Page 12 of Peaks and Promises

I pushed the image from my mind.

I’d gone to the diner for breakfast first thing. No sign of the assholes, but Summer had told me they’d been back the day before. It pissed me off that I hadn’t been there.

Of course, what was I supposed to do? Camp out at her workplace to make sure no one bothered her?

Actually, if she’d hired me to provide security, that’s exactly what I would have done.

I hadn’t asked for details, just whether they’d been back. Kinda regretted that. She’d quickly changed the subject, saying they’d probably been passing through town and wouldn’t be in again. I wasn’t so sure about that, and I wondered what they wanted with her.

After leaving the diner, I’d circled through town, looking for them. Checked the motels and bars. No sign of them. But my gut said they were still around. And my gut was usually right.

Despite the fact that Summer had claimed she didn’t know them, my gut also told me she was in some kind of trouble.

I hadn’t really needed anything at the hardware store. I’d grabbed some WD-40 and a pack of light bulbs for my garage, but mostly it had been an excuse to stay in town instead of going home.

Was it simply restlessness getting to me, or my gut feeling about Summer? Probably a bit of both.

Before I could back out of my parking spot, my phone buzzed with a call. It was Gunnar, my main business partner.

“Hey, man,” I answered.

“How’s it going?”

“It’s going. What’s up?”

“A job. I know you just got back in town, but hear me out.”

“I’m listening.”

“Client’s husband bailed on her. Cleared out their bank accounts, left her with six figures in credit card debt, and fled to Brazil. Her parents have money, and they’re happy to use some of it to help their daughter.”

“She wants us to track him down?”

“We already did. If he’s trying to hide, he sucks at it. He was easy to find.”

“Then what’s the end game? Get him back to the States?”

“No. She just wants to go down there and confront him.”

“And she doesn’t want to be alone when she does it.”

“Exactly. Should be straightforward. Get her in, make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid, get her home again.”

“Are there kids involved?”

“No.”

“What’s the timeline?”

“Soon as possible.”

I hesitated. Yesterday, I’d been ready for the next job. Providing security for a woman while she went to confront her douchebag ex was the sort of thing I did all the time. It would be an easy payday. And more importantly, a chance to get out of town again.

A chance to keep moving.

I flexed my fist. Take the job, Reese. This one is a no-brainer.

“I can’t,” I heard myself say. “I have some things I need to take care of here before I can head out again.”