Troy restshis hand on my bare hip and softly taps out ILU. We’re on our sides, facing each other on the bed. “I forgot to tell you I have search-and-rescue training tomorrow night after PT with Lucas. So I’ll be late coming here.”
“That’s okay. I’m meeting with Anne Carstairs tomorrow after work.”
“She’s coming to Maple Ridge?”
“No, I’m taking the bus to Ash Falls. I want to learn more about her great-aunt, and I’m curious what Anne remembers of her.” I’m interested to find out more about the woman who had a secret life during the war. Even if that means I have to take the bus there at the risk of people recognizing me due to Cora’s damn article.
I’m really hoping, though, I blend in—just another person on a bus, heading into town.
“How come you want to learn more about Iris?” Troy’s finger stops tapping on my hip, and a series of emotions flicker on his face. They land mostly on surprised and confused, a small divot forming between his eyebrows. Then his lips sink into a sexy one-sided smile. “You planning on turning this place into a museum?”
I laugh. “Hardly. I’m just curious about her, especially after all the work I did clearing out her place and going through all those magazines.”
“Did you find her diaries about all her long-lost loves? Men no one else knew about?” Troy chuckles, not realizing how close he is to the truth. I have to bite my lip to keep from blurting everything I know so far.
“Definitely no diaries about long-lost loves.” Only the one…and I don’t know what happened to Johann after the Gestapo captured Angelique. Hell, I don’t even know yet how she escaped them. I can’t get back to the journals soon enough to keep reading and find out. “I’m just curious about her. If not for this house and Anne, I don’t know where I would be.” And that’s the truth.
“You can use my truck. Garrett can give me a ride to the training. He’ll be there too.”
“You trust me to drive it after what happened last time?” I quirk the corner of my mouth, trying to infuse a little humor to soften the reality of those words.
Troy’s thumb caresses my hip. “That accident could’ve happened to anyone. Maybe if the road hadn’t been slick from the rain, you could’ve stopped and not gone through the guardrail.”
“In that case, maybe I should take the bus. Then I won’t have to worry about another Bambi jumping in front of me.”
Troy’s brow creases into a frown. “Or you can postpone seeing Anne until I can drive you to Ash Falls.”
I run my fingers through his hair, attempting to erase his frown. “I can’t rely on you to drive me everywhere, Troy. You’re not my chauffeur. And I’ve waited so long to finally regain my independence.”
He nods, still looking no happier than he did before. “What time’s the bus scheduled to leave for Ash Falls?”
“I’m taking the four-oh-five bus after work and returning home on the nine thirty-one.” Which will see me in Maple Ridge around eleven, and then I’ll need to bike home. That’s the only return bus scheduled after five.
“I guess you can’t take Bailey with you.”
“That’s right.” The unease I feel when she’s not with me turns my skin itchy. “She’s not a certified PSD, so she can’t come on the bus.” It’s not enough she’s training to be one.
Troy’s thumb strokes along the curve of my hip and down to my outer thigh. “Take my truck, Jess. I’d rather you take it than be without Bailey. You’ll be tense the entire time she isn’t with you.”
I hate that he’s right. I’ll be constantly glancing over my shoulder, checking if the boogie man is watching me. That much hasn’t changed since I moved to Maple Ridge. I’m still a work in progress. Bailey helps to ease some of that tension. Stroking her eases some of that tension.
“You borrowing my truck doesn’t make you any less independent, Jess.” Troy leans in and kisses my forehead. The tip of my nose. “And maybe I like the idea you’ll be here when I return from the training session.” His mouth brushes mine. “Otherwise, I’ll have to wait until Thursday to see you. And then I’m away for the weekend again.”
I laugh a soft rumble deep in my throat. “Are you going to pine for me if you don’t see me tomorrow night?”
His eyes flash a devilish gleam, and he has me flat on my back, his hot body pressed against mine. “I’m absolutely going to pine for you. So much so that I’ll get in trouble with the trainer, because I’m not paying attention to what she’s saying.”
I grin. “Well, then. I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.”
But despite my amusement, the tightly wound fear that I’m making a mistake borrowing Troy’s truck doesn’t loosen.
Not because I’m worried I’ll drive it off the road like I did with his old one.
It’s a gut reaction—an unease in my bones—I can’t explain.
16
ANGELIQUE
