“She’s a total slut. She’ll go with anyone who comes through that gate with a handful of corn.”
“Don’t be talking that way about my new girlfriend.”
“I guess she’s not the only slut at the Rocking C.”
“What can I say? She’s got it going on.”
Rock’s laughter fell on me like a cooling mist. “I’m gone for half a day and you hook up with some chick.”
“God, I miss you.” I told him. “Especially because I look forward to seeing you. If you’re coming around the corner, or in the field or whatever, and I see you? I really dig that. But now I know there’s no chance for a while and it makes me sad.”
Rock let out a breath. “There’s so much going on here. Either I get lost in the shuffle, or me and Maisy prop ourselves against a wall and wait. I think surely someone will tell us something. Anything. I’ve never felt so goddamn useless.”
Something about those sad little words caught me off guard. Made me ache for him. I sat down on a stump I found, pretty sure it was once an executioner’s block. You’d never make me believe Rock would hurt his girls.
Put the headless-chicken trauma out of your mind.
“Tell me,” I insisted.
“Foz got me a room at a hotel here. I don’t know how long we’ll be in Houston. Andi, Ryder, and Declan came to see Sterling, but only Declan stayed. I guess because he’s a doctor or because it’s a weekend and Andi has a gig, but I wish she’d stayed. She’s his daughter. He can’t stand Declan.”
“What’s Declan say about the boss’s condition?”
“Wait and see,” he replied. “Now I don’t know what to do.”
“There’s nothing you can do but pray. Wish I could be there for you.”
“You are.” His voice, shaped by a soft smile, warmed me. “After last night, I know you are. You’ll be there for me whenever you can.”
“I’ll bet you’re blushing.” He was; I knew it. His cheeks flushed easily, often with humor and happiness and desire. I’d committed the sight to memory. “I know exactly what you look like.”
“Aw, now. Stop.”
“All right.” I gave it a rest. “Sun’s going down. Don’t tell Elena, but we’re starving without her. Robbie’s grilling burgers later, but I don’t know.”
“Oh shit. Keep an eye on those. If he’s real hungry they’ll be bloody but if he gets to talking, you’ll end up eating a hockey puck. There ain’t enough secret sauce in the world to save that man’s burgers.”
“I’ll bear that in mind.” I rested my head against the rough-board fence. “Breeze is picking up. You can hear it rustling in the wild cedar. Smells like we might get a bit of rain later tonight.”
“Mm. Close your eyes.”
I did as he asked.
“Picture I’m sitting right there next to you.”
“Nuh-uh. You’ll get pecked to death. Sophie’s laid her claim on me now. You snooze, you lose.”
We both laughed at that, especially since Sophie squawked and bolted away for no good reason I could see. Fickle bird princess.
“Oh, man. She’s left me already.”
This seemed hilarious to both of us. We laughed for a long time.
“Hey.” He said the single word, but in that moment, it meant so much more. It was connection and comfort and a cry for help. “I don’t have to tell you how much it means to me to have you, do I?”
“No.” My throat was almost too raw to speak. “For me too.”
Words weren’t enough—not nearly—but they were all I had.
