Page 34 of I Should Hate You-but I Don't

Not wanting to put extra work on the kitchen employees, she waited for a break at the sink and washed the dishes she'd used.

After she picked up her backpack, she walked outside. The sun was getting hotter now, and the campers were already talking about the heat in the tents and RVs. By the afternoon, they waited for sundown to get some relief.

While there was air conditioning in the house, she stayed outside. It was harder to get out of her funk when she shut herself off from everyone else in Gem Haven.

She looked at the sky. Although clear, the scent of smoke was strong. It got that way at the campground around dinner time when everyone tried to build a fire and cook in the pits provided at each site.

Big John headed her way and then walked beside her. She smiled at the older man, having always enjoyed his company. He was quiet, but when he spoke, people tended to listen. Though she'd witnessed other men cower under Big John's commands, he was a gentle giant with her.

"Are you busy?" he asked.

She stopped. "Nope. It's my day off."

"Zane needs to talk to you."

"Okay." She turned around to walk to the clubhouse. "Thanks for letting me know."

"Not there." Big John pointed behind her. "He wants to talk to you at the house. He'll be down in a few minutes."

Hiding her surprise, she changed direction. In a hurry to see him, she jogged to the house. Inside, she ran up the steps, dropped her pack, and slipped into the bathroom. Even though she'd brushed her teeth before heading to the bar, she brushed them again. That morning, she'd skipped putting makeup on because it was her day off, so she lined her eyes and put on mascara. She fluffed her hair and caught sight of the cutoffs and old t-shirt she'd slipped on after her shower. Sticking out her lower lip and blowing the hair off her face, she ignored the clothes—they'd have to do.

Butterflies attacked her. She pressed her hand to her stomach. Zane had never asked anyone to have her meet him. Not at the house.

What if something was wrong?

What if he wanted her to leave?

All her past insecurities rushed to the forefront. A future without Zane was impossible, something she never allowed herself to think about.

She stepped into the hallway and grabbed her pack. Going down on her knees, she searched through her belongings. There was nothing in here that she needed, but seeing and touching things that belonged to her when her mom and dad were alive, and she and Kenna lived under the same roof brought her comfort.

Her finger slipped into the spiral ring of Kenna's sketchbook. She pulled out the book and flipped through the pages. Even from a young age, Kenna had a talent for drawing. Looking back, she could now see that Kenna buried much of their childhood's hurt in her art. When they lost their dad, Kenna got angry. She stopped laughing and talking.

She flipped through the sketchbook, marveling at the beauty Kenn created with a pencil. Her sister had a love of horses—something River had never had. While Kenna would go to the stables, where they boarded her horse, River sat with her dad, waiting for the riding lessons to finish. She had always been afraid of horses. They were all so big.

But not Kenna. She was brave. She loved Luxy, her horse, more than anything in the world.

Of course, Luxy was now only in the pictures Kenna had drawn, like so many things they once loved.

The downstairs door shut. Like a bullet, she shoved everything away, left her bag, and ran downstairs.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and took him in. He was tired, and dirt was on his face.

He removed his pistol and set the weapon on the table by the front door. The last thing on her mind was how she looked once she saw his condition.

"Are you okay?" She raised her gaze.

"There's a fire south of here." He inhaled deeply. "It spread overnight when the winds picked up. Thankfully, the weather is cooperating now. The fire chief just announced its eighty percent contained."

"Was that why I could smell smoke?"

"Yeah."

"We're not in any danger, are we?" She tried to read his face, but the continual frown threw her off.

They'd had fires on forestry land before. After every summer storm, there was a chance of lightning strikes. The wildfire firemen and firewomen often came to the bar before and after their shifts before returning to fight the fire.

"I wanted you to know because Phil will be closing off that section of forest from any recreational use until it's completely out." Zane stepped back and grabbed the handle of the door. "The sheriff suspects arson, so I want you to be extra diligent when working. If you hear or see anyone who looks suspicious, tell Phil."

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