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“I’m listening.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked. “If you care anything about her, you’ll let it go.”
“I don’t see how those two things connect.” I glanced past him. Muriella and Vivian were dancing in the kitchen to Jimmy Buffett. That was a sight I wouldn’t just give up for no reason.
“Do you want to put her at risk?”
What kind of guy did he think I was? “I’d never do that.”
“Then you’ll leave her be.”
“I don’t see—”
He looked down as if trying to decide how much he wanted to tell me. “Let’s just say that Muriella has been through a lot in her life, more than most.” He paused like he was making sure I was listening. “She doesn’t want to be touched. Not in the way you want. If you push this, it will hurt her.”
Fury that she’d suffered sparked as I recalled brushing my thumb over her lips and how right it felt. “What if it healed her?”
He cast his gaze toward the mountains. “She has to be the one to decide that.”
“There’s nothing wrong with getting to know her.”
“If it makes her uncomfortable, there is.”
I released a long breath and let his words sink in. They didn’t completely make sense, yet somehow I understood them. Hurting her was out of the question. I’m not sure what I thought would happen this weekend between us, but things had just changed. That was okay. I was good at playing the long game, and I had a feeling that waiting for Muriella was going to be the greatest exercise in patience any man had ever endured. And the most worthwhile.
Chapter Six
Stone
Muriella gaveme a quizzical look as we drove past a large home to an even bigger barn. A barking golden retriever ran up to the truck as we came to a stop.
“That’s Charles. She’s harmless,” I said.
“She?”
“Ms. Dorothy, the woman who owns this place, is obsessed with British royalty. Told me she named the dog before she’d even gone to pick one out.” I hopped out of the truck and in a second was opening the passenger door. An eager Charles nudged Muriella with her nose, asking for some attention.
Muriella dropped to a squat, rubbing the dog’s ears. “Hey there, Charles.” A pink tongue darted out and swiped Muriella before she could back away. She laughed and kissed the end of Charles’ nose. “Got you back,” she said. Charles licked her again.
Without thinking, I wiped her wet cheek. She quickly backed away. If the way she stroked Charles more fervently was any indication of what that touch had done to her, she was as affected by it as I was.
“She’ll let you stay here all day and do that,” I warned. Proving my point, Charles rolled over onto her back, begging Muriella to rub her tummy.
“All right, girl named Charles. I promise I’ll come back and love on you later.” She patted her head before standing.
“Think I can get in on that too?” I asked, pointing at my stomach.
“She’s got puppy dog eyes, and you don’t,” she said, never one to hold back. If true snappiness meant the girl liked me, Muriella was in love.
“We’d have never come here if I’d known I was going to lose out to a damn dog.”
“Nowwill you tell me what we’re doing?” she asked as we strolled toward the massive white barn. It had a burnt red roof and one cupola on either end.
“No way. You’ll find out in a second anyway.”
A man dressed pretty similar to me came out the barn door. “Mr. Jacobs. Welcome back, sir.”
“Rick, it’s Stone. Please.” We shook hands. “This is Muriella.”
