Shiloh raised a shoulder in a half shrug, her oversized t-shirt sliding down and exposing smooth, tanned skin. “Some form of meat and potatoes.”
I stiffened slightly. That had been my stepdad: meat, potatoes or rice, and one vegetable at every dinner. The sound of plates flying off the table and crashing to the floor filled my mind. Angry words hurled at my mother, one after the other. The crack of a slap.
I shoved the memories down—every last one.
“There’s chorizo in there, too.”
“Fancy sausage. It just goes to show you shouldn’t make assumptions.”
I traced a design in the condensation of my glass. “I like playing with different flavors. Things you wouldn’t think would go together.”
“Salty and sweet.”
“Exactly.” Images flashed in my mind again, but these were different. My lips on Shiloh’s skin. The taste of her on my tongue.
Shit. I needed to get out of this room before I did something stupid.
I shoved back from the table. “I need to send a few emails before I crash.”
She blinked a few times, lowering her leg to the floor. “You don’t want dessert? I’ve got some ice cream in the freezer.”
“No,” I clipped, the single word coming out harsher than I’d intended. I cleared my throat, trying to temper my words. “I’m good. You need any help with the dishes?”
Shiloh’s face completely shut down with no hint of any emotion shining through. “No, I’m fine. Do whatever you need to.”
I hated everything about this moment: The door she’d cracked open then slammed shut in my face. Knowing her expression of nothingness hid hurt. The desire still thrumming through me. All of it had alarm bells blaring in my mind.
I jerked my head in a nod. “’Night.” I was out of the dining area before the word was completely out of my mouth.
I was an asshole. But better that than someone who took advantage. Shiloh had been through so much, and this past week had been a rollercoaster. She needed a friend, not some sleaze making a move on her.
Kai didn’t follow me into the bedroom, but I wasn’t shocked. I was sure he was in hog heaven at Shiloh’s side. And, honestly, I felt better that he stuck close.
But as I closed the door to the guest room, I felt damn lonely—by my own choice. I’d walked away from what I wanted, what I wanted more than anything since I’d prayed for my freedom two decades ago.
I’d gotten it, but there had been a price for that freedom. It was something I needed to remember. There was always a cost.
I pulled my laptop out of my duffel and sank onto the bed. The knot of my hair tugged as I settled against the pillows. I pulled the tie free, and the pressure in my scalp released.
Flipping open the laptop, I tapped a key to wake it up, then opened an internet browser and got to work. Shiloh had beencalm all through dinner. Hadn’t mentioned the letter once. ButIhadn’t forgotten. I couldn’t.
Someone was watching—someone who knew that she was here. That was too close for comfort for me.
I opened a notes app and started a list of everyone with ties to Howard Kemper. It shocked the hell out of me to find out that his daughter, Everly, was now engaged to Hayes. But then again, I’d read an article that had touted Everly as the one who’d saved Shiloh all those years ago.
I found some articles about Everly’s brother, Ian, but from everything I could tell, he was still locked up in prison. I moved to other types of connections: Men who had worked for Howard. Those tied up in that off-the-grid world he’d been a part of. His cellmates.
My fingers froze over the keyboard as I scanned the website on my screen, one that would tell me which of Howard’s cellmates were still in prison, and which had gotten out. He’d only had three in all his time inside. Two had lasted under a year. But the third? They’d obviously been enough of a match to remain paired for the duration.
August Ernst. He’d been sentenced to twenty years for stalking and aggravated assault. But he’d gotten out early—just two weeks before Howard Kemper died. Now, he was walking free.
Maybe he had an urge to terrorize the woman his cellmate had been obsessed with.
15
SHILOH
I leanedagainst the rails of the round pen, and Onyx stared back warily. The session with Ramsey hadn’t gone well this morning.