“When I’m the one who’s supposedly threatening you, it’s more believable than a shotgun.” I tossed my bags in the back and strode to the passenger seat, the sense ofhomenow that I was here so intense that it was almost overwhelming. “Although I suppose if I’m going to be living here, I’ll probably have to get a shotgun.”
He snorted as he dropped into the driver’s seat beside me. “You’ll need a whole collection.”
He started the engine and took off toward Raquel’s horse farm. I kept my gaze on the beautiful, barren landscape outside, genuinely surprised by how at peace I suddenly felt. The nerves and the anxiety over the two angry brothers I had to deal with was still there, but at the same time, I felt alive again.
Until we pulled into Raquel’s driveway to find it empty. The lights were off in the house and the Airstream. I frowned, glancing toward Colin. “Damn it. She didn’t mention having to go anywhere, did she?”
“Oh, sure.” He snorted. “We have a shared calendar now. I mean, one meeting and we’re besties. Relax, man. Maybe she’s just working or went to get a burger.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Or maybe I’d just missed my chance. The mere thought made me feel physically ill, but I blew out a deep breath and rallied. “Okay, well, let’s just go back to the Blossom Ville. I’ll try calling her in the meantime, but it’s no use hanging around here when she’s obviously out.”
“You got it.” Colin backed out, turned around, and drove us into town while I repeatedly tried calling Raquel, but there was no answer.
When we pulled into the motel parking lot, Frieda’s cigarette glowed in the semi-darkness near the office, but it disappeared before Colin had even parked. Her door slammed shut behind her as I climbed out of the SUV.
As much as I’d missed her too, I was kind of happy she didn’t know I was back yet. Her to-do list could wait for at least a few minutes. I tried Raquel again, and this time she picked up instead, a little breathless as she said my name.
“Theo?”
My eyelids slammed shut at the sound of her voice, my heart doing truly unacceptable things in my chest. “Hi, baby. Yeah, it’s me. Where are you?”
“Where are you?” she replied.
I frowned. “Why?”
At the exact time, she asked the exact same thing. “Why?”
She huffed out a breath. “Because I’m in Chicago!”
“What?”
“I’m in Chicago,” she repeated, frying my brain with just those three words. “I only realized when we landed that I don’t know how to find you.”
I shoved a hand into my hair and inhaled a deep, calming breath, but before I could explain that I was in Quartz Pass,headlights swept across the motel parking lot and I glanced at the truck they belonged to on instinct. My stomach sank immediately when I realized I recognized it.
Avery rolled to a stop near Frieda’s office and the driver’s door opened. He spotted me as he climbed out, his features instantly dropping into a tight scowl.Fuck.
“Stay there,” I said into the phone. “You’re still at the airport, right? So just stay there. I’m sending someone.”
I hung up without explaining or waiting for her to ask any questions. Then I slipped the phone into my pocket and turned toward Avery. If I was really going to get my girl back, I would have to survive her brother first.
CHAPTER 42
RAQUEL
Ispent the first twenty minutes waiting at the airport convincing myself I wasn’t insane for flying halfway across the country because of a snap decision.Who buys a last-minute plane ticket and flies to Chicago without a plan?
The girl I was before I’d met Theo would’ve been horrified. She hadn’t trusted men at all, and the idea of chasing one this far without even knowing where he lived would’ve appalled her.
Deep down, I knew that I could try to convince myself all I wanted, but this truly had been insane. I was sitting on a suitcase outside the arrivals terminal of a massive airport, trying not to throw up from nerves.
Chicago was freezing cold and my most trusty jacket from home wasn’t even close to cutting it in this biting wind. The part of the city skyline I could see from my perch was intimidating as hell, sprawling out in every direction as far as the eye could see. Honestly, I had no clue what I was going to do if Theo didn’t get here soon.
I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
There were too many cars, too many people, and too many things happening at all times.
When a luxury SUV pulled up in front of the pickup area, I ignored it completely. A Rolls Royce Cullinan would never have anything to do with me. I did sneak a few glimpses at the car through my hair, though.
