“Yeah,” I agreed softly, thinking of those ink-dark eyes and long lashes and the way they crinkled at the sides when hesmiled. “I think he’s the kindest man I’ve ever met apart from you.”
“The kinda man who’s good to know. Don’t turn him away, Faithy. You think I didn’t recognize his cut, you’re blind. Those men’ve been keeping Entrance safe from outside riffraff for a long time.”
I laughed a little wetly. “Only you would say that about a group of outlaw bikers, Grouch.”
“I never judge a book by its cover,” he reminded me. “If I had, I would have robbed myself the opportunity of loving a girl as sweet as you just because she stole some things from my store.”
His sweetness seeped into the broken skin of the wounds I’d acquired in Rooster’s home and burned like acid.
“Love you, Grouch,” I whispered, exhaustion sweeping through me.
“Love you, girly. Don’t lose faith,” he joked as he always did.
“I already have,” I murmured, half-asleep. “Faith’s gone, but I have hope for Blue.”
Happily,everyone was passed out when I left the farm. It was still too early to start my shift at Eugene’s, but there was somewhere else I had to be.
Lion Heart Investigations was above a bakery in downtown Entrance called Honey Bear Café so the stairwell smelled like warm butter and coffee. The name was written in gold on waxy glass set into the door at the top of the stairs, and when I knocked, an enormous, long-haired, bearded man opened the door as if he’d just been on his way out.
“Hey,” he grunted, granting me the tiniest smile before he stepped back to let me in.
He had the look of an ex-con, a look I recognized from half the men I’d grown up with. It was the look of someone haunted by ghosts of their own making. He was handsome in a way that felt threatening, the big muscles, the tattoos, and the scowl lines carved into his tanned face, but when he gave me his eyes, I found a sweetness lurking there.
“Leavin’,” he hollered over his shoulder into the depths of the office before nodding at me and starting down the stairs.
“See ya, Sander,” someone called back from behind a slightly opened door at the back of the room.
I walked toward it, noting the lack of a receptionist, and knocked lightly on the doorframe before peeking inside.
“Uh, hello?”
The P.I. I’d looked up online sat before me at a big wooden desk with scarred cowboy boots resting beside the keyboard and a tablet in his lap. When he turned his gaze to me, I was shocked by the vividness of his green eyes against the tanned skin and golden hair. He was beautiful like cowboys in old Hollywood films were beautiful, weather worn in an attractive way that spoke of too much time outdoors.
I wondered if being beautiful was an entry requirement for Entrance.
When I’d last seen him, it had been in the low lights of The Fallen MC clubhouse late enough at night, after hours of adrenaline, that I hadn’t given him a proper look.
“Hey,” Lionel Danner said, dropping his boots to the ground to stand up to greet me. His hand was rough around my own, but his grip was warm and gentle. “Faith Cavendish. I didn’t expect to see you in my office.”
He gestured to the studded leather chair across from him, so I sat and offered a weak smile. “Why doesn’t it surprise me that you know who I am?”
A little shrug. “It’s my job.” He rubbed a hand over his stubbled chin as he considered me. “And Boner was pretty frantic to find you after you disappeared on him.”
Instead of guilt, warmth infused me.
“Oh,” I said, looking at my freshly done nail art to hide my blush. I’d hand painted a little owl on each index finger because they reminded me of Aaron.
Lion’s chuckle was friendly. “Never seen the guy like that, so I was happy to help.”
“Like what?” I indulged myself in asking.
“Serious about someone. You might not know him well yet, but Boner’s our jokester, so when he says something serious, we all perk up and listen.”
I nodded because I could see that. “We all hide behind something.”
His eyes flashed with interest, but he leaned back in his chair as if we were just having a casual chat. “Very true. And what can I help you hide or find today, Ms. Cavendish?”
“Actually.” I swallowed the fear blocking my throat and squared my shoulders. “I was hoping I could help you.”
