Page 47 of Love Me Again

So he stalked out into the cold, cold quickly falling evening.

He left this time because if he stayed, he’d kiss her, and he had no doubt she would use that as a reason to leave. He’d follow—no matter where she went, stalking be damned—but he didn’t think she had any idea how much she needed to stay.

Damn it, he was going to find a way to show her.

CHAPTER 14

Josie got her notebook and her pen. She made herself some dinner, then sat down on the couch and started writing out plans.

She’d had her fun. She’d had her tears.

Now she needed a plan to get the hell out of here. She wasn’t making any money just sitting on her rump. She’d sold the RV and some of Dad’s stuff to pay for the funeral. She’d have the money from the land sale eventually—not much, but some—but the divorce had to finalize first.

Of course, she could just get Boone to sign off on selling it as her husband. He’d be entitled to half, but he’d no doubt give it to her. He’d no doubt offer money of his own if he knew she was bad off.

She didn’t want that. She had her pride.

So she needed to start looking for a job. Sure, she wanted to put her degree to use, but she’d take anything.

In Montana. Not here.

And where are you going to live in Montana without a job or a cent to your name?

She’d figure it out. She had to. She’d just have to apply to any and every job that she was remotely qualified for and hope she’d get offered one that would allow her the leeway to find some accommodations.

She had to get out of here before Boone crept under any more defenses. Or worse, before his family did. Staying until his small-town lawyer reappeared from his Christmas vacation wasn’t an option. She had to get serious, had to get creative financially.

She had to⁠—

A knock interrupted her cascade of thoughts. It wouldn’t be Boone, but it might be someone he sent. She could just not open the door, but that felt wrong when she was here as a guest. And not his guest. His family’s guest.

Annoyed with herself as much as Boone, Josie eased the door open. It was Molly and a pretty blonde woman dressed in a direct feminine opposite to Molly’s rugged ranch wear.

“This is Em. Lou’s sister,” Molly said by way of greeting.

The pretty woman raised a hand in a little wave. “Hi.”

It dawned on Josie that this was the woman at the bakery who’d given her directions out the Tyler Ranch that first day.

“Um, hi.” How many more people were going to be drawn into this strange little world of hers? She couldn’t take it. “Listen⁠—”

Molly held up her hands. One was holding a bottle of whiskey. The other a liter of cola. “We can go if you want. I just thought I’d let you in on our single ladies pity party if you’re interested.”

“It’s not about being single,” Em said resolutely from next to Molly. “I don’t mind being single. I actually like living alone.”

“I wouldn’t know what that’s like,” Molly said. “Except there is no snoring man in my bed.”

“And see? Isn’t that something to celebrate? Lindsay is going to have a man snoring in her ear for the rest of her life.”

The rest of her life.

Yeah, that hurt.

She moved aside and Molly and Em moved inside. Molly plunked both items on the coffee table, and Em produced some plastic cups. Molly kneeled on the ground and got right to work making drinks.

“I’ll…get ice.” What are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing? But she filled a bowl with ice and carried it over to the table. Then dumped some into each already-poured cup.

“I don’t mind being single,” Em kept insisting. She took a long, deep brink, winced. “I like it.”