My stomach churned.Someone save me.
"I think you need to sleep it off, Mr. MacGregor. Thank you for your time." His voice was equal parts pity and irritation. "Congrats to you guys . . . I think."
"Thanks," I mumbled as the cops sauntered off my porch.
I pushed the door shut with a shaky hand and leaned against it. The cool wood did nothing to steady me. My legs buckled. Down on all fours, I crawled, and it felt like the couch was miles away, even though I was in my living room. I finally lifted a hand and felt the cushions and hoisted myself up.
I closed my eyes, and darkness swept in. But even as sleep tugged at my consciousness, one clear thought floated above the haze.
Logan would have my head for this.Roark. Fork. MacGregor.
"Jesus, Lachlan," I whispered to the dark, "you're a bloody idiot."
Chapter 6
Logan
Ireached for my water cup. The kitchen was quiet, sunlight filtering in, casting long shadows across the counter. I grabbed my purse next, readying to leave.
"Tony," I called out. The sound of paws on hardwood echoed back at me. He barreled into the room, his tail wagging like a helicopter of excitement.
"Park time, buddy," I said, clipping the leash onto his collar. His brown eyes shimmered with understanding, and he let out a soft, whiney bark.
"Let's burn off some of that crazy." I made my way toward the door. Yesterday had been a marathon of work after I’d come back from Lachlan’s. My brain was fried from the hours I’d spent in front of the computer screen.
I patted my pocket, feeling for my keys, and then we headed out the door. I locked it behind us. Tony pulled eagerly on the leash, ready to take on the world. I smiled down at him, grateful for his unbridled joy.
"Alright, alright," I muttered.
Tony hopped into the truck. He panted happily, tongue lolling as he settled into the passenger seat. I hopped into the driver's side and turned the key, letting the engine rumble to life.
The drive felt different today—uneasy. My grip on the steering wheel was too tight. The road unwound before us, but my eyes flicked to the rearview mirror more often than necessary. I was just overthinking. I was sure it was simply lingering anxiety, a remnant of the chaos from the past few days. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the tension.
We arrived. The dog park was bustling with the usual suspects: pups of all sizes and their owners, all mingling. I unclipped Tony’s leash, and he shot out of the truck like a bullet. He was trained, and I made sure to always keep an eye on him. I followed him, slower, scanning for an empty bench.
That was when I saw it.
Across the street, a blacked-out SUV sat like a shadow cast by the midday sun. Parked. Just sitting there silently. A shiver raked down my spine. It had to be the cops. Maybe the same ones who had cornered me with questions? Were they watching me? Were they expecting Lachlan to show up?
"Great," I muttered as my heart sank. This wasn't just lingering anxiety—it was a full-blown warning siren now.
Tony tore across the grass, barking his hello to the world. I tried to match his enthusiasm, tried to pretend I was just here for him. But my gaze kept straying back to the SUV in my periphery.
I went through the motions, tossing Tony's ball, laughing with the other pet owners, the perfect picture of carefree. Inside, I was having a meltdown, but we couldn’t just leave after we had just gotten here. It would look too suspicious. I had to play the part.
An hour later, we were on our way. Errands filled the rest of my day, but they weren't just errands anymore. I could feel the weight of eyes on me. They were following me around and watching me.
When I finally made it back home, my mind whirled. What should I do? My fingers twitched. Should I call Lachlan? I was an idiot and hadn’t gotten his number, only left mine. Should I go to him directly? I’d thought we could just tell the lie and move on with our lives. I hadn’t anticipated we’d have to actually do anything together. I guessed showing up would be the best thing to do, since we were dating. Was that what they were looking for? They wanted to see if we were actually together?
“Damn it,” I hissed, throwing my purse onto the couch. Tony trotted over, his tail wagging. He nudged my leg with his wet nose, wanting my attention, or maybe he just knew I was stressed. I reached over and scratched him behind his ears, and then my phone rang.
Tony cocked his head, his ears perking up to the sound. I snatched my cell from inside my purse.
"Hello?"
"Logan, we need to talk." Lachlan's voice was a mix of gravel and concern through the phone line.
Well, I guessed that answered my question.
