Page 58 of Where She Belongs

“Third time this month,” Brent added, unhelpfully. “Always with that folder of his. Looked official, whatever it was.”

A folder. Meetings he didn’t mention. Tate turned that over while Brent finished with the saddle. Jason had always been the steadiest part of the operation—the one who noticed what needed doing and did it without announcing it. If he was quietly working some angle of his own, he’d have a reason. He always had a reason. The part that nagged at Tate was that he hadn’t been told what it was.

“Maybe he’s tired of you hogging all the clients,” Brent offered.

“Hilarious.”

“I do what I can.” Brent turned back to his work. “Speaking of folks with business in town, did you hear about that Alexander fella?”

At the man’s name, Tate stiffened. “Alexander?”

Brent nodded, crouching down again to double-check the straps. “Yeah. Some hoity-toity city fella who’s been asking around about you.”

Grinding his teeth, Tate turned away so Brent wouldn’t catch on about how much this bothered him. “What has he been asking?” He aimed for nonchalant, but the fact that Alexander was asking about him specifically had alarm bells going off in his head.

“Nothing out of the ordinary. What you do for a living. If you’re seeing anyone…”

Tate glanced at Brent over his shoulder then and noted the knowing smirk that Brent was tossing his way.

“Some folks in town think you and Miss Rylee have something going on. You were spotted at the Aviary a few weeks back.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, needing to choose his words carefully. “That’s because there is something going on. Have people been talking to this Alexander guy?”

“Who’s he to you?”

Tate sighed. “He’s someone Rylee knows. From New York. A pushy guy who doesn’t know the meaning of get lost if you know what I mean.”

Brent nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t think anyone has been saying anything inherently bad. But perhaps we should spread the word that they keep information to themselves?”

Waving a hand through the air, Tate dismissed that thought. “What’s done is done. I’d rather not give him any more ammunition. If he thinks I have something to hide, he’s going to try to use it against me.”

“Against you… how?” Brent asked. “Is this guy dangerous?”

That was a loaded question if Tate ever heard one. Was Alexander dangerous? Probably not. But was he a threat to everything Tate wanted? Absolutely. He sighed. “I don’t know. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be keeping an eye on him.”

“Sounds like a plan. At least let me talk to my cousins. They might be able to do the same.”

Tate hesitated then gave his friend a nod. “Sure. Thanks.”

“Of course.”

Rylee hadn’t brought the surprise visit from Alexander up in conversation and Tate was just beginning to breathe easy again. Unfortunately, his reprieve could only last so long.

Tate was coming out of Sweet Everything Bakery with black forest brownies in hand when he came face to face with the devil himself.

Alexander was dressed to the nines like he was on his way to a wedding. Did the guy own anything casual? He recognized Tate immediately and his lips curled into a sneer. “Tate, wasn’t it?”

Tate folded his arms. “What do you want, Alexander? I thought Rylee made it clear how she felt about you.” Tate made a show of looking Alexander up and down. “You don’t exactly fit in around here.”

“That’s not the criticism you think it is,” Alexander said with a derisive chuckle. “I fit in just as much as Rylee does which is why I’ve come to bring her home.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” Tate ground out. “This is where she belongs. Her soul was born here, and this is where she’ll end up.”

Alexander laughed. It was so loud and unexpected that Tate nearly startled. “If you believe that, you’re far more delusional than I thought you were. Rylee is going through a crisis at the moment. The second she realizes how ridiculous she’s being, she’ll leave.” His smirk widened. “With me.”

Tate’s fist curled at his side. “I don’t think you know her as well as you think you do.”

He huffed out a laugh but then his expression turned stony and he took a menacing step forward. “Make no mistake. Rylee is mine. She just hasn’t realized it. I’ll let her have her fun because it’s only a matter of time before she realizes that you’re not good enough for her.”