“No.” The word came out on a hiss of air. “I don’t want to be without you.”
The statement struck a chord in her soul, but she didn’t have time to stop and really consider what that meant. Not now.
“Eve, I nee—”
Footsteps pounded on the floor. Reid faced the hallway, gun raised.
A woman emerged, her bright grin falling, and she threw her palms in the air. “What the actual hell, Reid. Are you trying to give me a freaking heart attack? Not exactly the warm welcome I’d hoped for.”
Muttered curses poured from Reid’s mouth, and he shoved the gun back in place. “Damn it, Tara. What are you doing here?”
The sudden shift of energy made Eve’s head spin. “Tara? As in your sister? I didn’t know she was coming to town.”
“Neither did I.” Reid rubbed the back of his neck, his scowl slowly melting into a smile. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Tara scrunched her freckled nose. “I didn’t want you to talk me out of it. I made the decision, booked the first flight I could get on and showed up. I see now that was a mistake.”
“Never, although a little heads-up would have been nice.” He opened his arms, waiting until Tara got close to wrap in her a quick hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
He shifted so one arm hooked around Tara’s shoulders and he turned her to face Eve. “Eve, I’d like to officially introduce you to my little sister, Tara. Tara, this is Eve.”
Interest lit Tara’s blue eyes. “Nice to meet you, Eve. Do you hang out with my brother in his apartment a lot?”
Before she could answer, Reid nudged Tara with his elbow. “Don’t start. Eve’s a good friend, and she’s hired me to help her with some things.”
“Nice to meet you, Tara.” His answer was like a punch in the gut, but Eve managed to keep what she hoped was a natural-looking smile on her face. She’d needed that reminder to keep her mind out of fantasyland and firmly in reality where it belonged.
Chapter 14
An hour later, Reid still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that Tara was sitting at a table with him at Tilly’s. He’d lived in Cloud Valley for a little over a year, and not once had she left their hometown in Indiana to visit.
Not once had she felt comfortable enough to put that much distance between her and their toxic father.
A hundred questions spun around his brain like a tornado, but a chance to discuss what had caused her to act so impulsively hadn’t presented itself.
Tara bobbed her straw up and down in her cola and took in the atmosphere. “This place is awesome. I feel like I stepped onto some movie set with rugged cowboys waiting to sweep me off my feet.”
“I’m sure Richard would love that.” Tara’s tortured expression made him wish he could take back the words as soon as he said them. But now that the happy-go-lucky mask had slipped, he might as well push through the rest of her walls. “Why are you here?”
She tapped the tip of her finger against the table, her gaze fixed on a trio of giggling women about her age taking shots at the crowded bar. “After we talked last night, I really took a hard look at my life. I’m exhausted, Reid. Completely overwhelmed and miserable. Every time my phone rings I’m terrified of who’s on the other end. If it’s Dad, he’ll want money or to pour on the guilt or tell me about the latest stupid mess I have to clean up. If it’s Robert, he’s pissed about something. I’m constantly walkingon eggshells. I can’t do it anymore. I’m afraid of what I’ll turn into if I do.”
Reaching across the table, he rested his hand on top of hers and squeezed. Leaving his hometown had been what he’d needed for his own mental health, but he regretted how much it had placed on her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I hate that you’ve been the one dealing with this for so long. You deserve better. And if you need me to kick Richard’s ass, just say the word. It’d be pretty damn satisfying.”
The side of her mouth ticked up. “He’s not worth the trouble. Not yours and definitely not mine.”
“So you two are done for good?”
Tears misted her eyes, and she wiped them away. “Yeah. What a waste of time. I guess I should be grateful he never got around to proposing.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, the reason you’re here sucks, but I’m happy to see you.” He was even happier he’d given her a key and open invitation to visit the last time he saw her. He lifted his own soda in cheers then took a sip, his gaze seeking Eve as she bustled from table to table.
After his initial shock at finding Tara in his apartment, she’d been excited to tag along with him and Eve to Tilly’s. As much as he wished he could stay glued to Eve’s side as she hustled around the crowded bar and grill, there was no way to keep up with her. She’d agreed to stay behind the bar, coming out only to help deliver a drink or two.
He and Tara set up at a table where he could get to Eve in a second’s notice. His senses were on high alert, but with everything he’d learned about Tyson Brown, he understood the bastard was a coward at heart—he waited to pounce on his prey when they were alone or vulnerable.
He had to hang on to the hope that he wouldn’t break pattern tonight when Tilly’s was packed with locals and tourists waitingto dance along with the live band. At least Madden planned to join him once he was done keeping guard at the rodeo.
“So what’s going on with you and Eve?” Tara asked.
