Speaking of wind . . . had someone just let some go? He eyed the dog. It had to be him, right?
“Jesus, I take that question back,” Eli said. “I can’t believe that you picked up a stray dog the size of a small pony. He could hurt you. Especially since you don’t know what his life has been like. Why didn’t you take him to the pound?”
“It’s not open. Besides, he doesn’t want to go.”
Really?
“How do you know he doesn’t want to go?” Eli asked.
“When I mentioned it, he whined.” She rubbed Horse’s head and he stared up at her with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
Damn. Was she serious?
Horse wasn’t the most attractive dog he’d ever seen. His fur was matted and looked a bit dirty. It was hard to tell what color he was or what sort of breed.
“That doesn’t explain why you’re sleeping in your car,” Eli said.
Right.
They should get back on topic. Kellan wanted to get to bed sometime tonight. And even though he liked to run, he didn’t enjoy the feeling of being sweaty.
He needed a shower.
And he needed to get away from this girl. She intrigued him far too much for his peace of mind.
Not that his mind had much peace. He had a very good memory. And shit from his past often circulated through his brain, tormenting him, keeping him awake. However, what little peace he did have, he’d like to keep.
“I don’t think that is any of your business,” she said.
There was bravado in her voice, but she wrapped her arms around herself. Either she was scared or she was cold.
Or both.
Eli crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you know anything about Haven or how things are run around here?”
“I know a bit.”
“What do you know?” Eli asked. “Because you don’t seem to realize that this town doesn’t let its women sleep in cars alone in a park.”
The girl ran her hand over her face, looking exhausted. A part of him felt a strange twinge. Was he feeling bad for her?
“Do you think I want to be sleeping here?” she asked. “Right now I could be inside a cute little cottage in an actual bed.”
“What happened to the cute cottage?” Eli asked, wrinkling his nose as he obviously got a whiff of the dog stench.
“Apparently, the rental doesn’t allow dogs. I get it. I didn’t know I was going to have a dog when I arrived in town. I asked if I could just keep him a few nights until I figured out what to do with him. But the agent wouldn’t hear of it. And he looks like he’s had a rough time. He’s scared. He was hungry and shaking and . . . I know what it’s like when no one loves you.”
That last part was said so quietly that he was fairly certain that they weren’t supposed to hear it. But it only added to his suspicions about her relationship with her father.
“This agent . . . who was it?” Eli asked.
“What does it matter?” she asked.
Kellan shared a look with his brother. Kellan let Eli lead. This was his operation, after all.
Well, not exactly an operation.
But if it was up to Kellan they would have kept running.
