I felt heat creep up my neck. “I’m just following the evidence?—”
“Then follow it,” Beau interrupted, gesturing toward Xavier’s cabin. “Go ahead and search. But you’re not gonna find anything.”
I nodded, unable to meet either of their eyes. I turned and headed toward the cabin, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. With each step, I felt sicker and sicker.
What was I doing? This was Xavier. The man who’d made me laugh for the first time in months. Who’d helped me start accepting myself. Who’d looked at me last night like I was the person he cared about most in the world.
And I was about to rifle through his belongings like he was a common criminal.
I reached the cabin door and raised my hand to knock, but it opened before I could. Xavier stood there, looking absolutely beautiful in a tight white T-shirt and those painted-on jeans. His face lit up when he saw me, that smile that made my chest ache.
“Marcus,” he said warmly. “What a nice surprise. I was just thinking about—” He stopped, his smile fading as he took in my expression. “What’s wrong?”
I couldn’t speak. The words stuck in my throat.
“He’s here to search your cabin,” Lucas finished, coming up behind me with Beau. “Apparently the evidence points toward you for the recent thefts.”
“But… But I wouldn’t?—”
“That’s what we told him,” Lucas said, cutting him off. “But he needs to see that for himself so he can stop being an idiot.”
Xavier’s expression shifted from confusion to hurt, and I watched as understanding dawned in those light brown eyes. His jaw tightened, and he stepped back from the doorway, gesturing inside with a sweep of his hand.
“By all means, Sheriff,” he said, his voice cold in a way I’d never heard before. “Come in and tear through my things. I’m sure you’ll find all sorts of incriminating evidence.”
The sarcasm cut deeper than any knife could have. I stepped inside the cabin, my throat so tight I could barely breathe. Lucas and Beau followed, but Xavier stayed by the door, his arms crossed over his chest and his expression unreadable.
“Xavier, I—” I started, but he held up a hand.
“Don’t,” he said sharply. “Just do what you came here to do.”
I pulled out my phone to document everything, forcing myself into professional mode even though my hands were shaking. The cabin was immaculate, as I’d expected. Everything had a place, organized with the kind of precision that spoke to Xavier’s perfectionist nature. I started with the obvious places—the closet, the dresser, under the bed.
Nothing.
I moved to his suitcases, unzipping them carefully and checking every pocket and compartment. Designer clothes, expensive toiletries, his laptop and work materials. But no stolen items. No pocket watch, no belt buckle, no beaded necklace, no purse or shoes.
“Check the rental too,” Lucas said from the doorway. “Might as well be thorough.”
Xavier pulled the keys from his pocket and tossed them to me. They hit my chest and fell to the floor with a clatter. I bent to pick them up, unable to look at him.
The SUV was just as clean. I searched the entire vehicle—trunk, under the seats, glove compartment, even the spare tire well. Nothing. Not a single stolen item anywhere.
When I came back inside, Xavier was sitting on the edge of the bed, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping. Lucas and Beau stood near him like protective guards.
“Find what you were looking for?” Xavier asked, his voice deadly quiet.
“No,” I admitted, shame burning through me. “There’s nothing here.”
“Of course there’s nothing here,” he snapped, standing up. “Because I didn’t take anything. But you were so ready to believe I did, weren’t you? All that evidence pointing right at me. Never mind that I have absolutely no reason to steal. Never mind that I came here as a favor to my best friend. Never mind that I—” He cut himself off, shaking his head. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.”
“Xavier, please?—”
“Did you search anyone else’s cabin?” he demanded. “Did you go through the belongings of every single guest at this ranch? Or was it just me?”
I couldn’t answer because we both knew the truth. I’d singled him out the moment it was convenient. I hung my head in shame. “Xavier… I… I’m sorry.”
“Go fuck yourself,” he snapped. “And get the hell out of my cabin.”
