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“What’s going on? Is your sister alright?”
He looks at me in the mirror, a hard gaze that sends chills down my back. “She’s fine. It’s not her.”
I push up in bed and cover my front with a sheet.
“Is it King?” I ask, barely above a whisper. My palms are sweating like a motherfucker.
His lips part and I swear he’s about to say yes, that they’ve found him. And I can tell him that Rigger has too. How crazy would it be if they crossed paths in their search?
Ben wouldn’t let that happen. He’s being way too careful.
“It’s a job I did in California a few months ago. There are some problems with the materials I used. Some of it’s being recalled. I have to head out there and deal with it.”
“Oh, shit.” I swivel out of bed and step into my undies.
“Yeah. The last fucking thing I wanted to deal with right now.” His voice sounds tight as he runs a hand through his hair.
I pull a shirt over my head and walk to him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
He spins and his hands to go my hips, a feeling of apprehension looming from him.
“I’ll go with you. And it won’t suck nearly as bad.” When I look up at him, he smiles sadly down at me.
“I wish that were possible. But I’m going to be riding down with my contractor so we can stop and get what we need on the way. You’ll be miserable riding in the truck with us.”
“Oh.” Rejection nips at my insides. He doesn’t want me to go. I could argue with him about why I would not be miserable. But I’m not stooping to that level. “Will you at least be home before next Thursday?”
“I don’t know. But I doubt it.” He leans forward, places a way-too-friendly kiss on my forehead. “I’m sorry about all this. I really am.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just another day of the week.”
Brushing away some of my loose hair, Ben stares deeply into my eyes. “I don’t want you to be alone. I wish I could change things.”
I play with the hairs at the top of his chest. “Make it up to me at Christmas and I’ll think about forgiving you.”
He blows out a soft laugh, then glances behind me. “Do you mind getting me some water before I take off?”
“Sure.”
I snatch the satin robe off my bed and slip it on, then tie the belt around my waist. I don’t know if Greer is back yet but when I make my way to the kitchen, it looks like someone has been here because there’s a dirty plate in the sink. One that wasn’t there this morning. Greer and I cleaned up before we left for the Hyatt. A quick look at the staff cubbies next to the pantry shows that Manny has already come and gotten the ring. But he wouldn’t leave a dirty dish in the sink. I don’t know why any of this matters. I guess it doesn’t. Looks like I’ll be alone over Thanksgiving, for the first time ever.
I fill a glass with some water and quickly peer through the skylights at the driveway before heading upstairs. Greer’s car isn’t out there. If she’s flying out to see my dad, she should be packing.
I hear Ben’s footsteps coming downstairs. My heart drops because I don’t want him to leave.
“You hitting the road today?” I ask, passing him the glass.
He nods then tips the glass up. When it’s empty, he looks over his shoulder. “I’ll take this to the kitchen for you.”
“It’s this way. I haven’t even had a chance to give you a tour of the house,” I say, leading him down the hall to the kitchen.
“I don’t know if there’s enough time for that.”
“It’ll give us something to do when you get back into town.” When I look back at him, he pinches his lips into a thin smile then sets the glass on the counter and immediately points his eyes through the French doors.
“Who’s back there?”
I follow his gaze, expecting to see someone. Maybe Daddy had one of the guys come out to clean the pool. But the area is empty. Completely dead.
