Of course, her stalled career was the least of her worries. Because Doc was calling her name again. And there was no way to pretend she hadn’t heard him.
Dragging in a deep breath, she slowly turned. The instant her eyes locked on him, she felt like someone reached into her chest and ripped out her heart.
He was so damn beautiful. So damn familiar. And so damn dear.
Wearing well-worn jeans, flip-flops, and a T-shirt that lovingly molded itself to his broad chest, he stepped off the curb and headed in her direction. His lion’s mane blew in the hot wind. His green eyes were squinted against the glare of the mercilessly setting sun. And his lean-hipped swagger brought him to her in no time.
She wanted the asphalt to open up and swallow her. Especially when he tilted his head and asked, “Are you okay?”
And there it was. The question she’d been dreading.
Of course I’m not okay!she wanted to scream.I’ve lost everything. My career. My family. Not to mention, you broke my fucking heart!
Instead, she placed a hand on her cocked hip. “Sure. Why do you ask?”
“Because your chest is all splotchy.” He pointed to her V-neck blouse. “That’s not because of…” He trailed off and ran a hand through his wild hair. “That’s not because of me, is it?”
When she glanced down, she saw that, yes indeedy, the skin over her chest was red and mottled. Happened anytime she cried. And she’d been cryinga lotin the last few days. Could hardlykeepfrom crying, as a matter of fact.
She hoped her smile looked sarcastic instead of sad when she said, “Thank you for your brilliant portrayal as the self-centered A-hole in the movie of my life. But not everything is about you. Although…” She tapped her lip. “I wouldn’t be surprised, going forward, if Ididbreak out in a rash anytime we got within five feet of each other.”
Mockery. Mockery was her savior. If she could just keep up the sardonic banter then maybe she’d get through this without melting into a blubbering heap at his feet.
“And once again there’s that mouth your momma warned you about.” He smirked.
“What are you doing here, Dalton?” She tried to sound impatient and was surprised when she actually pulled it off.
“I came to talk to you about what happened.”
Her jaw tightened. “Which part specifically?”
“The part where you told your mom about the king t—”
“Stop.” She held up a hand. “Just stop right there. I know I fucked up, okay? IknowI did. And I couldn’t be sorrier. I’m sorry those guys from Maine used that information to do what they did. I’m sorry Fin is dead because of that decision. I’m sorryyouwere put in the impossible position of having to shoot him in order to save the rest of us. But believe me. No one is harder on me than me. So please take whatever judgements or recriminations or indictments you have and shove them where the sun doesn’t shine.”
“Thatmouth, woman.” He shook his head.
She didn’t say anything in return, just grabbed the door handle in preparation of flight. Before she could get the door open, however, he wrapped a hand around her arm. “Wait, Cami.”
His palm was warm. She felt the indents each of his fingers made in her flesh. And a million memories of just how wonderful his touch had been the night of the storm flitted through her over-heated head.
“Please let me go, Dalton.” She dropped all pretense of self-possession. “Please don’t make this any worse on me than it already is.”
“I can’t let you go.” He shook his head, and her stomach sank.
“Why can’t you?”
“Because I have things I have to say to you.”
The man was merciless. Absolutelymerciless.
She’d known he was tough. And stubborn. And definitely persistent. But his mercilessness surprised her.
And, yeah, okay, it pissed her off a little too.
“Hang on.” She pulled her arm from his grasp and once again tapped her lip, her natural tendency toward acrimony, especially when she felt cornered, asserting itself. “I’m trying to decide if I don’t give a shit or if I don’t give a fuck about what you have to say.”
He lifted his gaze heavenward. “Put your spurs away for five minutes, will you?”
