Page 23 of Rival Heart
The girl smirks as she hands me my order and I pull out my card to pay. “That’s alright. It’s on the house. I hear you just got married. Consider it a little wedding present!”
“Are you sure? Won’t your boss be pissed?”
She giggles. “She’d be more pissed if I didn’t offer. Don’t worry.” She winks. “Go ahead and get back home to your hubby!”
I flush but nod and walk out the door taking my first sip of the life-giving brew.
“Oh my god, that’s good,” I groan.
“Rebel? Is that you? Thank God! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Jefferson’s annoying face pops up in front of me. “Seriously? What the hell are you doing out here at this time of the day? And if you’re looking for me, why didn’t you look at the ranch? Where I was with my husband,” I snap.
His blue eyes flare for a minute and then he sighs and runs his hand through his blond hair. “I don’t know. I guess I just wasn’t thinking. Your dad’s had an accident.”
Freezing, I stop with my cup halfway to my mouth. Dropping my hand, I stare at him. “What? What happened? Is he alright?”
“He’s at the hospital. He’s been asking for you. I think he really wants to make up.”
A tic at the corner of his mouth draws my eye and a subtle ribbon of unease runs through me. I back away. “Why didn’t someone come out to the ranch and get me? Or call.”
“I don’t know. I guess your phone wasn’t taking calls or something and nobody knows Jace’s phone number.” He starts to herd me to his car that’s parked alongside mine. I dig in my heels but he just pushes harder. I didn’t realize Jefferson was this strong!
That little ribbon of unease starts to turn into a bigger niggle that makes my stomach spin.
“I need to get back to the ranch and wake up Jace. Then we’ll come to the hospital this morning and see Dad.”
Desperation lights in his eyes and I tense. “You don’t need Jace with you right now. He’ll probably just start something with your dad and make it worse. He really wants to talk to you. Alone.”
“I don’t think so, Jefferson. I’ll come as soon as I get Jace.” I turn towards my truck that’s right next to his fancy SUV. I barely get three steps in when something hits me and everything goes black.
SEVENTEEN
Jace
The phone ringsand I groan, reaching out a hand to swat my alarm. It clatters to the wood floor and that damnable ringing just keeps pushing at me until I leap out, growling, “What, what the hell do you want?”
“Well, hello to you too,” the amused drawl makes me drag my hand down my face and take a deep breath.
“Why the hell are you calling me so early, Sheriff?” My bleary, tired eyes dart around the room and my brows crinkle. Where the hell is my brand-new bride?
Stalking across the room I throw the bathroom door open and immediately see that her toothbrush has been used and her clothes are gone.
Fuck! Where the hell is she?
“Are you even listening to me, Jace?”
“Yeah, sorry.” I drag my tired ass through my little house, ready to turn everything upside down to find Rebel.
“Dammit, Jace! Wake the hell up! Is Rebel there?”
Freezing, I stare off into space. “Why are you asking me where Rebel is?” My blood doesn’t want to move in my veins. I can’t think. What the hell does he know that I don’t know?
“I’m trying to tell you. The girl at the bakery says that she saw Rebel just about ten minutes ago. She went in there and got you guys breakfast.”
My hand runs through my hair and I sit down before I fall down. That all sounds fine but I feel like the other shoe is about to drop.
“Okay,” I grit out between my teeth. “I feel like there’s more to this story unless you’ve started the girl and she’s making conversation while you dirty talk.”
