“The more I think about the way she was acting, I’m not so sure Rose told you where we were going,” Price had said. “With everything that’s been going on, I figured you might be a little more worried than the rest, so I wanted to make sure you knew she was okay.”
James had thanked him and they had ended the call. The keys James had had in his hand stayed there until he finally put them back on the hook.
The note James had found on his bed had indeed said she was going to take care of a few things with Price. But that had been it. No other details and, when he had called her, her phone had kept ringing until getting to voicemail.
Price had timed his own call well.
James had been ready to drive out and search for the woman before it had come in.
He had been relieved.
Now he was grumpy.
Rose must have sensed the mood.
“Thanks for the ride, Price,” she said, a little louder than what felt like normal. Instead of waiting for a reply she was out of the car and hurrying to the house.
James nodded to Price before easily catching up.
He thought he heard laughing behind him, but James’s focus had only one aim now.
When they got to the porch, James lowered the umbrella and shook it out.
Rose was smart. She used the time to escape inside.
Four of her quick steps, though, was a lazy two steps for him.
Rose made it to the living room and only had enough time to turn around and face him, hands up in defense.
“Listen, before you say anything, I know I should have talked to you before I just up and left but—”
She might have been a whole lot smaller than him, but in that moment, her lips were an easy reach.
James felt Rose stiffen against his kiss but he wasn’t intending to prolong it.
Not without saying exactly what was on his mind first.
James pulled away but only enough to give space to his words.
“Rose Little, I’m mad at you.”
Chapter Nineteen
He held her chin, tilting it up to catch those hazel eyes she had grown so familiar with. That didn’t mean they couldn’t confuse her from time to time, like now.
Rose blinked up at the giant man who had just interrupted her with a kiss.
“Excuse me?”
James didn’t retract his words. Instead, he doubled down.
“I’m mad at you, Rose Little. I’m mad that you left without saying anything and I’m mad that you didn’t answer my call. I mean, even Deputy Collins felt like I deserve some kind of check-in to know you’re okay after everything you’ve been through. That we’ve been through. I know you’re Wildcard Rose but sometimes I think you use that as a pass to run headlong into danger and it’s okay.” He shook his head, truly looking the part of a man angry at having been left in the dark.
Rose started to say something—she wasn’t sure what—when he continued.
“And that’s what I thought I was mad about before you got here. You, being you, running into the unknown swinging. But then I saw you and I realized I’m really just mad at me. I’m mad I didn’t give you a good reasonfor you to take me with you. So I’m going to make sure I give it now.”
That frown didn’t lessen but his words seemed to soften.
