Page 3 of Reckless

When we announced to the world Reckless Soul were taking a break, I cut my hair. It was past my shoulders before, now it’s much shorter. Not close cropped, but it’s a short, shaggy cut with enough length the curls I’ve tried to tame over the years, fall over my forehead and onto the nape of my neck.

Everyone tells me I look different. And who’s to say she even knows who Reckless Soul are.

“How did you get lost out here?” she calls.

She's not asking if I’m the Jude Smallwood.

“I was at a party at the hotel on the hill and wandered off to check out the area.”

“That’s a good seven miles back. You’ve walked this whole way?”

Seven miles. Jesus. No wonder my legs are hurting like hell. That must be why my feet are cemented to the floor. Nothing to do with the woman knocking me off my game.

She is staring back at me. It’s like everything around us disappears, and that unravelling string starts to come back together, reaching across the distance between us.

Shit, I’m getting all poetic. I’ve lost my mind being out all night in the wilderness.

“Do you mind if I have a glass of water?”

Her brows lift, and she glances at her mug. “Or coffee?”

“Yeah, that would be better, thanks.”

She regards me, sucking in her bottom lip, which does all kinds of things that I need to keep contained right now. She nods and then disappears into the RV. I hear the distinct sound of the door locking. It’s the right move. I could still be a bad guy. Her table is set up, so I doubt she is going to drive away, but I remain cautious in my approach.

The last thing I want to do is scare her.

Up close, the RV is impressive. It looks brand new. I’m used to traveling around on top-of-the-line tour buses. This is a scaled-down version, although I’m not sure what the inside is like. It definitely won’t have a bar and bunks.

The door opens as I reach the table. She has a mug with her and something else in her other hand. My focus narrows on it.

“Good call," I say keeping the nerves out of my voice. "But please, don’t use it unless you need to.”

“Don’t give me a reason to,” she arches one perfect brow.

“Deal.”

She nods with a cheeky grin. Fuck, what have I walked into? I don’t know whether to be scared or thrilled.

Either way, I’m not thinking about anyone else right now. Just this beautiful woman in an RV, with a giant can of mace pointed right at me.

Chapter 2

The woman places the coffee on the table and moves back a few paces. I laugh a little, and she cocks her head again.

“You could have put something in this.”

She shakes her head. “What a sorry state the world is in when you think I’m going to drug you, and I think you’re going to pull an axe from the back of your pants.”

“It’s always best to be cautious.”

“I’ve got a sixth sense for these kinds of things. So, I didn’t put any drugs in your coffee. It’s safe.”

I laugh again. She grabs two fold-out chairs and sets them up, indicating with her hand for me to sit. After watching me pull back a chair, she pulls back the other and sits down across the table from me. I could jump up and grab her if I wanted to, but I lean back instead, taking the coffee with me so she doesn’t feel threatened.

“Why didn’t you call someone to come pick you up?”

“Lost my phone.”

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