When she started to cry in earnest, he couldn’t tell if the sobs were real or if she was faking. Now that the blinders had been ripped off, he had a glaring view of Chelsea’s manipulative capabilities.
Sometimes he wished he could be happy-go-lucky like Shane and go pick up some cutie at a bar and forget about Chelsea and that whole fucked-up situation. But that wasn’t him. No, he’d brood on it, and no amount of alcohol would drown it into oblivion. It would keep him up tonight … and tomorrow night … until he finally exhausted every what-if in the universe.
He’d volunteered for duty at the bar tonight, and the buzz of normal conversation would be a welcome change from this pile-of-shit day. The chatter would pick him up, even if he didn’t participate in any of it.
Hopefully, Neve and herdatewouldn’t decide to eat at the tavern, or the most raucous laughter in the world wouldn’t pull him out of his funk.
Where the hell didthatcome from?Christ, he was messed up.
In the distance, Cade’s head swiveled toward the dark timber. He loped to the edge of the woods, then sprinted back and hefted his pickax onto his shoulder.
Coming toward Reece at a fast clip, he shouted, “Hey, I think I heard someone cry out for help!”
“I gotta go.”
“Reece, wait!” Chelsea yelped.
He hung up. When his ringer went off again, he silenced it. He had other priorities right now. Adrenaline flooded his veins, and his heart rate kicked up as he ran to meet Cade.
“Where?”
Cade motioned for him to follow.
This, right here.
Reece was right where he was supposed to be.
Chapter 4
Dating Without a Safety Net
Leo’s blue eyes flashedfrom across the white-linen-covered table where they’d just finished sharing a chocolate lava cake in Fall River’s fanciest eatery, the restaurant at the Grand Majestic Hotel.
“You sure you got every last scrap of chocolate?” As it had been all night, his tone was charmingly amused. He seemed to enjoy each of Neve’s fumbles—even her snort-laugh when she really got going—and she basked in the warm glow it kindled inside her.
She inspected her shiny spoon. “I think so. Oh wait, there might be a dollop on the tablecloth. Or is that a splash of sauce?”
The creases at the corners of his eyes deepened with a smile. “You know, we can always order a second one.”
She placed her spoon on the plate. “Chocolate is my kryptonite, but I couldn’t eat another bite. In fact, Ishouldn’thave had any bitesto begin with.” She patted her stomach, and his eyes drifted there. “That was delicious and way too decadent.”
He looked around the dining room. “They do a nice job here.”
“Not as nice as Silver Summit’s restaurant, or so I’ve heard.” Neve had only been to the Silver Summit once, and the little she’d seen of it hadn’t included its highly acclaimed restaurant.
“We could’ve gone there tonight, but I wanted to take you someplace special for our first date.”
Was he planning more dates?All right by me.
“And your restaurant isn’t special?”
“Not when you’re there every day. But you’ll get to decide for yourself in just a few weeks, right?”
“Yes, at San Juan County’s wedding of the year.”
“Got a date for it?”
“I’m a bridesmaid.”
