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“Is there something you need to tell me?”
“Yeah. I contacted my landlord to check for me to see if Brent has moved out of the apartment.”
“And?”
“The landlord said that not only are there no signs that he’s moved out, it looks as though he’s been having parties there, too. I’m a little worried what that means, as far as the rest of my belongings and damage to the apartment.”
He palmed her cheek and said, “You’ve had to deal with him and the others on your own all this time, Nika. I know it’s your decision to make, but I don’t want you dealing with him or those other two jerks on your own anymore.” He tilted her face up so she was looking him in the eye again. The furrow between his brows was gone almost before she saw it. “What options are you considering at this point?”
“If his stuff is still in there, I need to go to Montana to take care of the situation.”
Hank’s frown returned for a second. “Does that mean cutting your visit here short?”
She sighed. “I don’t want that. This has been so good for me, both personally and professionally, and if you’re still interested in me staying—”
“If it was up to me, Nika, I’d drive to Montana right now, pack you up and bring you back to Divine. Would you ever consider moving here?”
After telling him that horror story, she felt guilty. “I don’t want you asking me that because you feel sorry for me.”
He stilled and there was a distinct chill in his tone. “For that, you’ve earned yourself another spanking, Nika.”
“Hank—”
“Answer my question.”
Oh boy.
“Yes, Hank. I would move here.”
“Because there’s less snow and it’s farther away from that poor excuse of a family of yours?”
“There are many reasons I’d move here.”
“Answer me.”
“You’re asking me to declare myself, Hank, when I haven’t heard a declaration from either of—”
“May I cut in?”
She turned and gave a mighty sigh of relief as she looked up at Travis. Her heart was beating hard for two reasons, afraid she’d nearly given Hank an ultimatum, and afraid he’d shut her down if she’d gotten it out. No one gave that man an ultimatum. Without letting go of Hank, she wrapped her other arm around Travis and held on hard.
“I’m so happy you’re home.”
She looked up at him, falling a little deeper for him as he smiled down at her and kissed her, his lips a warm greeting to her right before the emergency breaks began squealing in her head.
She jerked her arm back and pulled away a few inches. She looked up at Hank, “Oh, no. Oh, no.”
Hank said, “What’s the matter?”
Hank and Travis both frowned as she darted glances around the club. “That was stupid of me. Supremely stupid.”
“That’s not the warm welcome I’ve been looking forward to,” Travis murmured, his disappointed tone making her heart shrivel.
Hank whispered to Travis and they led her from the dance floor. When they were back at their table, Hank put his hands on her shoulders and said, “We have several things to discuss, and none of them should happen here at the club.”
“I know. I’m so sorry, Hank. I can’t believe I did that. I’m so sorry. I knew I was going to do something stupid like that eventually. See? You can’t even take me out in public without me acting like an overdramatic drama queen. I should go back to the foreman’s house. I’m sure it’s safe. It’s been a week and nothing’s happened.”
Tears welled in her eyes as each word grew huskier and her voice cracked as a cold chill swept over her skin and that hateful weakness bloomed in her chest.
Hank and Travis crowded in around her, blocking her view of the entire club. Hank growled. “You will stop berating yourself, Nika. Breathe in slowly.”
Looking into his gray eyes, she did as he requested while he whispered to Travis, telling him about Brent’s refusal to move and their near confrontation.
Travis’s foremost concern was apparent as he kept his eyes on her but he said, “Sounds like we need to make a trip.”
