“Some guys have an MO.”
What on earth was Ty talking about now?
“Seen this before. Seen a guy seemingly abandon his sister, but he did it just so she could stay safe. So she could go into witness protection, and he could face the enemies who wanted to hurt her.”
The moisture dried in her mouth.
“Seen the same fool turn away from his best friend because he wanted the guy to have a better life. And he thought that would never happen as long as they were tied together.”
Her heartbeat shook her body.
“Same guy,” Ty Crenshaw continued, “would leave the love of his life, the woman he would both die for andkillfor, because he thought she deserved to have the safe home she wanted. Because he didn’t want her having to pretend like he does. Didn’t want her giving up her apartment and her business and the life she needed. Didn’t want her to lose anything, not for him. Fool did that because he thought it was best.” He looked back. “My opinion? Screw all that shit. When you want something badly enough, you fight for it.”
“I want to fight.”
“Thought you might.”
“Whereis he?”
“Afraid I don’t know who you’re talking about, but…you found yourself a thief once. Something tells me you already know exactly where to look if you want to find him again.” He walked out.
She didn’t know, dammit! The first time she’d found Remy, it had been in the middle of nowhere.
You already know exactly where to…
Jacqueline smiled.
No, she hadn’t found him in the middle of nowhere. She’d found him in Halfway, Georgia.
Chapter Nineteen
“Did you see her?” Remy gripped the phone so tightly he feared it might shatter in his hand. “Did you actually see her with your own eyes and talk to Jacqueline?”
“Can’t hear you so well,” Ty Crenshaw drawled. “Must have a bad connection. Are you back in the mountains?”
Yes, he was back in the freaking mountains. Back in the same low-rent bar and back to being ignored by Rodney as the guy watched his game. Remy was even at the same damn table he’d sat at before.BeforeJacqueline had entered his life and changed everything.
Mostly she changed me.
“You had one job,” he snapped. “See Jacqueline. Make sure she is all right. You and your asshole agents hauled me out of the hospital before I could see her for myself.”
“Ah, you mean wesavedyou when you collapsed, and we got you out of there before your identity could be compromised. Happy to help. No problem. Don’t mention it.”
“You were supposed to call me yesterday.” The connection was crystal clear. What had Ty been moaning about? “Did you see her or not?” The fingers of his left hand drummed on thetabletop. A beer sat in front of him because Rodney had insisted he buy one in order to sit at the freaking table.
Andwhywas Remy even in that bar? Because his cabin had felt too damn empty. Because he’d spent the last five days frantically painting image after image of Jacqueline. Because he missed her and if he hadn’t gotten out of that cabin, he might have lost the little bit of his mind that remained.
“I might have seen her,” Ty returned slowly.
The bar door opened with a creak.
Automatically, Remy’s gaze jumped toward the door and to the woman who slowly peeked inside.
Wrong bar, sweetness. Wrong man. Wrong night.
“The real question,” Ty continued in his ear, “is haveyouseen her? Because I think you might be seeing—”
Remy hung up on him. Slammed down the phone. Sent the beer bottle toppling and spilling over his table even as he jumped to his feet.