Page 54 of His One True Wish

“I know. I keep forgetting,” Billie said.

“It’s okay,” I said, not wanting to pour any more salt into this wound. Clearly, Louise had secrets, and her reasons were none of mybusiness. “I saw Ethan recently, but I am pretty sure that Alfie is home, too. They are both at UC Santa Cruz this fall.”

“Mason with an empty nest. I can’t believe those boys are grown.”

“So where is Mrs. Mason?”

“I don’t know. Mom always said that Mason’s wife wasn’t made for Smoke River, so she left.”

“Her loss,” I said.

“Yeah, she left and Mason stayed with the boys. I never asked more since that was kind of … ”

“None of your business,” I said.

“Exactly.”

“I make it a point to mind my business,” I said. Was I minding my business when I ran my tongue between her legs? Was I minding my business when I sucked on her luscious tits until I thought I would come from pure anticipation of feeling her orgasm?

“Me, too,” she said, glancing over at me. “I know that you and I … ” Her voice trailed off, and her cheeks flamed.

“Hey, what happens in Smoke River stays in Smoke River,” I said, cutting her off.

“Yes, it does,” she said. She gave me an awkward smile before biting her lip and looking away. We reached the end of the south field. The path grew more narrow and uneven as it snaked through the woods. We both concentrated on placing our snowshoes firmly on the ground.

“Are you usually alone out here?” She glanced over her shoulder at me. I walked behind her since there was no room to walk side-by-side. “I mean, it’s you and Cam.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty solitary. I’ve had Cam since she was a puppy. When I left the Air Force and moved to Lauderdale, one of the engineers at the company found her in a dumpster out behind our office.”

“A dumpster?”

“Yeah, she was sick and dehydrated. I took her home, cleaned her, fed her with a dropper for months. It’s been the two of use ever since.”

“That is one lucky dog.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said. “I think I’m the lucky one. Cam has been a great companion. Dogs are uncomplicated.”

“Unlike your ex-girlfriend,” she stated, her face forward.

I exhaled, cringing at the mention of Angel. It seemed wrong to talk about our time together when walking with Billie through these beautiful woods. Angel and I were a mistake. We didn’t belong in the beauty of Smoke River. “I suppose.”

“Where did you two meet?”

“We doing this?”

“Sorry, I am just making conversation,” she said. “It’s a long walk.”

“I don’tnotwant to talk about it.” This was a lie, but I realized the less I told her about Angel, the more focus it put on her. “We met through work.”

“Was she a passenger on one of your flights?”

I cleared my throat, remembering the day Angel Jules boarded my plane. She’d set her sights on me like a laser and made a point of staying around for a tour of the cockpit. I could have resisted, I should have, but my dick wants what it wants. It wanted an uncomplicated fuck, but I ended up with a load of bullshit. “Yes, she was a passenger.”

“What’s her name?”

“Angel.”

“Wow. Memorable.”

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