She folds her arms across her stomach. “This is perfect. You can give me a ride home.”
Ben swivels his head back to her. His eyes darken. “I can drive you. Is your car not here?”
She shakes her head, but doesn’t offer any explanation.
“Well, great to see you, Benny. Let’s go, Dollface. It’s getting late.” I smile at her, extending my elbow. It’s barely eight thirty.
“It’s Ben,” he grits out.
To my surprise, she steps closer and loops her arm through mine. The warmth of her touch sends immediate relief through my tense muscles.
Ben’s mouth drops open, but he recovers quickly. A smile curls across his lips. He steps up to her, leaning forward to plant a kiss on her cheek. My chest expands, and I resist the very potent urge to plant my fist in his face.
Don’t be irrational. Think clearly. Take a deep breath.
Dolly doesn’t let go of my arm, but she lets him kiss her cheek. I tighten my hold on her, my entire body freezing until he pulls away.
“Thanks for dinner, Ben. I had a great time.” Her voice sounds warm and genuine.
“Have a good one, Benny.”
“It’s Ben!” he shouts at my back as I turn her toward the parking lot, where my truck is.
She doesn’t say anything as I weave her through the cars and open the passenger door for her. I grab her hand, wanting to erase the memory of his touch as I guide her up into the seat.
She doesn’t look at me as I reach around and buckle her seat belt for her. I close the door and walk around the front of the truck, forcing the air out of my lungs.
Just as I reach for the handle, my phone starts to ring. I pull it out of my back pocket, swiping to answer the call from Holden.
“Hello?”
“Is she with you?” His voice is tinged with panic.
I frown into the phone just as I pull open the door. “Yeah, we’re leaving her date with Benny.” I spit his name out.
He sighs in relief before his voice reeks of irritation. “Date?”
“Yessir.” I shut the door and start the truck.
“Why is she on a date when there’s someone threatening her life?”
I put the phone on speaker. Dolly turns to me, looking down at the name on the screen.
“Sam? Why is she going out on dates?”
“Because I’m a grown woman and I can do what I want,” she fires back.
I set the phone down on the console before putting the truck into drive.
“I never let her out of my sight. What happened?”
He sighs. “We got another note. This one was tied around Oyster’s neck with a pink ribbon.”
Oyster is the yellow Lab that belongs to the Redfords.
“When did they leave it?”
“Had to have been in the last two hours. We were out at the Riders, watching Sterling ride a bull. When we got back, it was around her neck.”
