Page 46 of SEAL by Fate

“Come on, Stormy. I’m where I want to be. Don’t think for a second I would have dropped you off here and expected you to find your own way.”

“You say that as if I’m not capable,” She placed her palms on her hips. Lola must have sensed her frustration because she whimpered.

“No, I’m saying it exactly how I mean it. We’re off the mountain, but there’s still the danger that Phantom and his partner could be on our tails.”

She crossed her arms again, her heart skipping a beat. “Do you think they’re following us? Is that why you didn’t go with Jamison?”

He sighed and scraped a hand over his buzz cut. “Jamison went back to try and catch Phantom’s trail, but I know this bastard. He won’t let up until he gets what he wants.”

“And that’s you dead?” Dread filled her chest.

“Apparently. I’ve shot him twice. He won’t let that go.”

“Tha—that’s awful.”

“Yeah. I should have put the bullet in his head.” He swiveled on his heels and marched toward the shop.

It took her jogging to catch up to him. When she finally made it next to him, she caught her breath and said, “What will we do?”

“We’re going to Silver Carlisle. We’ll be safe there. Jamison will investigate. I gave him the location where he can find Phantom.”

“Then why do you have that look about you?”

“What look?”

“The one that says you believe he won’t find them.”

He smiled and his jaw slacked some. “You think you know me that well, do you?”

Now that was a million-dollar question. She didn’t have a great answer. “You really want me to go with you?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. With me, you’re safe. Out there,” he jutted his chin. “you don’t have me.”

“Why do you think I’m in danger? Phantom doesn’t know me. He has no clue who I am.”

Gray stopped and swiped a hand roughly down his cheek. “Well, if he didn’t before, he does now.”

“Where is your family ranch?”

“In a town called Reservoir Springs. Heard of it?”

“Hm, yeah, I do. I live twenty miles from it. We have lived that close and never saw one another?” He smiled and her heart warmed.

“Sometimes things happen in their own time.”

“Would it be okay if we stop at the storage unit where my things are? I’d like to gather some clothes.”

“Fine by me.” He opened the door to the car rental shop and allowed her to enter first. While he stood at the counter working his magic at getting a car at the last minute, Stormy sat close to the door, holding Lola on her leash.

She had no clue who owned the dog, but she’d have to figure out how to find them. It bothered her to know that someone out there might be missing her, and yet Stormy couldn’t have left her behind to fend for herself.

Hearing Gray’s laughter, she watched the twenty something woman behind the counter flush and twirl a strand of red hair around her dainty finger. Was she flirting? Stormy focused on the conversation.

“Anything you can do for us is appreciated,” Gray said, flashing a smile. It was a good thing his dimples were hidden under a whiskered jaw. Stormy sighed and it wasn’t because she thought she owned that specific smile of his, but it did make her a little jealous to watch him offer it so easily to another woman and have her eat it up like custard.

“I don’t like to be the bearer of bad news, but most of our rentals have to be booked twenty-four hours in advance,” the redhead said. “You understand.”

“Listen…” Gray leaned in. “It is Rylen, right?” She bobbed her head, puckering her crimson lips as if she were ready to take a seductive selfie. “We’re in quite a pickle. You see, we had a little accident on Whispering Mountain and spent the night in a dinky car. So as much as I’m sorry I missed that twenty-four-hour timeframe, you’d understand why.”

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