May as well be honest.Who was it who said you don’t have to have a good memory if you tell the truth?
“Nah.Actually, I was in La Pas to go hunting.”
“In summer?Is this the part where I’m supposed to jump in and tell you all the best places to go poaching?”Aila comes right out and says it.“Because I can’t help you.Mom and I only lived in La Pas for a few months before moving on.”
I’m intrigued.I begin to say it.“If you move around so frequently, maybe you should give guys your real name if you want people to stay in contact?—”
But Aila speaks at the same time.“What made you just up and duck out on me that night?”
Awkward laughter aside, I think we might both be nervous.I’ve never had to dance around a direct confrontation like this before.
Gesturing in Aila’s direction, I concede.“You go first, darlin’.I was only going to bitch about you giving me a fake name.”
Covering her eyes with her hand, Aila groans.“Argh!Yeah, I guess I forgot.I use my biological dad’s surname on my profiles.”
That makes me lift an eyebrow, but I’m okay if she doesn’t want to go into more detail.Aila takes the opportunity to tell me off.“But you wouldn’t have needed to look for me if you had just stuck around that night.”
She’s blushing at her boldness.She has no idea I know the reason for her rosy cheeks.I was in her bedroom that night—in mind and spirit, if not in body.
“You were busy.”I don’t need to remind her.Again, she astonishes me with her reluctance to share anything.
“Mm.”The only sign that she remembers what happened in the parking lot that night is the small frown between her dark eyebrows.
It’s worth it to give her memory a prod.“You must have made a killing in tips that night.”
Aila’s eyes narrow.“That’s a very specific comment, Theron.”
My name sounds like music on her lips.Fuck.She’s got me all riled up and we haven’t even begun drinking yet.“Probably because I would like a specific answer.”Lifting my finger, I show Luna we are ready to make an order.
We are interrupted by the commotion at the door.Amelia O’Hara is in the building.Leaning heavily on Ben Magoo’s arm, Aila’s mother is all smiles.The way we abandoned her at the jetty has been completely forgotten as Amelia scopes out the masculine aura of the men in the room.Local men and Riders.
Lumbering around the room, Ben introduces Amelia to everyone.Credit where credit’s due, Aila has an attractive mother.She’s vibrant and vocal, the personification of the images on her social media.Russet hair billows like clouds around her head.Blue eyes crinkle and smile.A wide mouth with teeth only slightly stained by red wine and coffee.Her teeth alone are enough to tell me that Amelia O’Hara never sticks around anywhere long enough to set up a dentist appointment.
Glancing at Aila, I try to read her face.But meanwhile, she’s reading the room on behalf of her mother, checking the warm welcomes and analyzing them for pity, scorn, or disingenuousness.
What I know about family dynamics is close to zero, but aren’t overprotective instincts meant to go the other way around?
Who’s looking out for Aila?
Finally, Ben brings Amelia over to our side of the bar counter.Giving my arm a playful smack, Amelia pretends to be pissed.
“I have a bone to pick with you, Mister.Riding off into the sunset with my daughter on the back of your rickety motorcycle?I could have been eaten by lions or tigers or bears.If it hadn’t been for Ben here, I might have died of fright.”
I don’t think anyone notices when Amelia winces slightly and shakes her hand free of pain.It must have really stung her when she slapped my inflexible arm muscle like that.
When neither Ben nor I get the analogy Amelia is making, Aila steps in.“Oh my?Dorothy and the scarecrow, anyone?”
The two women look at Ben and then me before making eye contact with each other.
“I guess they don’t haveThe Wizard of Ozon DVD here!”
Ben still doesn’t get the reference.“We don’t have predators on Landslide, Amelia.Had something real nasty stalking the cattle back when I was a boy, but whatever it was must have crossed back over the land-bridge.”He gives the explanation in an earnest way, like he’s scared Amelia will change her mind and ask to go back home.
Luna is back to take orders.Ben opts for a bottle of the beer we make in the microbrewery in the basement.Amelia says, “Sounds lovely.I’ll have the same,” before batting her lashes at Ben.
Aila looks over at her mother.The two women make eye contact.
I see the secret communication between them.Amelia darts her eyes in Ben’s direction and then makes a small up-down motion with her chin.Aila gives a subtle nod to let her mother know she understands.
