Page 59 of Smoky Lake

“John?” Ani asked, hearing the hurt in her voice. “Is that true?”

John’s jaw slid back and forth. She recognized that look; it meant he was caught. She’d seen it more times than she wanted to admit.

“I just wanted to warn you,” he muttered. “You’re getting into some dangerous territory. Armed men came to the fucking house because of you. They got in my car and asked me a million questions about you.”

“Like what?” Gil asked.

“I don’t know. Where she works, her finances, all kinds of shit. What is going on, Ani?”

“Right now, you’re talking to me,” said Gil quietly. At that moment, Ani could have cried from sheer gratitude that she didn’t have to try to speak words. Who knew what would come out? “What did you tell them?”

“That we’re divorced and I don’t know what’s going on with Ani. I swear.”

“And the tracker?” Gil clearly wasn’t going to let him off the hook.

John hung his head, finally looking as ashamed as he ought to. “They paid me to give it to her.”

Gil took a quick step toward him. “So you led them here? For money?”

John scuttled away from him, like a crab on the run. “They said they just wanted to know where she was. They don’t want to hurt her. They said she might be working with a competitor or something like that. They want her to stop. That’s the message. Stop. I’m sorry, but do you know how expensive it is to get divorced? Maybe you should’ve let me take the house, Ani.”

Finally, finally, she managed to speak. “Just go, John. Go away.”

Gil took another menacing step in his direction.

“Back off, bodyguard.” John bent to pick up the travel bag he’d dropped when he first showed up. “Going for brawn, not brains this time, Ani?”

She didn’t answer, refusing to take his bait. John and his white denim jacket and his slip-on sneakers headed for the door. He turned back for one last word, one that held no mockery, just deadly serious warning. “Stay safe, Ani. Be careful. I actually want you to be okay, whether you believe me or not. You still mean a lot to me.”

The door clicked shut behind him. So many emotions ran through her that she couldn’t make sense of them all. She did what any grown woman would do after an encounter with their ex. She reached for the nearest couch pillow, flung it at the door with all her might, then burst into tears.

27

Oh God. Ani was crying. Goddamn it. He ought to run after that dickhead and punch him in the fucking jaw.

No, he should stay out of it. Maybe Ani was experiencing some kind of regret about the end of her marriage. Maybe John’s appearance here had reminded her of all the reasons she’d loved him, even though he’d done such a scummy thing.

Gil should get out of here. Leave her alone.

But he couldn’t do that. He didn’t trust John. The guy seemed like a dolt. What if he’d been followed here? The man was clearly a weak link unfit to kiss Ani’s little toe.

Not that he was biased or anything. Or ruled by emotion.

Gil came to a decision. Instead of standing here with his thumb up his ass, he’d step out and give her some space. He could stand guard in the hallway, like the simple bodyguard John saw him as.

But when he moved toward the door, Ani did something he hadn’t expected, hadn’t dreamed of. She ran toward him and flung her arms around him.

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed into his chest. “He was so out of line to insult you like that. He was jealous, but that’s no excuse. You aren’t all brawn no brains. That’s so ridiculous, and I’m so embarrassed I could cry.” She gave a sound that was half-laugh, half-sob. “I mean, I am crying. I don’t know why and I can’t stop.”

Slowly, tentatively, he looped his arms around her, but loosely, since he still didn’t know what she needed right now. “Second thoughts?” His suggestion came in a rough voice. He didn’t want it to be so, but if she was having regrets, he needed to know.

“What?” She drew away, her dark eyes huge with tears. “Second thoughts about what?”

He gestured with his head toward the door, half-wondering if John was out there eavesdropping.

“John?” Her laugh held nothing but incredulity. “No regrets. Okay, a little regret that I let a situation that was making me miserable drag on for so long. And that I didn’t see what a weak person he is. No, I’m just…I’m embarrassed. I’m worried he hurt your feelings.”

“Hurt my feelings?” He laughed out loud. “How could that dude hurt my feelings?”

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