An owl cried out in the night, likely swooping down in search of a snack. It was a bucket of cold water dumped right over my head. I jumped back, my hand going to my mouth. My lips tingled as I took in the man before me. I waited for him to say something about this being a mistake. He didn’t. He simply stood there with a grin curving his mouth.
“That—that—we shouldn’t have done that.”
Hayes moved in closer. “Why not? You hiding a husband here somewhere?”
“No…I just…it’s too complicated. There’s too much water under too many bridges.”
His hands came back to my face, his thumbs sweeping across my cheeks. “I don’t give a damn about any water. You and me, that’s what matters.”
I would’ve given anything to believe that. But I knew it couldn’t be. Whenever something reminded him of who my father was and what he had stolen from Hayes’ family, it would kill something inside of him. And I couldn’t stand around and watch that happen. So, I did the only thing I could. I ran.
29
Hayes
“You’re whistling.”
I stole a glance at Young in my passenger seat. “So?”
“You never whistle.”
I turned my focus back to the road, but my neck felt hot. “Guess I have a tune stuck in my head.”
I could feel her gaze on my face, studying me. “Something’s different.”
“Is this your weird mom radar going off?”
Young chuckled. “Raising two little hooligans definitely helps the spidey senses. What gives, boss?”
I shifted in my seat. What gave was that I could still taste Everly. The tea and the hint of mint from her toothpaste. She might have hightailed it back to her room and left before I’d gotten up, but that didn’t change anything. There was something between us. “Guess I’m just in a good mood this morning.”
“Fine. Keep your secrets.”
I would. This wasn’t something I was ready to share with anyone. And I knew moving forward would be more akin to dismantling a bomb than pursuing a woman. Everly was right. It wouldn’t be easy. More than a few moments would be complicated. But I couldn’t walk away, either. She seemed to pull me in. And each layer she revealed tethered me to her. Amazed me and sliced at any sort of defenses I’d built up.
The wheel creaked as I adjusted my grip, Everly’s pale face flashing in my mind. She’d given me a gift last night. The most precious thing she had—her truth. But that had me resisting the urge to betray the oaths I’d taken and search out Ian Kemper for myself.
“How’s Everly doing?”
Young’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “What?”
“How is Everly after what happened? She hanging in there okay?”
“I think she’s doing as well as she can be.” But I knew that what had happened—the attack and the note—had brought on those nightmares last night. “I’m hoping there’s something on the note. I asked them to bump it to the front of the line.”
Young raised a brow. “Calling in favors?”
“We have to figure out who’s behind this.” We hadn’t had a case this serious in years. Certainly never a serial offender stalking our county.
“I know. I’m just giving you a hard time because I know you like her.”
“What?” I almost drove off the road.
Young gripped the handle above her head. “Hell. P
lease don’t kill us because I know you have a crush.”
“I do not.”