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I shut the TV off. “He’s still clueless.”
Pepper is staring at a spot on the floor. Her eyes hazy and distant again.
Fuck. This is getting out of hand. “Pepper!”
She blinks up. “Hmm? Yeah. I’m good. Did you say something?”
“I was saying he’s still clueless.”
“Right. Because I don’t have family. Anywhere…much less everywhere.”
I rub the back of my neck, trying to stay compassionate at a time of crisis. Because if I wasn’t before, I’m one hundred percent convinced Mr. Politics is not going away. “I can’t imagine losing both parents at the same time—and not having anyone to—”
“No, you can’t. You would never have that problem. You’d always have someone. Everyone always has someone, but even if you didn’t—your parents wouldn’t do that to you. They’d—” She jerks and blinks, catching herself and starts to pace the living room. “Sorry, never mind.”
“Pepper, sit down. I’m going to call my Dad and just catch up over the phone. Maybe have him deliver something for us later.”
“No! Please, you don’t have to babysit me. I’m fine. I just need a minute. You should go.” She sits on the far edge of the sofa. The furthest from where I’m standing. Her expression is blank, but I can tell she wants to be alone.
I hesitate at the idea of leaving her right now. But she doesn’t need anyone hovering either. “I won’t be long.”
“No need to rush. And don’t worry, I won’t be alone. I’ll call Charlie,” she assures me, with a smile as fake as a politician.
19
There’s a reason Elliot’s cottage is right next door to Levi’s ranch. No one goes near it. His bulls are out of control. Something he claims he’s working on—but Noah and I both know he’s not since it’s a natural chick repellent.
Being the oldest—and yeah, I’ll admit, the tallest Reeves brother with what he calls “natural charm,” a spunky kid, and the biggest property in Hideaway Springs, automatically makes him the town’s most eligible bachelor.
So yeah, the crazy cattle help my sworn-off-women big brother stay single.
But it also keeps the surrounding homes safe from anyone. Especially out-of-towners.
So Pepper is safe at the cottage. Even if I do plan on being gone for a total of thirty minutes—or at least until I have confirmation that Charlie is there.
Levi and Noah are sitting at the bar, but I approach the new waitress first. “Hey, Tessa, are you being blackmailed or something?”
The town rogue cocks her head at me. “No one twisted my arm. And I’m not fulfilling court ordered community service—I’m honestly just doing the town a good deed and stepping in while Pops finds a replacement,” she says, wiping glass condensation from the bar.
I smirk. “Get fired from the station?”
“Yep.”
“Tell ‘em what ya did, Tess,” Noah pokes.
Tessa inhales sharply, and I glance at Levi, whose jaw is tight and eyes are rolling. “I might have lost a few parking violations on record.”
“What?”
“Aaand called every ticket holder in town letting them know it was dismissed.”
I laugh.
“Don’t laugh at me. Those parking tickets were unlawful. Officers around here are too bored to do anything else—doesn’t mean you should take it out on hard working citizens.”
“You’re lucky they didn’t fine you,” Noah says.
“You’re lucky they didn’t arrest you,” Levi snips, before taking a healthy swig of his beer.
