She gave him her address.As they pulled away from the curb, the hair on the back of her neck prickled.Cujo was walking toward the car.He looked wrecked.As torn and destroyed as she felt inside.Part of her felt like jumping out of the moving vehicle and running toward him.But she knew she needed distance.Needed perspective on what was going on in her head.
Oh God.It probably looked like she had left him and quickly met up with Carter.Quickly, she pulled out her phone to text him.To tell him it wasn’t what he thought, that coincidence was a bitch.But to what end?Drea dropped her phone back into her purse.
Thankfully, Ryan didn’t say anything else until they pulled up in front of her house.
“Come on, I’ll help you inside,” he said, killing the engine.
Once inside, she sat down on the sofa and let him take over.Food was put in the fridge, tea was placed on the table next to her.He even placed the blanket from the back of the sofa over her.
“Shouldn’t you be out catching bad guys?”she asked, her eyes feeling heavy.
“It’s all part of the service, Drea.”He sat down on the coffee table, his elbows resting on his knees, his broad shoulders hunched.
“Were you looking for me?”Drea yawned.“Sorry.”
When Ryan smiled, he reminded her of a young Ricky Martin.“I was going to ask you about last night, just to get your statement, but it can wait.”
“Don’t you have the details from Cujo?”
“I do, but it gave me a reason to come and see you.”He gave an embarrassed shrug.
It was flattering but overwhelming given everything going on in her life.
“Ryan…”
“Yeah, I know.Mr.Matthews.”
If only it were that simple.Boiled down to two words representing the man she had fallen head over stupid heels in love with.
“I appreciate whatever it is you’re trying to do here, Ryan, but I just…” In a different place and time, she could see herself in a relationship with him.He’d be solid and steadfast.But he wouldn’t drive her crazy, or challenge her, or turn her on with a look.
“He’s a lucky man, and from what I saw last night, a decent guy.”
“Yeah.He is.”
Ryan stood.“Do me a favor, Drea.Deal with whatever it is you have going on.Even give me a call if you need a friend.But when you are through it, think about taking me up on that offer of dinner.Because if you were my queen, some other guy wouldn’t be standing here right now.He wouldn’t need to because I’d be taking care of you.”
Given the opportunity, Cujo would be.If she hadn’t told him she needed space.She felt guilty letting Ryan think less of Cujo, but she didn’t have the energy to correct him.
It was impossible to keep her eyes open.
“Sweet dreams, sweet Drea.”
The front door clicked shut, just as her phone buzzed.
She picked it up and opened the message.Cujo.
I was going to show you this today.
It was a tattoo, red, raw, and new, placed high on his previously unadorned bicep.A vintage arcade slot machine with a winning line, although instead of the usual cherries, it was strawberries.Stars tumbled out of it instead of coins.
Because your hair smells of strawberries, because I won the jackpot the day I met you, because you’re addictive, and every day I count my lucky stars I got the chance to love you.… If only for a little while.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ten days later, Cujo found himself standing outside the gate to Drea’s yard listening to her curse, debating whether being there was a good idea or not.They hadn’t spoken, and had barely seen each other outside of a few moments when their paths had accidentally crossed.
“Come on, you useless sack of…”
