Page 38 of Rear View
“What?” He scribbled a note at the top of his paper.“That other guy already came for you once. I don’t wanna see anything happen again.”
Lips pursing, I said, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
His nostrils flared as he cracked his knuckles and returned to his work. “I’m just watching out for you, R.J.”
Barlowe approached, stopping before the desk while he gave me a clinical once-over. “How’re you feeling today, Ryah?”
I swallowed around the tightness in my throat. “Back to normal.”
He inclined his head and tugged the lapel of his knit button-up sweater. “I’m glad to hear it. We’ll need to make up for your lost time. I’ll send you an email later to tell you when,” he said, then turned and strode toward the lectern.
I fought not to roll my eyes, but he’d just done me a favor, and he wasn’t wrong. Ididneed to catch up.
My phone buzzed again and Christian dropped his cheek onto his hand like a sullen teenager.
Xavier: What do ya say? You interested?
My face split into a full smile.
Me: I’m in!
Xavier: Atta girl.
Something in my lower belly warmed and I pressed my thighs together.
Me: Wait…my brother doesn’t have a snowmobile.
Xavier: I’m loaning him one of mine.
One of?Exactly how many did the man have?
Xavier: Need a lift?
For most girls, that’d be an easy yes. It’s what Iwantedto say. But sharing where I lived… I’d programmed myself to be guarded. To say less. Always less.
Me: I’ll catch a ride with Miles.
Xavier: Sounds good. Dress warm, darlin.
My heart fluttered again and suddenly, the lecture hall didn’t feel so cold.
Chapter Ten
Xavier
“Pull it forward!” I called, waving Alec ahead. He moved his truck, empty trailer in tow, as he maneuvered into a spot.
It neared noon, sun high, sky clear. Perfect day for riding. The snowmobiles sat at the head of the Sunset Haven trail, off to the side. Their engines rumbled, that scent of gas mixing with the winter air one of my favorite things. The other sat in the passenger seat of Miles’s blue Ford Focus as he pulled into the lot and parked beside us.
He and Ryah climbed out, and like every other time I laid eyes on her, my heart damn near stopped. She was cute as hell—head-to-toe white in her snowsuit, long hair down and hanging over her shoulders. She had on a black hat and gloves, neither of which was gonna work for what we had planned.
“She’s just gorgeous,” Sheila said low, tugging the zipper of her purple coat all the way up.
“Yeah.” I gave a tight nod. “She is.” My boots crunched on the iced-over asphalt as I headed their way.
“Good to see you, man,” Miles said as he trudged closer, his sister tight behind him.
“Glad you made it,” I replied and swallowed hard when my eyes crashed with Ryah’s, that copper bright against the day. “Hey, darlin’.”
