He scoffed and approached her. “What kind of things?”
I worked my way backward a few steps, trying to make a clean exfil without their notice.
“You packed my stuff, and I don’t like some of what you packed.”
“You’re not moving in,” he grunted back in the same tone. “So why does that matter right now, especially considering—”
“Consideringwhat, exactly?”
The man had walked right into that one.
“Just tell me what you need. I’ll get it tomorrow,” Trevor deflected.
“I’d prefer not to say it in front of our guest.” Her voice softened that time as her eyes darted to me.
“Just say it.” Trevor gestured at her to continue.
Her shoulders dropped. “You packed my oversizedthat timeunderwear, ya know? There. You happy? As embarrassed as I am now?” She did this adorable wrist twirl, distracting me from what she’d said, but she also had me forgetting my mission to leave without drawing their eyes. “I know I’m moody, but it’s for a different reason—just FYI—and I know that’s why you grabbed those.”
Trevor barked out a low laugh. “You’re always moody, woman. And I have no damn clue what ‘that time’ underwear means. I just threw shit in a bag without thinking about it.”
Yeah, I really don’t belong here.
Trevor tossed a look over his shoulder at me as if remembering I was there and they were discussing his ex-wife’s underwear.
“Doing a perimeter sweep,” I mumbled on my way out, shutting the door behind me.
I barely made it three steps outside the lodge before Audrey called my name and tossed out a quick “I am so, so sorry about that.”
“Nothing to apologize for.” I kept on walking, hoping she wouldn’t follow.
“I don’t know what’s worse: the secrets Trevor’s keeping from me, you walking in on me naked, or hearing that conversation,” she said in a small voice, and now I had no choice but to turn around and face her.
“No clue what you’re talking about.” I forced the side of my lip up into a semi-smile, hoping we were about done so I could check the property. If I was lucky, maybe I’d find someone or something to shoot.
She reached for my arm, doing her best to get a grip through my heavy jacket. “That was wildly inappropriate. Seriously, I’m so sorry.”
I slanted my gaze to where she was touching me. “The naked thing, or discussing your underwear in front of me?” I casually tipped my head toward the woods, letting her know I had places to be. People to possibly kill and all.
“Can I walk with you? I need air.”
I suppressed the groan of frustration trying to escape. She’d misread it as being jackass-like, when in reality, I just couldn’t breathe around her for some reason, and it drove me nuts. “You sure you want that air? It’s frigid.”
“Will it numb my brain so I forget what happened today? Forget the fact there’s clearly more to this break-in story no one wants to share with me?”
“Air won’t help, no.” I frowned. “But you can come anyway.”
She nodded her thanks, then tucked her bare hands in her jacket pockets. We were seconds away from starting that walk we shouldn’t take together when the door flung open.
Of course.
“Wait.” Trevor cut straight over to me, avoiding eye contact with Audrey, and discreetly tried to hand me a 9mm, checking over his shoulder to ensure no guests were around in the process. “Can’t sweep the property unarmed.”
“I have a Glock at my back. I’m always armed, don’t worry.” There were ways to fly commercially with weapons. Though my 9mm was all I’d brought for this trip. Left my M4 with the guys back in Wyoming.
“Good.” He hid the Glock before anyone could notice, then disappeared as fast as he’d come, probably not realizing Audrey planned to do that sweep with me.
“I really am sorry about him,” she said, breaking the silence once we were alone again.
