“Okay. I won’t be long.”
As she walks into the store, I get out of the car and head over to the bar. I take a seat next to the window, pull my phone from my pocket, and dial Finn’s number.
When he picks up, I can hear Avery crying in the background. “This better be quick. I have a fussy kid who needs a diaper change.”
Finn has become such the doting father and husband. His daughter and wife Harper have him wrapped around their fingers. Once a man who had no interest in falling in love and finding a partner for life, now he has the perfect little family. I’ve never seen him so happy.
“Have you seen or heard from Travis Gilbert recently?” After I left school, I had no contact with him. Last I heard he’d moved to California. Travis had a brother in Finn’s year at school who he sometimes caught up with. Maybe he’ll know where I can find him.
“No. I haven’t seen him in years, but I know where he is.” Finn makes shushing noises I’m sure are aimed at Avery and not me.
Excellent. If I know where he is, I can pay him a visit. That fucker has payback coming. “Where is he?”
“Haven’t I told you?”
“If you had, I’d know,” I huff.
“Hmm. I guess being busy with Harper, Avery, and work, I’d forgotten. I don’t remember who I’ve talked to these days.” He chuckles. I drum my fingers on the table, waiting for him to tell me. “He’s in California State Prison.”
I sit ramrod straight in my chair. “He’s where?” I ask, because surely I heard wrong.
“California State Prison,” he repeats.
“What did he do?”
“He got done for drug possession, assault, and armed robbery. Looks like he’ll be locked up for many years. Why do you ask?”
I don’t have to beat the shit out of him after all. Karma is going to fuck him up the ass. “There was something I remembered from school I wanted to ask him about.” There’s no point telling Finn about the photos of Penelope. He was in college when Travis shared them. “I’ll let you go so you can settle Avery.”
“Before you hang up, what’s happening with you and Penny? I saw the articles online. Hayden told me you helped her at the hotel, but why was she leaving in your car with you the next morning? Stories are circulating all over the internet, and they aren’t flattering for Penny.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and squeeze my eyes shut. Shit! Instead of helping her, I might have made things worse. “It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in when I get back to the city.”
“Okay, see you later.” Finn hangs up, and I toss my phone on the table and blow out a long breath.
Glancing out the window, I spot Penelope walking out of the store. Dressed in dark blue jeans that look painted onto her hips and thighs, she saunters toward the bar on tan hiking boots. A red and white plaid shirt is tied up in a knot at her waist. She’sleft a few buttons undone to expose a white tank top underneath. Her hair is loose over her shoulders. I swallow hard.
I knew the store only provided outdoor wear. Shapeless clothing that wouldn’t have me mentally undressing her, yet the hard-on I wanted to deflate is rock solid. I shuffle in my seat to adjust myself.
Entering the bar, she scans the room. When she spots me she gives a small smile, and my heart does something it’s never done before…skip a beat. What the actual fuck? At the table, she places a paper bag with what I’m assuming are more clothes onto an empty seat.
She runs a hand over her hips, looking self-conscious. “Where on earth do the women of Oaks Valley shop for clothes? All I could find were items suitable for a lumberjack.” Then she takes a seat opposite me.
“It’s perfect. You’ll fit right in,” I joke.Although I’ve never seen a lumberjack look so sexy.To get my mind off the way Penelope fills out her clothes, I point to the menu. “Are you hungry?”
She glances out the window at the cloud-filled sky as heavy raindrops splatter on the ground. “Should we head back to the cabin? It looks like the storm is about to hit.”
“We’ll ride it out over lunch.” All I need is to be stuck in the cabin with Penelope and nowhere to go.
“Okay, I’m starving, and I need to make a few calls.”
“While you decide what you want to eat, I’ll go get us a couple of beers.”
At the bar, Allie gives me an icy stare. It started the moment I walked in. “Are you shacking up with the city girl?”
What was once a fun hookup is now turning into something jealous and possessive. “No, I’m not shacking up with her. I’m sorry if I’ve led you to believe that there might be more between us. We agreed to one night, remember? No strings.”
Her lips thin. “Of course. What can I get you?”
