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Maybe I jumped to conclusions, but I really don’t see how. I saw it. Plain as day. I know his reputation. He’s told me his reputation and it’s one he’s earned. Just . . .
It’s not cheating, I guess. We’re not anything, but it brings barreling back to me all the times Billy did it. The first time was the worst. I walked in on them and . . . I swallow.
He’d set it up so I saw. His way of letting me know I was getting too old for him, or he was getting bored. I was so stupid and young, I thought it was me. And I tried, but then I stopped and waited it out and, finally, I’d had enough of just everything.
Had enough of cheating, of his creepy ways. Of him wanting other men to watch us. Of him losing interest. Of my own relief at that.
And I got out.
Swore never again.
I’ve managed to keep things at a certain level, right up until now.
Until Leland.
And then I walk in on him and Willa.
In the sweet restaurant, the rain comes down harder, and I can hear it over the hubbub.
I’m cold, lonely, and this town is bigger than Norhill Tops, but it’s missing something. A sense of home, of friends.
Leland.
I need to stop thinking of him.
There have been job offers since I left Waterman Heights, but I’m not interested in any of them. Hell, Dakota’s had her share too. We worked damn hard there to build up our reputation of excellent work ethic, and I guess I could take one of those, but I don’t want to abandon Dakota or give up on the work I’ve put into her lodge.
And taking a job somewhere else would feel an awful lot like running.
What if I’m wrong about what I saw? What if the things Billy did affect and color me now?
But his hands were on her hips, and she straddled him. How could I have that wrong?
Pushing the remnants of salad away, I down the rest of the glass of wine, gather my bags, and head up to my room. Every step fills me with a strange energy. Probably because this is the first time in a very long time I’m taking time off to do nothing. It’s strange.
Using the keycard, I open my door and frown. I don’t remember leaving lights on. It’s darker than usual and thunder cracks and lightning flashes and suddenly, everything in me goes hot and cold.
I’m not alone.
A man is lying on my bed, reading one of the brochures.
My heart goes crazy at the sight of him, and the air is thick as I try to get it into my lungs.
“What are you doing here?” I stare at Leland. He’s in the clothes he had on in the office, a charcoal shirt and trousers, and his feet are bare. Shoes and socks sit at the end of the bed on the floor.
“I can think of better ways for you to greet me there, sweet Sarah.”
His voice wraps slow around me like a caress, and it take real effort to push the lust and want away.
“Leland?”
“I’m thinking this town’s got shit on Norhill.” He totally ignores my question, and he’s calm, like he hasn’t a care in the world. Was Willa not enough? “Have you seen this thing? Shopping, picnics, some waterslide. Which I think you’ll agree isn’t the time of year for. Or the day.”
I stalk up to him. “Why are you in my room? How did you get in?”
He sighs and looks at me, and his face is set hard, but those amber eyes burn as they touch on me.
I can feel that touch, the heat, from where I stand.
