He glanced over Heather’s shoulder and locked eyes on Suzy. The same was true for her as well, but he couldn’t say it out loud. Couldn’t loosen the reins on his emotions where she was concerned.
But if he found the asshole who’d done this, he’d make it known that he’d protect both of these women with his life andanyone who tried to hurt them would regret ever crossing his path.
Suzy satat the kitchen table in Lane’s house and sipped her piping hot coffee. The sweet cream coated her tongue, and she closed her eyes to savor the hints of vanilla. Sighing, she opened her eyes and hugged her hands around the warm mug. “This is delicious, but I might need an Irish coffee right now.”
Across from her, Heather flashed a tight smile and sipped her tea. “I don’t think my stomach could stand anything stronger than this at the moment.”
Lane and Duke stood like twin guards—arms crossed over their chests, feet hip-width apart, matching frowns on their scruffy faces. Lane stationed himself by the doorway while Duke stood by the end of the large farmhouse table.
“Would you two take it down a couple notches?” Suzy asked. “You’re making me nervous.”
Duke scoffed. “Not gonna happen. At least until we hear back from Goodwin. I can’t believe you didn’t mention what happened with Mason. I could have helped.”
“You’re helping now,” Heather said.
“Not the way I want to. I want drive to Texas and beat the crap out of this guy.”
Heather squeezed the bridge of her nose and hung her head.
“Okay, enough of this.” Suzy stood and grabbed her mug by the handle. “You tried calling this guy and he didn’t answer. There’s nothing more we can do right now, and I refuse to sit in here and wait with you two buffoons standing over us. I’m taking Heather outside and showing her the grounds. We both need some fresh air.”
Heather started to rise, but Duke took a step forward. “Is that a smart idea?”
Suzy tilted her chin and raised her brows. “One of my best actually. You and Lane have this place on lockdown. No one will come onto this property without either of you knowing. We’re perfectly safe, so come on Heather. Let’s go see some cute animals.”
Ignoring the concern pouring off Duke in waves, she rounded the table and looped her arm through Heather’s before leading her toward the front door.
Once outside, she tilted her face and let the rush of cool air skim her cheeks. The last hour had brought fear, sadness, and anger. A tornado of emotions that left her hot and a little dizzy. From the moment she’d seen the words scratched onto her car, she hadn’t had a moment to wrap her mind around everything.
And now the punch of guilt that came along with finding out she wasn’t at the receiving end of that threat had her almost doubling over.
She shoved aside the useless emotions. After Heather’s confession about what had brought her to Hillmore, the poor thing hadn’t had a moment to discuss what she’d been through. To process her experience or even let her guard down enough to vent about her ex without worrying she might upset her brother.
That’s why she wanted to get the other woman outside. Yes, to get space from their brooding brothers. But also to allow Heather the opportunity to open up.
“Do you want to hang out on the porch? Or rather venture into the barns? Celine keeps talking Lane into buying all sorts of animals. She insists it’s for Parker, but I think she’s the one who wants all these critters around.”
Heather dragged a hand through her hair, one arm wrapped around her waist, and glanced at the rocking chairs on the side of the porch. “Do you mind if we sit? I’m exhausted.”
“Sounds great. Take a seat, and I’ll be right out.” She dipped back in the house and secured two red fleece blankets kept in a basket by the door. She handed one to Heather. “Here, this will keep us warm. If those two don’t calm down, we might be outside for a while.”
The side of Heather’s mouth inched up. “Duke’s never been good at keeping his cool where his sisters are concerned.”
Suzy sank onto the white Adirondack-style rocking chair and draped the blanket around her shoulders. “I’ve never seen that side of him. He’s always so….” She tapped her finger against the arm rest trying to come up with the right word.
“Cocky? Arrogant? Smothering?”
“Yes, yes, and yes. But it doesn’t surprise me that he’d be protective his family. He might try to hide his big heart, but he does a poor job of it.”
Heather snorted out a laugh, eyebrows raised high on her head.
“But I don’t want to talk about him,” she said to quickly maneuver the conversation in a different direction. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’ve settled from the shock of the threat.” Heather stared ahead, her voice low and sad.
Suzy waited a beat before treading carefully forward. “I didn’t mean about what happened earlier today.”
Heather pinched the fabric draped on her lap. “I’m still in shock from the way my relationship ended. I’ve known Mason most of my life, dated him for years. I thought I knew him better than I knew myself. I can’t believe how wrong I was.”
