X’s smile widened. “Two years, three weeks, and four days, but who’s counting? Point is, she must mean something to you.”
He stared straight ahead at the snow-covered road. “Drop it.”
“I’m just saying, it’s nice.” X’s voice softened. “Seeing you care about something besides horses and metal and leather and Bramble.”
The rest of the drive passed in silence. With each mile closer to town, Anson’s chest tightened further. By the time they pulled into the residential neighborhood where the Millers lived, he was taking shallow breaths, fighting the urge to tell Bear to turn around.
The house was a modest two-story with Christmas lights already strung across the porch railing. Bear parked at the curb, and they sat for a moment, engine idling.
“Want us to do the talking?” X offered.
Anson shook his head, forcing himself to open the door. “My job.”
They walked up the shoveled path to the front door, X and Bear flanking him like bodyguards. Anson knocked, three sharp raps that seemed to echo in the quiet neighborhood.
Footsteps approached. The door swung open, revealing Evan Miller in a faded Star Wars t-shirt. His eager smile faltered as he took in the three men on his doorstep, eyes widening with recognition.
“Oh. Um. Hi?” His gaze bounced between them, settling on Anson. “You’re from Valor Ridge.”
“Yes.” Anson swallowed against the dryness in his throat, forced himself to meet the kid’s eyes. “Need to talk. About your post.”
“My post?” Confusion flickered across Evan’s face, then dawning comprehension. “You mean about Magnolia Rowe? Oh man, that’s blown up. Over a thousand likes now! My follower count jumped like crazy.”
X leaned casually against the doorframe, his smile pleasant but his eyes hard. “That’s actually the problem, kid.”
Anson took a deep breath. Words. He needed words now, when they mattered most. “Maggie came to Montana for privacy.” He stepped forward, crowding into the doorway. “And you photographed her without permission.”
Evan’s smile faltered. “I... I didn’t think it was a big deal. People love her show.”
“Delete it,” Anson said, his voice dropping to a low rumble. “Now.”
“But—”
Bear crossed his arms, making his boulder-sized arms bulge. “It wasn’t a suggestion.”
Evan swallowed hard, Adam’s apple bobbing, but then he straightened his shoulders and got brave.
Stupid.
“I don’t see why it’s a problem.”
“Kid.” X’s smile disappeared completely. “You need to understand something. When a woman asks not to have her photo taken, there’s usually a damn good reason.”
“She’s at Valor Ridge as our guest,” Anson continued, forcing each word past the tightness in his throat. “And we protect our guests.”
Evan’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean any harm?—”
“Intentions don’t matter,” Bear rumbled. “Results do.”
“Delete the post,” Anson repeated, taking another step forward until he was almost inside the house.
The kid fumbled for his phone, nearly dropping it in his haste. “Okay, okay. Deleting now. See?” He navigated to the post, then held up the screen when he hit delete. “Gone. It’s gone.”
“All pictures,” X added. “Including your camera roll.”
“But—”
“All of them,” Bear rumbled.
