Page 146 of Love Me Reckless

Sheldon gives me a sour look in the rearview. “That’s it?”

We pass through Pinedale. The faded storefronts and seedy vibe remind me of the night Kirilee called me, distressed after getting booted from the tattoo shop. I stare out the window, but I’m not really seeing anything. It’s silent in the cab as we cross the broad valley to the town of Clearwater, which is adjacent to the interstate.

The bus station is a small building on the west end of town just off the freeway, the bright overhead lights in the bus bay makingit easy to find. A row of cracked metal chairs fixed to the concrete are empty except for a few hunched-over figures. Travelers have to wait outside in this cold? I don’t like it, but at least the wait won’t be long.

Zach pulls to the curb across from the bus station. I jump down, and Sheldon joins me on the sidewalk. “Let’s get you checked in,” I say, hunching my shoulders to the icy wind.

Sheldon gives me a sideways glance, like he’s going to object. But he falls in next to me crossing the street.

At the window, I show my receipt and Sheldon flashes his ID to the attendant, and she prints his boarding pass.

I make sure we’re out of her sight of the window before I hand over the envelope.

Sheldon’s face reveals nothing as he tucks the money into the front pocket of his jeans. No gratitude. No sheepish grimace.

“Oh. Your coat,” Shel says, unzipping the ski parka he must have borrowed when he left the house this morning.

“You keep it,” I say, emotion crowding into my throat. I wish it didn’t have to be like this.

“Okay,” he says.

From the other side of the bay, a silver bus pulls in and coasts to a stop, the brakes squeaking. The engine’s deep rumble fills the night.

“Take care, Shel.”

“You too.”

It’s awkward, but I pull him into a hug anyway. He jolts like I’ve surprised him, but he claps me on the back. When I let him go, he gives me a rueful smile before turning away.

Unease twitches just beneath my skin as he walks toward the bus, his head down.

Am I doing the right thing?

Sheldon climbs aboard and disappears into the bus. I imagine him finding a window seat, maybe using my coat as a pillow for the first leg of the trip.

I turn away but before I can cross the street, a black SUV pulls to a stop in front of me.

Two athletic-looking guys in suits step out of the SUV. Both have the distinctive bulge of a shoulder holster beneath their suit jackets and one of the agents is keeping his hand on his hip as he walks toward me, like he thinks he needs quick access to his weapon.

What the hell?

“Sawyer Reed?” one of the suits says to me.

“Who’s asking?”

Zach hurries toward me, his eyes tense.

“Finn River Ranch security,” the other suit says, his dark eyes lasering in on me, like I might run.

“What’s going on?” Zach asks.

“Stu Valentine needs to see Mr. Reed here,” the first guard says, not taking his eyes off me.

“Stu? Why?” My thoughts tumble end over end. Why would the head of security at Finn River Ranch need to see me? And why didn’t he just ask? I don’t need escorts.

Zach scowls. “What’s this about?”

“This doesn’t concern you, Mr. Hayes,” the guard to my right says.

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