I need to tell her who I am. That I know what happened to her. That I was there the night her world went to shit. It’s why I asked her about her folks. I was hoping the conversation would lead there. But her reaction gave a clear message.
She wants to bury the past. It’s not like I can blame her.
“Rhett, what’s your job?” Mira asks.
“Mira,” Elle mutters.
“It’s fine,” I say, looking at Elle. But not for too long. She’s wearing a summer dress that hugs her curvy body, shows a glimpse of her round and full breasts, and her bare, tempting legs.
I try to fix my view of her in my head. Try to turn her fromfucking beautiful inside and outtooff-limits.But I fail. Hard.
“I’m a bounty hunter,” I say.
“Whoa,” Mira mutters. A pause, then, “What’s that?”
Elle and I laugh together, sharing a warm look. I love the sound of her laughter. Especially because I know how difficult it must be for her to laugh. And there I go again, defining her by her trauma…
“When people run from the law, I find them and make them face justice,” I say.
“That’s really cool,” Mira says. “Do you have a gun?”
Only around fifty.
“Those are secrets of the trade,” I say, winking at her in the rearview mirror.
She giggles, looking out the window. I feel Elle staring at me, see the wonder out of the corner of my eye.
Does Mira remember me? Perhaps she recognizes me, and that’s why she’s so happy to see me. Or maybe, even if she doesn’t, there’s some buried memory that makes her see me as a savior. Whatever it is, I feel like a dishonest jerk.
“It’s so pretty out here,” Elle murmurs.
Her hands are in her lap. Busying with the hem of her skirt. She’s got a warm, content smile on her face. A brave smile. Like she’s fighting off demons?—
Fucking stop it, man.
She is not that night. She is not the worst thing that ever happened to her.
“Do you think it’s pretty, Rhett?” Mira says from the backseat, kicking her legs. “Rhett is a really cool name, too. Like Brett, but with anR. Why did your parents use anRinstead of aB? Did you know that RandB is a type of music? I didn’t know that until Sissy told me, did I, Sissy?”
Elle gives me a look, rolling her eyes. But she can’t hide the glow in her cheeks. The warmth in her expression. Her sister is opening up, being a kid, and I can tell that means the world to her.
“R and B,” I say, smiling. “Never heard of that until now.”
Mira goes bug-eyed. “Really?”
“Guess you learn something new every day.” I grin. “And as for Rhett over Brett. My dad’s hand slipped when he was filling out my birth certificate.”
Mira erupts into giggles. Elle smooths her hands up and down her legs with nervous energy. The savage in me awakens. Roars. Her hands gliding against the thickness of her thighs. I focus on the road. Try to.
We’re quiet for a time, then Elle sighs.
I look at her. Almost asks,Something wrong?But every question leads me deeper into a tunnel I should avoid at all costs. If she knew who I am – knew that I know whosheis – she’d probably scream at me to pull over. Run from the car. I’m a walking reminder of what she endured, when it’s clear she wants to put that chapter behind her.
Another sigh.
Hands busy in her lap. That dress is doing a serious number on me. No tights underneath, just her smooth, silky looking skin. Letting me imagine sinking my hands into her, squeezing to see her curvaceousness, excited and eager around my hands. Making me wild and hungry.
I’m a fucking animal, too uncivilized for her.
