Page 26 of High Velocity

“Stephanie?”

Her name flies from my lips without thinking and that fact already betrays more than I’m ready to share. I may be nearing forty, but this is my mother; she has a knack of tapping into things I’m trying to keep close to my chest.

“That’s right. Lovely name,” she adds around a triumphant little grin. “Pretty blonde? I think I’ve seen her at the ranch a few times.”

“Not since last year, you haven’t,” I point out, and it makes me wonder how Stephanie ended up on my mother’s radar. “Did JD blab?”

She snorts. “JD? I don’t think blab is a word I’d ever associate with him. No,” she assures me. “It was not JD. I helped Janey with vaccinations at the rescue yesterday. She mentioned Stephanie is staying in JD’s trailer, and you were there a few nights ago. I think that was the night I was waiting on the porch for you. Then I heard from Jonas about what happened with the search yesterday, and was a little worried when you disappeared before I had a chance to check in with you.”

I get why she might’ve worried, and feel instantly guilty I didn’t shoot her a quick text to let her know I was fine. I need to do better; I owe her that.

“Didn’t mean to worry you.”

She smiles when she glances over. “Oh, I know. I figured—or at least hoped—you’d sought her out last night. Given her profession, she’d be someone who’d understand the kind of day you had,” she clarifies.

Funny how that never occurred to me as a motivation for seeking Stephanie out, even though calm understanding is exactly what I got from her. That, and a serious hard-on that lasted all the way home. I’m finding even more reasons to like her, and there were plenty to start with.

Still, whatever is sparking between us can only be temporary. She has a job in Kalispell she’ll be going back to. It may not seem that far, but both our work schedules are highly unpredictable. Trying to grab time to connect, when there’s also at least an hour and a half drive separating us, is impossible. At least it would be in the long run.

“Yeah, I went to see her but, Ma, we’re just friends.”

She quickly hides the flash of disappointment I catch on her face, and I feel bad for the lie.

Because—perhaps against better judgment—friendly was the last thing I was feeling when I kissed Stephanie last night. Nor is the craving for another taste of her that has stuck with me all day.

But I don’t want to give my mother false hope.

A few minutes later, when her attention seems firmly focused on driving, I slip my phone from my pocket, and pull up last night’s return message from Stephanie.

Same here.

I wasn’t sure how to respond so I left it there last night, but now I suddenly feel the urge to check in with her.

Out with my mother picking up rescue horse tonight, but are you up for dinner tomorrow?

Just a few seconds later those little dots start dancing on my screen, announcing an impending response. I tilt the phone away when I catch Ma trying to sneak a peek from the corner of her eye.

The dots disappear, only to start up again, and I wonder if she’s trying to find a way to let me down easy. It sure looks like she’s got a lot to say, but when the text finally comes through, the message is only one, single word.

Sure.

Before I can change my mind—or she hers—I type out another text.

Pick you up at 6?

Nine

Stephanie

“I don’t think this is wise.”

I roll my eyes at my reflection as I try to get some mascara on my lashes.

“It’s the best I can do without a badge,” I remind Ben.

Of course he called for an update, just as I was getting ready to head out to Tracy’s. The man must have a sixth sense.

“I just want to know if he’s there.”

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