“I’m sorry, Billy. Lance called me earlier, and we needed to go over some legal documents that needed attention right away. I got so caught up that the meeting slipped my mind. I’m feeling much better, though.”
Lance was my father’s attorney, and also mine. And to be fair, he had called me plenty of times with something urgent to discuss.
“Oh. No worries. I’m just glad you’re okay. Do you want me to start the meeting without you?”
I glanced at the clock. “Yeah. Give me a few to wrap up some things here and I’ll head on over.”
“Sounds good. See you in a few.”
Hitting End, I was about to go outside to tell Mallory I had to leave when she walked in.
“The temperature’s dropping fast!”
I smiled. “Yeah, that happens when a storm rolls in. Listen, I need to head on over to the main barn, I missed a meeting.”
Her eyes went wide. “Because of me?”
“No, it just slipped my mind, that’s all. Do me a favor and stay in the house. This is going to be a pretty good storm. If anyone comes to the door, same drill. Don’t answer.”
“I promise I won’t.”
“Also, I’ll go to town tomorrow to get you a phone. And while I’m gone, maybe you can use my computer and print out a shoe-size chart? Feel free to use my office. You know where it is.”
She gave me a smile. “Okay, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” I said as I headed toward the front entrance, grabbed my hat, and put it on. Reaching into the closet, I found a rain jacket. “Make a list of clothes you think you’ll need. I’ll make sure you get a good amount of stuff. We have no idea how long it’s going to take to figure out who you are and where you belong. I don’t think you want to be wearing my stuff forever.”
Mallory followed me back through the house and to the door that led to the garage. I opened the door and pointed to a Subaru Outback. “If anything happens, and you need to leave, the keys to the Outback are hanging up here.”
She nodded and looked from the car back to me. “I don’t know if I can drive,” she said.
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Right. Well, once the weather clears, we’ll take it for a spin.”
Mallory simply chewed on her lower lip as I closed the garage door.
“My truck is parked out front. I usually just park there and come in through the front door.”
“Okay,” she said softly, following me once again through the house.
I got to the front door and reached for her hand. “You’re safe. You know that, right?”
“I know,” she said with a forced smile and a slight nod of her head. “Be careful. Piper and I will be fine.”
The urge to kiss her hit me again, and I forced myself to take a step away. I reached for the door, opened it, and quickly stepped outside, saying, “See you later.”
The door shut and I practically bolted down the steps and to my truck. A loud crack of thunder hit, and I ducked as I pulledthe door open and slid into the driver’s seat. I glanced back at the house and wondered if Mallory was afraid of storms.
After pushing all thoughts of the mystery woman out of my head, I started the truck and headed to the main barn.
##
We were in the small meeting room off of Billy’s office in the barn, and my mind wasn’t where it needed to be. I agreed when I knew I should, added input that wasn’t anything new, and tried like hell not to think about who had kidnapped Mallory.Wasshe even kidnapped? What if she’d dated this guy, and he’d suddenly turned into a monster?
I rubbed at my temples and sighed.
“Is everything okay, Boss?” Howdy asked, a concerned look on his face. “You’re somewhere else this afternoon.”
I exchanged a look with Bubba, and then Billy, before I laughed. “Yeah, sorry.”
