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“Looking for a piece of paper.”
She snatched the photo from my hand quickly, shoving it into her back pocket. Then she tried to smile, but there was no doubt I’d snagged a small piece of her privacy, a detail that could possibly unravel the mystery around who she was. I knew better than to push it.
“I think I saw a notepad around here somewhere.” She remained nervous as she looked through drawers, pulling out a pad and pencil a few minutes later. “Here you go.” When she walked closer, she refused to look me in the eyes.
I could swear she was worried that I’d put two and two together.
As I scribbled the address, I kept my eyes on her. She was now a nervous wreck. What in God’s name was she hiding?
“So, is this a fancy party?” she asked, just as anxious as a few seconds before.
“Hell, no. Phoenix is a real cowboy, even though he became one of the richest men in Montana. My guess is they’ll have it in the horse barn.”
Her laughter returned but when she lifted her head to look me in the eyes, I noticed hers were clouded with pain.
And fear.
When I found out who’d hurt her, I would become the loose cannon I’d been accused of. Then I’d stand back and be glad that I was. “I like that,” she purred. “Maybe I’ll stop by for a few minutes anyway. I’ll text you if I’m coming. Is that fair?”
“Mmmm… I’m not sure about that but I’ll take it.”
“That’s all you’re gonna get, Wolfman.”
I laughed but I had a feeling she knew I was faking it for the most part. There was no closing Pandora’s Box now that it had been opened.
She was riding on borrowed time. Whoever the monster was out to get her would eventually rear his ugly head.
I’d be there to chop it off.
* * *
Work. She had to work.
I knew it was a damn excuse, but I didn’t want to scare her more than I could tell she already had been.
I knew Lily was doing everything to try to get ahead, but she’d taken the extra shift on purpose. So maybe I’d come on a little strong after getting back, but it wasn’t as if she’d shoved me away.
Sam whimpered from the seat next to me, his tail constantly thumping against the door.
“I tried, buddy. She just didn’t want to come.”
Woof!
He didn’t buy it either, but there was nothing I could do short of kidnapping her, which hadn’t been far from my mind. Huffing, I rubbed my hand across my beard, thinking about her desire to have me shave. Huh. How long had it been? What the hell? Maybe I’d do it later.
I wasn’t hanging around at the party for long myself. I had no interest in pretending that everything was hunky dory in life, or whatever people with happy little families would call it. I was happy for Phoenix and Snake that they’d found the loves of their lives, but I wasn’t the kind of guy to plan on family get-togethers every couple of weeks, festive celebrations in the summer.
And I didn’t have the girl.
Every time either one of us got close, one or the other would pull back. I had to remind myself I’d only known her a few days. As I headed down the road, the amount of ongoing construction continued to surprise me. Phoenix was putting his heart and soul into providing an animal sanctuary that likely didn’t exist anywhere else.
All because of the influence and love of a woman.
Fuck me. I was wallowing in the very self-pity both he and Gage had accused me of. It was hard to admit to anyone, let alone myself that I wanted her by my side.
Not just for all the carnal delights.
Chuckling, I noticed Sam was staring at me, his tail no longer thumping. “What? I can think of her that way.”
