Page 7 of Ranger Devotion

Her husband nodded, and the two men strolled across the seating area. Brooke waited until they disappeared around a corner before turning back to Annie. She winced. “First of all, how are you, really? That goose egg is gonna be black and blue tomorrow.”

“Goody, something to look forward to.” She sighed. “I’m fine. Took some Tylenol a while ago, and while my head is pounding, it’s manageable.”

“I’m sorry about Tate. I should’ve told you he was coming.” Brooke bit her lip. “I was going to say something earlier tonight, but then Kayla interrupted us and… Well, it’s a poor excuse. I should’ve told you the moment I knew he was attending the reunion.”

Annie was too tired and too upset by the attack to harbor any anger toward Brooke. It also seemed childish to be worked up over Tate Atwood. Yes, he’d hurt her in a big way, but they’d been kids. “Yes, you should’ve told me. I appreciate that you’re protective, but there’s no need to be.”

Brooke nodded. “You’re right. It won’t happen again.”

Annie hugged her. “Then you’re forgiven.”

Evan and Tate reappeared. Annie thanked her friends before leading Tate outside. The rain had stopped, but the temperature was dropping quickly. That was typical of Texas cold fronts. Within a day, it would probably be back in the fifties.

She shoved her hands into her jacket pocket and led the way to the activity center, a new structure she’d built for arts and crafts. The wide doors stood open at both ends, and her property manager had cleverly positioned a portable fire pit near the entrance. A table held drinks and s’mores ingredients. The scent of roasted marshmallows and wood smoke hung in the air.

Kayla, enveloped in a fur coat, stood laughing with a group. The popular kids. Heather. Preston Colson, Kayla’s former high school boyfriend. Dylan McCrae. Nick Farrow, his arm wrapped around his wife, Cameron Wells. The quiet brunette had spent as much time in the library as Annie, but her striking good looks had prevented her from being labeled a bookworm.

A familiar dread slowed her footsteps. Approaching this group on her own would’ve been bad enough, but with Tate in tow…she already imagine the not-so-quiet whispers. Her eyes swept the area, landing on an empty corner near the supply closet. “I’ll wait over there while you say hi to everyone.” Annie took Kayla’s laptop bag from Tate’s shoulder. “Don’t tell them about the attack. It’s better to speak with Kayla privately first.”

Tate hesitated, almost as if he were going to say something, and then gave a short nod. But Annie didn’t miss the flash of regret and worry that crossed his face before he turned away.

She retreated to the corner and watched as Tate was greeted with fist bumps from the guys and hugs from the women. He’d always been a chameleon. Shifting his personality and attitude to fit the needs of whomever he was with. It probably made him an excellent law enforcement officer. Annie had no trouble picturing Tate befriending a criminal to get a confession. But that same fluidity made him an unreliable friend. Untrustworthy.

Something she’d learned far too late, and would be wise to remember.

Tate extracted Kayla from the group and escorted her to the corner where Annie waited.

Kayla’s expression soured. “Where have you been? I asked for my cell phone and my laptop bag nearly two hours ago.”

Tate stiffened, but before he could speak, Annie beat him to it.

“Someone attacked me while I was getting your things.” She handed over the laptop bag and Kayla’s shattered cell phone.

Kayla blinked in surprise, but then she glanced at her phone and her nostrils flared. “You broke my cell.”

“I’m fine,” Annie answered dryly. “Thanks for your concern.”

“Well, obviously you’re okay. You’re standing here.” She held up the shattered device. “My whole life is on this phone. Surely you know I’m an influencer. My followers are expecting content from me, and my photos weren’t backed up!” Kayla shook her bag. “Is my laptop okay? Did you check it?”

Annie was on the verge of informing Kayla that no, she wasn’t her personal assistant, when Tate intervened. “Kayla, let’s focus on what’s important. Annie was attacked getting your things from your car. Can you think of any reason someone might want to hurt you?”

“Hurt me?” Kayla froze, and then her eyes widened. “You think someone wanted to attack me?”

Her voice was nearly a screech. The emotional swings were giving Annie whiplash. Tate, however, took them in stride. He held up a hand. “I didn’t say that. There’s no need to panic. These are standard questions for this kind of investigation.”

“Oh.” Kayla puckered her plump lips and glanced down at her shattered cell phone. She still seemed more upset over the broken device than the attack. “I can’t think of any reason someone would want to hurt me.” She tossed her blonde hair. “Of course, someone as popular as I am has a few haters, but I don’t let them bother me.”

“What kind of influencer are you?”

She looked miffed that Tate didn’t already know. “Makeup. Lifestyle. I’ve worked with all the top brands.”

“Do you get threats?”

“Not that I know of, but you’d have to ask my social media manager. I don’t waste my time actually replying to the comments. I have people for that.”

“Right.” Tate tapped open the notes app on his phone. “Do you have the name and number of your social media manager?”

She waved her broken cell and glared at Annie. “Obviously not.” As quickly as her irritation surfaced, she shoved it aside, giving Tate a flirtatious look. “If my laptop is still in one piece, I can forward you her email address and her phone number.” Kayla stepped closer to him. “It’s a real shame you and I lost touch. We shouldn’t let it happen again.”