Page 83 of The Route to You

Maybe she hadn’t realized it ten years ago, but Kyle Winnick had a nice ass. Even in athletic pants. And his injury had probably slowed him down, but the way his T-shirt clung to his skin, tightly cuffing his biceps, was practically a thirst tra⁠—

“So how did you find me at the PT?” he asked suddenly, swinging back around to glance her way.

“Um . . . Cheyenne’s parents hired a private investigator to help me find you.”

His face clouded immediately, and she stepped closer. “They’re really sorry about what happened that night we went to Jackson. Truly. They’ve probably apologized a hundred times between the three of them.”

Kyle shifted his weight. “What did happen that night in Jackson, Sloan? We were traveling together, almost a team, when we found the dog. Then I was arrested. And you . . .?”

Almost as though Charlie knew this had something to do with her, she whined suddenly and came up beside Sloan, tail wagging.

Sloan reached for the top of Charlie’s head automatically, scratching between her ears. “First, the police interviewed me for several hours. They were under the impression that I was protecting you because I was afraid, I think. Evan told them that he believed you were blackmailing me into traveling with you. It took a long time for them to sort it all out and believe me.”

She drew a slow breath, the memory of that awful night something that she’d pushed to that place in her mind where she stored things she didn’t want to think about. She could picture it all so clearly—Kyle’s single shout of her name, the wail of police sirens, her tears as Tallulah held her back, shielding her—she’d thought—from the man who’d manipulated and hurt her. Sloan had tried to explain everything right away, but amid the blur of police and the chaos, the whole situation had unraveled so quickly.

“By the time the police left the Murdock ranch, it was so late, and the snow was terrible. I’d tried to get them to drive me to the station to see you, but they wanted me to stay at the ranch while they straightened the situation out. Tallulah promised to take me to the station in the morning, and she did, but you were gone. And then by the time I got back to the ranch, my father, Penny, and Evan had arrived, lawyers were on the way, and it was another whole mess to deal with.”

“How’d they get there so fast?”

“Private aircraft into Jackson Hole Airport.”

He nodded slowly, then said, unironically, “My brother-in-law flew to Idaho Falls, then took me up to Bozeman so I could catch my flight for Cabo.”

“Why didn’t you come see me?” she asked softly.

Kyle’s face was more guarded now. “You know. Lawyers. Warnings about what might be used against you. Legal uncertainties. Family pleading with me not to be stupid. The usual.”

Talking about this felt like ripping off a Band-Aid from a wound that had just started to heal. “So, you went to Cabo.”

“And then, because of the arrest and how the media portrayed me, I got fired. Production shut down. Then, then . . . the accident.” He grimaced. “It wasn’t exactly the high point of my life.”

No words could really make up for what had happened to him. And there wouldn’t be getting around the fact that it was entirely her fault for dragging him into it.

“I’m so sorry, Kyle.”

His eyes flickered, then the mask fully descended over his features, and he smiled grimly. “It’s life, right? No harm, no foul. But we should get moving if we’re going to get you a bed before I have to pick up Tara. She expects complete punctuality from me, and I’m forced to shell out more toys every time I disappoint her. Not easy on the budget.”

So much remained unsaid. So much she wanted to tell him.

How much he’d changed her life with his selflessness.

And, again, how truly sorry she was.

How she would make it up to him in whatever way it took.

But the unflappable exterior, the humor-as-avoidance attitude, told her he wasn’t there yet.

Which, to be fair, she needed to respect.

He’d offered her an olive branch, though. For now, that would have to be enough.

22

KYLE

Kyle shifted the truck into park, then flicked his gaze in the rearview mirror. Somewhere between the frozen yogurt shop and Elle and Quinn’s, Tara’s nonstop chatter had started slowing, her head bobbing.

Now, she was fully asleep in her car seat, little chin lolled against her shoulder, a dark curl across her forehead.