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An ache started in my chest when I thought of why I’d found my way to the bar in the first place. The alcohol didn’t drown out anything.
“Thanks, Lynn.”
Dalton sat on a stool, nodding at Lynn. “Give me one before we head out.”
She tapped the bar and said, “It’s on the house.”
We sat in silence while Dalton drank nearly all of his beer, then he finally spoke. “I heard you and Emma did some dancing tonight.”
“Well, hell…news travels fast, don’t it?” I said with a chuckle.
He shrugged. “You know how it is. It may not seem like it, but Estes Park is still small.”
Nodding, I replied, “Yeah. Nothing happened. Nothing ever will.”
“Why’s that?”
I laughed. “Come on, Dalt. You know why! She’s my daughter’s nanny. And I can’t let anyone in…” My voice trailed off.
“Listen, if you don't feel that way toward Emma, then fine. But don’t lead her on, because she isn’t some hook-up that you’re gonna be able to walk away from in the morning.”
I turned and shot him a glare. “You don’t think I know that?”
“Do you? Then finish what you were going to say. You can’t let anyone in again?”
“I can’t do that to Lisa again, okay! I can’t cheat on her.”
Dalton jerked back like he’d been slapped. “Cheaton her? What are you even talking about? And what do you meanagain?”
Lifting my hands, I shoved my fingers through my hair and groaned. “I’m not talking about it here.”
“Fine. Then let’s go.”
“Is Hadley asleep? I don’t want her to see me like this.”
“I’m taking you home.”
“Home?”
“Yeah, Aiden. Home.”
We were no sooner in his truck and driving down the road when he started assaulting me with questions. Who was it with? When did it happen? Did Lisa know?
“Stop!” I shouted, the blurry scenery out the passenger window making me ill. “My head is pounding and you’re making it worse.”
“You just dropped a damn bomb on me back there. Dude, I never would have taken you for a cheat.”
“She wasn’t alive. It was right after she died, and I was so lost. I got drunk and woke up with Nancy in my bed.”
Dalton immediately pulled over and put his truck in park, then dropped his head against the seat.
“I don't remember anything that happened,” I said, barely above a whisper.
“Then are you sure it happened at all?” he asked. “Everyone knows how much she was trying to get with you, even when Lisa was still alive.”
“Yeah, I'm sure. I found a condom on the floor and it had been?—”
He put up his hand. “I get it.”
