“She’s pushing eighty.”
“What?” She pushed hair from her face and glared at him.
“Misha is going to be eighty in a couple of months.”
“Oh.” The wind left her sails and her knees shook. She was embarrassed — mortified. Yet still confused and a little pissed. “You left last night and said you had work to do but you went for a run. And today it’s been crickets. I haven’t heard one word from you.”
He leaned forward. “Maybe if you used that cell phone that you’ve got hidden away the communication thing would be a lot better.”
What in the actual hell? “How do you know about that?” She tried to ignore the guilty flush that rolled over her skin, leaving a hot and uncomfortable wake.
Gus stood to the side. “Are you coming in or are we going to hash this out in the hallway?”
She should turn her butt around and go home. This wasn’t going to end well. She could feel it. But if Faith were the kind of person who listened to good advice, she wouldn’t be here in the first place. She brushed past him and waited until the door was closed.
“You snooped in my apartment.” Her accusation fell between them.
“Nope. I was getting dressed that first time I stayed over, and your phone pinged.” He raised an eyebrow. “Who’s Declan?”
Her heart was pounding so hard that it was all she could hear. “Someone I used to know.”
“Okay.” His reply was clipped, his mouth tight.
“That’s it?” Angry, she had to physically stop herself from throwing a punch. What the hell was wrong with this man? She’d lied to him, and he’d known about it.
“I don’t need to know your history to fuck you.”
She flinched at his words. Then, she raised her chin.
“I’m going to blame the booze for your crudeness. And I don’t know what’s going on, but something has clearly changed. So, let’s just be honest, shall we?”
“By all means.” Gus held her gaze and gave an answer she wasn’t ready for. “A lot has changed.”
She hoped that the disappointment currently ravaging her insides didn’t show. “Okay.” Her answer was small, and inwardly, she cringed.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Misha is eighty. I get it.”
But who was this woman? She meant something to Gus, and that didn’t make sense. He’d only been in Fire Lake for a short period of time. Unless she was someone from his past who had moved here? Her need to know was strong, but she had no right. Not really. She was just the woman he was currently screwing.
His dark eyes saw too much, so she turned from him and wandered over to the counter. There was a large manilla envelope beside a half-empty bottle of bourbon.
“Look, I’ve got a lot to deal with right now and I don’t want you to think that any of it has anything to do with you.” His voice was low, and she felt his warmth at her back. “It doesn’t. It’s stuff to do with my family and my past.”
Faith should be happy Gus didn’t have a sidepiece, but she wasn’t. In fact, a deeper sadness settled over her, and she wrapped her arms around herself, looking for some kind of comfort in a storm of emotion she didn’t understand.
He was leaving her. She felt it in her bones.
She turned and faced him. “Are you okay?” she asked softly.
“I’ve been better,” he replied gruffly.
But he wasn’t. It was as clear as day.
She took a step toward him and reached for his face. His skin was warm. Rough. Her heart ached for him, for whatever it was he was going through.
Because she loved him.
