Page 33 of Outlaw

“Okay,” I replied. “If you’re sure.”

“Positive.”

The door opened, and Linc stepped inside. The cigar was gone, but the breeze that blew in brought the scent of it inside. I wished it hadn’t. Not because I disliked it, but because that was his smell. I guessed I wouldn’t be coming back here for a year, so I shouldn’t care. It wasn’t as if I would ever get to live here again. That decision had already been made for me. My time in Nashville was over.

“You done?” he asked me.

I nodded. Walking out that door meant going to see Hudson, and the vicious dread was back. I had to get this over with.

Linc looked at the other two guys. “Finish up. Get this back.” His gruff voice made his words sound like an order.

He didn’t have to be rude. They had been a huge help.

“I have to leave with my weal dad. Be cayuhful with my toys,” Stevie told Than.

“I’ll guard them with my life. They’re in good hands.”

She smiled, seemingly pleased with that, and started toward Linc. He watched her with a smirk that held a touch of pride. That kind of thing was going to do me in. It wasn’t getting easier to witness. My heart only seemed to ache more every time I was reminded of what I had kept from her. But I hadn’t known that he’d be like this. That he would want her. If I had, it would have all been different.

Stevie reached up and grabbed his pointer finger, wrapping her small hand around it, and grinned up at him. “Let’s go watchBluey.”

He nodded his head, and she started out the door, leading him. I watched them exit, then glanced over at the other two. Than looked ready to burst into laughter. Gathe’s eyebrows had risen, and he stilled.

“Fuck, that’s funny.” Than chuckled when they were gone, and then he swung his blue eyes over to me and winced. “Sorry.”

I held up a hand. “No need to apologize. It is amusing.”

“Seeing a female ordering him around is priceless. Especially one who is pint-sized.” Gathe smirked. “And what the hell isBluey?”

“It’s a cartoon with talking Australian dogs. Main character’s name is Bluey, and she’s blue,” Than told him.

Gathe frowned at him. “You know this how?”

I was kind of wondering the same thing.

“It’s one of Hawk’s favorite shows. We watch it during breakfast every morning.”

Understanding lit Gathe’s face. “Oh, okay. Yeah, that makes sense.”

Who was Hawk? Did Than have a kid?

I glanced at his hand, and there was no wedding band, but then that didn’t really mean anything. Linc had never worn one when he was younger. I wasn’t going to pry though.

“Thanks again,” I told them, making my way to the door.

“Y’all will get there before we do, but your things will be there by tonight,” Than said.

I glanced back at him as I reached the door. “We aren’t leaving yet. I have another matter to handle first,” I explained.

“Still, it’s a short flight. You barely get up before you start back down.”

Flight? I scrunched my nose. “We drove.”

He nodded. “Yeah. But Linc has the plane ready at the private strip to take you back.”

I stared at him, letting that process. We were taking a private plane back to Madison? He hadn’t said anything. What was this life he lived? I’d known it wasn’t like mine, watching the Hugheses as a child, but experiencing it was something much different.

I managed a smile, then headed for the limo. Stevie had never flown before, and she was going to be thrilled. Seeing her face when we drove up to the plane would be priceless. I would look forward to that and not think about my upcoming talk with Hudson.

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