Page 37 of Wingwoman
“Wait,” I said. “Youlivehere at the ranch?”
“Well, notherehere. A bit further down the driveway, just beyond the pasture and the treeline, is my house.”
The car drove us past the stables and curved around where the driveway looped into a large circular shape.
Housewas an understatement.
It was a mansion set back from the property and almost entirely isolated. Not exactly where I had pictured Josh spending his time. I had seen him in some impressive penthouse in the center of Austin.
And my face seemed to show it as he opened the door. “What?” he asked, his grin widening.
“I just… I guess I imagined you more as a downtown loft kind of guy. Not a mansion set quietly behind a horse rescue.”
He rolled his impossibly blue eyes. “It’s hardly a mansion.”
Were we even looking at the same house? Ofcourseit was a mansion. It had pillars on the front porch like something Jay Gatsby would live in. The house itself didn’t seem to fit on the ranch, but I had no doubts he had built it to be exactly what he wanted. And he probably tore down the original farm-style house that came with the property.
“Okay, fine,” I said. “Then it’s a manor.”
He quirked a brow. “Like Wayne Manor? I can get behind that. Makes me sound badass.”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Okay, calm down. Yousohaven’t earned the Batman title yet, buddy.”
“All that means is I’m really good at keeping my identity a secret.” He winked, then he hopped out and bounded around to my door before I could barely get my seatbelt off.
While I did think it was a bit of overkill making me stay the night, I had to admit, my head still felt a little foggy. Even if it was overly cautious, it was comforting to know I wouldn’t be alone all evening. Especially since I wasn’t allowed to fall asleep for several more hours.
Not that I’d be admitting that to Josh anytime soon.
As the sedan drove off, Josh opened the front door to his mansion… or rather, his manor… and a beautiful black, white, and brown Australian Shepherd came bounding outside, hopping around us.
I reached down, petting him as he jumped onto his hind legs to greet me.
“Cash! Off!” Josh scolded.
“Oh, it’s okay. I love dogs,” I smiled down at Cash and scratched behind his ears. “Cash?”
“Named after Johnny Cash.”
“Ahhh. I probably should have guessed that, huh?” When I bent to press a kiss to his head, he sniffed at my bandage before giving my cheek a lick. “Oh, aren’t you just the most perfect little creature to ever exist?”
It was subtle, but I heard the tiniest exhale from Josh. And when I glanced up, I caught his shocked expression as he stared at me.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. You just… you don’t strike me as a dog person.”
Some people might have been upset or annoyed by that generalization, but truthfully, I understood it. I didn’t seem like a dog person to most people. And not just because of my penchant for designer brands and high heels.
When it came to my relationships with people? I could be aloof. Standoffish. My guard was almost always up. The walls around my castle were high and armed. My drawbridge was up. My moat was loaded with alligators.
But animals always brought out the softer side of me.
I followed Josh and Cash as they led me through an impressive looking foyer. As we passed a giant mirror, I got my first glimpse of myself since the accident and I let out a literal gasp. It wasn’t pretty.
My hair was flat from my ears down, except for the roots which bumped up in the back like I had slept on it funny. Hell, I guess I had—passing out in the hospital like I did.
The eye makeupI had so carefully administered earlier that day was now smeared beneath my eyes. My silk Prada shirt was in a plastic grocery bag in my hands and instead I wore a T-shirt from the hospital gift shop because they apparently had to cut me out of my shirt to get to my bruised shoulder.
