Page 16 of Malice

“IPhone or android?”

“Android,” Bonnie said, speaking up for the first time since her introduction.

“That would be Jake. He’s in the horse barn cleaning stalls.” The older man looked down at his computer, going back to work.

Bonnie assumed this was their dismissal and backed out of the doorway, giving Corey room to step out.

“Sorry about that. He knows we’re not seeing each other, but all of the guys do their best to pick and prod. They’re trying to get a rise out of me. I learned a long time ago to just let it go. The more I protest the harder they’ll push.” He led them back through the maze the way they’d come until they were outside once more.

Bonnie paused blinking at the bright sunlight and trying to decide what to say.

“Come on, I’ll show you the house and give you a tour, Then take you up to see the main house and see if you’d rather stay there.”

Bonnie reached out and laid a hand on his arm. “I don’t care about the house or a cabin or anything else. I want to stay where you are, if that’s okay. I don’t know anyone else, and I feel safe with you.” She fought the urge to bite her lip as he stared at her for several seconds. Seconds that felt like an eternity.

Eventually, he nodded. “I can live with that. Let’s get you settled in, then I’ll take your phone to Jake and give you a little privacy if you’d like.” He headed back to the truck.

Bonnie didn’t see anything else to do, plus she wanted to see where she would be staying at least for the next few days, so she followed.

13

“Iknowit’snotmuch but it’s what I have. You take the bed. I’ll sleep in the other room. Make yourself at home,” Malice set the last of her bags on the foot of the bed in the only bedroom in the cabin he’d been given the day before.

There wasn’t a lot there. A bed in the bedroom, a couple of small chairs in the living room, a stove and a refrigerator that didn’t work. He hadn’t minded. He didn’t need a refrigerator to live, especially when he got all his food from the main house except lunch. Lunch was usually sandwiches or stew in the bunkhouse. Something that the men could go get when they had a few minutes between chores instead of everyone stopping work to sit down.

“I can’t do that. I can’t take your bed.”

“I don’t mind. Really. I just got the place last night, so I’m not used to the bed yet, and I have a cot. I’ve spent enough nights on the ground a cot is almost heaven.” He gave her a smile, hoping to reassure her.

“Are you sure?” Her voice was hesitant.

It made him want to pull her into his arms and kiss her, reassure her that he wanted her to have the bed. Hell, what he really wanted was to share it with her, but he wouldn’t be telling her that.

No.

She was just shaking lose an asshole who didn’t know what boundaries were, there was no way he’d make a move on her while she was vulnerable.

“I’m sure. I’ll leave you to settle in for a bit and go talk to Jake about your phone. I’ll be back later. If you need anything, there’s a path leading from the front porch to the east. Follow that. It will take you to the main house. There’s nearly always someone around there. They’ll know how to find someone for you. I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”

He waited for her nod before checking his pocket to make sure he still had her phone, then leaving. He left his pickup parked in front of the house and headed for the horse barn on foot. It might not be the fastest way, but he wasn’t in a hurry anyway.

In the horse barn, Malice followed the sounds of work to the stall where Jake had pulled the wheelbarrow in and was busy shoveling out the old hay. He’d peeled off his shirt and worked in jeans, boots, and gloves.

Malice leaned against the stall door for a moment, watching Jake work while he waited for the other man to notice him.

“Hey. You’re back. Is everything okay?”

“No one was hurt, at least not yet.” Malice fought to keep the menace from his voice. “Her fuckwad ex is stalking her, trashed her car last night outside her apartment. Where he’d never been. I brought her here to make sure she’s safe.”

“Good call.” Jake frowned. “If he’d never been to her place, how did he find it to trash her car?”

“Good question. We think he’s found a way to track her phone.” Malice watched the other man for a moment, then spoke again. “Lurch said you were the best one to take a look at it and see if you can figure out how?”

“I can try. What kind of phone?”

“Android.” He pulled it from his pocket and held it out. “We put it on airplane mode before turning it off, so you can power it on without it hitting the network and telling him she’s out here.”

“That was smart. I’ll need her passcode to get in, but I’ll take a look at it as soon as I’m done here.” He shoved it into his pocket then looked down at the floor. “At least it’s my last one.”

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