Page 11 of The Outlaw's Code

I needed to talk to Shane. I needed him to explain?—

Wait. Explain what, exactly? How he ended up in my dreams? As if he had any control over it.

What is going on with me?

I moved away from the door, walking backwards until I landed on my mattress.

I just needed to get some sleep. Real sleep.

Everything is going to make sense in the morning.

I pulled the covers over my head, soothing myself with what I knew was a lie, repeating it over and over like it was the only thing I had to hold onto.

5

SHANE

I feltlike I was losing my mind.

The way Calder had looked at me after our fingers touched…

But I knew that I was just projecting again. So, why couldn’t I stop doing it? And why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?

I shook my head as I stared down at the Canyon Creek Diner menu. I’d come out here to avoid Calder for a few hours at least, giving him some excuse about needing to do some work in town. I just needed some space today, some time to get any thoughts of him out of my system?—

“Virgil told me about that cowboy of yours.”

Jolene was suddenly standing next to my booth, a pot of coffee in her grip. “Said something about memory trouble?”

“Right. Calder.” I groaned. How was talking about him going to help me stop thinking about him?

“Virgil told me he keeps staring at you.”

“What? Why is Virgil staring at me?”

Jolene huffed. “Not Virgil! Your cowboy. Calder.”

“He’s not my cowboy—wait. He’s been staring at me?”

“Un-huh.” She grinned. “Staring at you like someone who’s trying to figure out why the rules don’t make sense anymore.”

“Rules?”

“Shane. You’re the smart one. Don’t make me spell this out for you.” Jolene poured me a cup of coffee, her attention still on me. “And don’t be stupid. This is a sensitive situation, sure. But you know better than to let a good thing pass you by.”

“Jolene, Calder’s not?—”

“Nope. I’m not doing this with you.” Jolene waved off my words. “Do you want your usual? Two eggs, three pieces of bacon, hash on the side?”

“Maybe a stack of pancakes, too.”

“Of course. Anything for you.” Jolene playfully pinched my cheek before she made her way to the kitchen counter. That was the sort of thing I allowed from people who’d known me my whole life, although, there was really no stopping Jolene’s cheek pinching either way. By the time she’d returned with my food, I was ecstatic about the chance to chow down, eager to get Calder off my mind, even if it was only until the end of the meal.

And then, he would occupy my mind all over again.

“How’s Calder?”

It was the first question Levi asked me as soon as I stepped into his office. I was still trying to avoid Calder, wanting to kill more time before I ended up around him today. I’d decided to check in on Levi, giving myself something to do in the meantime.

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