“So Peyton’s okay?” I asked quickly. “She’s safe?”
“As far as I know.” Elsa leaned back against the bar. “You a friend of hers?”
“Roommate. She didn’t come home, and she wasn’t answering, and I panicked a little.” Relief had left me slightly lightheaded. “She probably just got busy and forgot to check in.”
“Happens.”
She took our order. Roarke went with beer and a burger. I followed suit, adding water, suddenly aware of how hungry I was.
We took stools at the bar, and I texted Peyton.Tracked you down. At the roadhouse. Please confirm you are not dead in a ditch.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.OMG JOSIE. I’m so sorry. It’s been wild. I’m totally fine. Better than fine. I’ll explain tomorrow. You’re staying, right???
Staying?
I hadn’t planned on it. I’d driven up to make sure she was okay. Mission accomplished. But it was late, I was exhausted, and the idea of driving back down the mountain in the dark made my shoulders tense.
Where would I even stay?I typed.
More dots.
There’s a B&B—or you could stay at Warrick’s. He has like ten guest rooms. This place is insane. I’ll explain EVERYTHING.
I smiled despite myself. Classic Peyton.
“Good news?” Roarke asked.
“She’s fine. Staying with Warrick, apparently.”
He nodded once. “That tracks.”
“Does it?” I asked dryly. “Because it sounds like my levelheaded roommate hooked up with a random mountain man and forgot to come home.”
That almost-laugh again. “That’s how half the women ended up living here”
I wasn’t sure if he was joking.
Elsa set our food down, and I realized just how hungry I was. I grabbed a fry, then another.
“So,” I said, then caught myself rambling. “You live around here, or…?”
“Mountains,” he said. “Cabin about fifteen minutes up.”
“That sounds peaceful.”
“It is.”
And that was all I got.
I focused on my food, trying not to stare. Trying—and failing—not to wonder why someone who preferred solitude had spent his evening hauling rescue dogs or offering to help a stranger track down her roommate.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I blurted.
His gaze held mine. Calm. Unapologetic.
“Because I’m looking,” he said.
Heat rushed to my cheeks. I looked away first, reaching for my water just to keep my hands busy.
