Page 66 of Jagger

“Come on. Let’s get the two of you inside.” I opened the door, ushering Cally into the store, waiting to see Bella’s reaction.

She was more pensive than I’d seen her. Before she had a chance to slide past me, I blocked her entrance.

“What are you doing?” Her tone had returned to being demanding.

“I could ask you the same question. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I think you do. What was in the text and who was it from?”

Bella glared at me. “None of your business.”

“Since you’ll be living in my house, it is entirely my business.”

She huffed, the sound exaggerated. “Then I guess I need to look for a place so I can get the hell out of your life.” Bella sidestepped me, but I thwarted her attempt.

“Don’t do that, Bella. You’re going through something and I have a feeling it’s dangerous. Now, confide in me.”

“Why should I? I don’t know you.”

I snagged her wrist with a little more force than I’d intended.

“Let me go or so help me God.”

Exhaling, I released my hold, holding back on my typical self-righteous stare as she peered up at me. “Is someone threatening you?”

“No. Why in God’s name would you think that?”

Because I knew when someone felt panic that swept up through every ounce of their being. “Because you were rattled by the text.”

“Just a friend from back home hassling me for not calling her.”

She tried to laugh it off.

I could easily see through her bad attempt at lying to me.

“You’re certain that’s all it is?”

“Absolutely. Stop worrying, Jagger. Last night was last night. I’m fine.”

“Uh-huh. Come on.” Her reasons for lying to me were her own, but I could smell her fear.

“I just need to make a quick phone call. Will you keep an eye on Cally for me? Please?”

I didn’t need to be some damn mind reader to know she was in serious trouble, more so than I’d originally thought. “Sure. Happy to.”

Happy?

The woman was far too frustrating, but I would find out what she was hiding.

A little girl and a dog. I had no clue what I was doing. As soon as I was noticed by the owner of the store, she flew out frombehind the bakery counter. “Jagger Fox. I never thought I’d see you here.”

Betty Barker had been the owner for a few years, taking the insurance money left over from her husband’s tragic ski-lift death to open the place. I’d met her once at the resort when a pet adoption event had been held there. It had been my mother’s doing, insisting we could help. The day had meant our parking lot had been filled with vehicles and people who would likely never rent a room or cottage at the resort. I’d tried to stay away, but the older lady had sought me out.

With her garish jet-black hair and thick blue eye shadow, she almost reminded me of Betty Boop.

“Yeah, well, we got a stray who needs a collar and leash. Some dogfood.”

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