Page 71 of Jagger

“Sort of like Doc Hollywood?”

He finally stared at me with his dark and brooding look. I could see his eyebrows shooting up over his sunglasses.

“Never mind. It’s an old movie.”

“Oh. Betty Barker used to be a showgirl way back when. She has stories that keep the tourists enthralled. While Denise’s boss, the head of the park ranger service Greg Young has been here only a few years, he’s said that there’s no place he’d rather be.”

“You don’t need to give me their resumes, Jagger. I really do like everything I’ve seen and the people are all very nice. I just… I’m in a tough spot and need to be careful with where I end up taking root. I want to ensure it’s what’s best for Cally.”

“What about your medical career?”

“I don’t know any longer. That’s the truth. It’s really weird. The joy of helping people is no longer there. I used to love the feeling of being able to end a surgery, telling the waiting families that their loved one was going to be just fine. But the surgeries were constant, the issues getting worse, and I felt like I was losing a battle I shouldn’t have been involved with in the first place. Maybe that sounds selfish.”

“Not selfish. Self preserving. A shame though. You are good at what you do.”

A quiet sigh escaped my lips. “That means a lot coming from you.”

“Tell me something. Why did you run out a few minutes ago?”

Finding a good answer was going to be difficult. “I don’t know. I felt as if claws were being wrapped around my neck. Not becauseof the job offer. Maybe because I’m not who people think I am. Like you, I’m no hero.”

“You’re wrong,” he told me.

“I’m never wrong.”

He shook his head as if completely frustrated with me.

“Maybe just the thought of living in a small town is too suffocating.”

“Maybe. I never wanted to move here. For the first three months I felt like I’d been forced, removed from my life, but I came to realize the people are genuine. A pain in the ass sometimes, but they mean no harm. The vast majority know I like to keep to myself.”

“You must be a great celebrity.”

With that he folded his arms. “Fresh blood. Someone new to talk about.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Mostly they’re good with allowing my privacy. They’d be that way for you too. I don’t know what you’re looking for, Bella, but I don’t need to scrutinize your past to know you’re running from something. I’m an expert at it. I kept myself away from people on purpose and I was perfectly happy. But it was all a lie. I’m never going to sit at that diner and chitchat, but at least I can appreciate that these people welcomed me into their lives and if I was ever in need, they’d welcome me into their homes.”

“That’s wonderful. I have trouble trusting and that comes from years of practice.”

“I got it. I ain’t pushing nor will I ever. But I need to ask you one more question and I want an honest answer.” He turned to face me.

“I’ll try.” When I didn’t shift around immediately, he forced me to gently, even removing his sunglasses. Dear God, there was such a serious look on his face. “What is it?”

“I need to know who the hell you are. There’s no Bella Winters listed as a doctor anywhere in the world. You have a goddamn professional crossbow in a duffle bag you try and keep hidden from me. You received a threat on that text and don’t you dare tell me otherwise. You’re not Bella Winters since she doesn’t exist. So why are you lying to me and to the good people of this town?”

CHAPTER 19

Jagger

I’d put my foot into my mouth plenty of times in my life until I’d mostly stopped talking altogether.

With Bella, I’d betrayed the limited trust she’d placed in me, which hadn’t been my intent, but her stonewalling had broken through some barrier. I couldn’t understand completely my level of determination to break through her barriers, yet I felt more compelled to do so than I had with almost anything in my life.

She hadn’t uttered a single word after returning to the diner to have lunch. After I’d questioned her real identity, she’d remained unblinking for thirty seconds before turning around and returning inside. She’d found an empty booth before I’d gotten back inside.

While she had chitchatted with Poppy, Lois, and a few of the others, she’d purposely not bothered to address me at all. Fortunately, Cally hadn’t noticed since she’d been enjoying her new puppy as a little girl should.

---