Page 75 of Love Me Dangerous

“Is Zach your boyfriend?”Linnie blurts on the way home from the birthday bash when I tell her about the Huttons and Zach joining the work party.

She’s getting too smart for her own good, but I guess that comes with the territory. “No.”

“Why not?”

“I barely know him.” I’m not sure this is true, though. Maybe I feel this way because there’s still so much I don’t know about him. Will that ever change?

“So?” Linnie arches her eyebrows. “He’s hot.”

“Linn,” I groan.

When did she get this bold? Part of me is alarmed, but the better part of me is thrilled. I don’t want her to be shy like I was.

At home, Dad’s loaded both horses into the trailer. From the looks of the gear, he’s heading into the high country. I think about the illegal salt lick Zach found. It’s not my story to tell, but what if it could help Dad find this poacher?

Linnie jumps out of the car and skips over to Dad. Fergie watches from the fence, her front paws propped on the edge and that longing inher gaze. She hates being left behind, but I know Dad feels better about going if she’s here to protect us.

I join Dad just as he’s releasing Linnie from a tight hug.

“Do you have your lucky tent stake?” Linnie asks.

Dad frowns. “I don’t think I do. Can you check? The tent’s in the gear bin.”

“On it,” Linnie replies, darting around the back of the trailer.

“Do you even have that stake anymore?” I ask Dad with a smile. It’s a running joke after a sudden windstorm ripped out all of his tent stakes but one.

“Wouldn’t leave home without it.”

“When will you be back?” The familiar pull of anxiety stirs deep in my gut.

“Monday.”

The angles of his clean-shaven face seem to sharpen in the low afternoon light. “Jesse came by and packed up some things.”

Like for his trip to L.A., or maybe he’s stealing again.

“Do you need me to stay?”

The weight of this question settles through the space between us. When Jesse goes off the rails, he’s unpredictable, but even at his worst, he would never hurt me or Linn. “I think he’s okay.”

Dad must notice the hitch in my tone because he sighs. “He’s going, is that it?”

“Yeah.”

“When?”

“Wednesday.”

Dad’s eyes slowly close, and he gathers me close and puts his arms around my shoulders. I fight the emotion pricking at my eyes and release a steadying breath.

“Maybe it’s time we let him go,” Dad says. “He knows we’re always here.”

A silent sob catches in my throat but I force it down.

My dad hugs me tighter. “It’s okay.”

“Found it!” Linnie cries from the other side of the trailer, giving me enough time to step away from Dad and blink away my tears.

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