Linx watched him, but she made no move. She wasn’t going to enter his cabin uninvited. Maybe she should let go of the leash and let Sam go toGrady.
Then she’d leave man and dogalone.
Standing there watching him ignore her cut her like a knife. Her heart still bled, and every bone in her body ached to go to him. She needed to know she still meant something to him—needed to feel his arms around her, needed his lips onhers.
Needed what he couldn’t giveher.
Bending down, she unclipped Sam from the leash and rubbed his neck. “Goodbye, boy. Be good tohim.”
Sam needed no other encouragement. He padded across the dirt and pebbles towardGrady.
Linx turned around and walkedaway.
It was over. The hurt of losing Jessie was too much for him. Sheunderstood.
If the roles had been reversed, she’d fight like a mama bear to get her cub back. And she’d hate him forever for giving heraway.
She opened the door of the SUV and whirled around when Grady put his hand overhers.
“You’re not staying for dinner?” he asked, his voicegruff.
His eyes were rimmed with red, and he looked like he hadn’t slept fordays.
“Where did you go? You had all of usworried.”
He shrugged and looked back at the camp stove. “Let’s eat. How’d you end up withSam?”
“Vanessa dropped him off. She’s worried about you,too.”
“Look, I’m not a man any woman should be worried about.” Grady put a hand on the small of Linx’s back and guided her back to the ruins of the cabin. “Tell Nessa, I’m sorry I left her clients in alurch.”
And he even had a nickname for her, although she did seem more like a Nessa than aVanessa.
“She seems like a nice woman,” Linx said, swallowing a spike of jealousy. “Very kind-hearted andunderstanding.”
“She is.” Grady bent down and rubbed the dog’s neck. “I totally blanked out about going to fetch him. He’s not a baddog.”
“No, not at all.” Linx watched as Grady set out two plates on a pile of wood and divided the steak between them. He served the baked beans and put a fork and knife beside eachplate.
“Want to eat out here or in the trailer?” he asked. “Trailer’s a little cramped but we cansit.”
“Let’s stay out here,” she replied. “I love the way it cools down in theevening.”
He cut a piece of steak and threw it at Sam. “How’d you know I wasback?”
“I didn’t. I just came up here to check. Your family came up here to look for you,too.”
“They don’t know about Jessie,” Grady said, then gestured to her steak. “Go ahead. Digin.”
“You haven’t told Cait.” It was more a statement than a question, since Linx had already spilled the beans to Cait. By now, the entire Hart clan would be up in arms, speculating about the little girl. They could even be stalking her at church where her fatherpastored.
“Why hurt everyone?” Grady shrugged as he chewed on a piece of steak. “It’s not like I have custody ofher.”
“Sorry.” Linx sawed at her half of the steak. “I thought you were leaving and not coming back. I’m glad you’reback.”
“My daughter’s here. Andyou.”
Her heartbeat accelerated at his acknowledgment of Jessie and her. Could it mean he was softening toward her? After the unspeakable thing she’ddone?
