His eyes narrowed slightly. “And they sent you here?”
“I didn’t know you lived here.”
That part was true.
Out of all the places in the country…
Eagle River.
Of course.
Hersh dragged one hand down his face slowly like he was trying very hard not to lose his temper.
“With all the towns in Texas,” he muttered, “you land in mine.”
Mine.
The word shouldn’t have affected me.
It did.
Because some horrible part of me liked hearing him say it.
Like maybe Eagle River belonged to him now.
Like maybe he’d finally found the place he used to dream about when we were kids.
And somehow that hurt too.
“I can leave,” Isaid quickly.
Both men looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“No,” Hersh said instantly.
Trigger pointed at him. “What he said.”
“You don’t understand?—”
“No,” Hersh cut in, voice sharper now. “I understand somebody scared you badly enough that you walked in here looking over your shoulder every five seconds.”
Heat rushed into my face because he wasn’t wrong.
I hated that he still read me so easily.
His gaze swept over me again carefully.
Not possessive.
Protective.
Worse.
Because Hersh McDougal had always protected what he loved.
My chest tightened painfully.
“I don’t want trouble brought to your town,” I said quietly.
