” I told him.
Dad snorted a laugh. “Is that good?”
“Dad, you’re a zaddy. Watch out. You may have some buckle bunnies buzzing around you tonight.”
“I don’t know about all that, Lina.” He huffed another laugh. “I think your ol’ man may be done dating. I left those days on the circuit long ago.”
“Nah. You can still get some tail.”
“Lina,” Dad chastised. “I don’t think daughters are supposed to talk to their dads about getting laid.”
I shrugged. “Well, you look happy.”
“I’m here with my baby girl. Of course I’m happy.”
