Page 122 of Tangled Kisses
The road winds us back toward Hollow Creek, the mountains soft in the distance, the late afternoon sun slanting across the dash. For the first time since my chat with Sabine, I feel lighter. Not perfect—my head still aches faintly—but better.
I think back to the phone call with my mom, to the way her voice cracked when she said she just wanted me safe and happy. I finally believe her.
But Griffin is feeling a decidedly different emotion as he drums his fingers against the steering wheel, eyes flicking from the windshield to me and back again. Over and over.
Time to slide on my friendship cap. I don’t know what happened during his phone call—maybe something at the ranch or with a client. Hell, maybe there’s an issue with Lauren.
Do I want to know? Probably not. But I’m going to ask anyway.
I pivot in my seat, tucking one leg beneath me. “Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?”
His knuckles tighten around the wheel, tendons flexing. “Oh, I absolutely want to talk about it,” he says, each syllablevibrating like a live wire. “Because I just had arealinteresting conversation with your sister.”
Oh, God.
My fingers clutch the door handle, my hair sliding forward as I duck my face, trying to hide the flush racing up my cheeks. I knew this was coming. I’ve been bracing myself all day, convinced I was ready to face this head-on.
But I’m not.
Not even close.
Still, I force myself upright, smoothing my palms over my thighs. I’m thirty-seven years old. I can do this. I can show gratitude, say my piece, and slink back to my motel room to sleep the rest of the day away.
“Today’s been…” My voice wavers, but I push through. “Better than I expected. And I wanted to say thank you.”
He tightens his grip on the steering wheel. “Thanking me for what?”
The man must be joking.
Is he going to make me say it?
“For breakfast. For Pearl. For… everything,” I mumble, the heat of humiliation prickling under my skin. “And for the other night. I’m glad it was with you.”
Griffin barks out a laugh, running a hand over his jaw. “Shit, I’m glad it was with me too. Imagine that.”
I can’t read him right now. Is he furious? Amused? Or just basking in my discomfort?
I suck in a breath, my insides quaking as I prepare to make a total fool of myself. “Thank you… for making me feel like I wasn’t broken. Like I was worth the time you gave me. I’d never had that before. I won’t forget it.”
Tears prick hot at my lids, but I will not cry. Not in front of him. Humiliated or not, I’ll survive this too. Somehow.
I turn toward the window, desperate for any lifeline to drag me out of this mess. Time to change the subject. Not that he’s saying anything anyway.
“Enough about that night.” I twist a ring around my finger, hoping the motion will steady me. “I thought you were working all weekend. How did you get time off?”
He pulls into a spot and slams the truck into park. For a moment he just leans back, head tipping against the headrest, a noisy exhale spilling into the cab. His eyes fix on the roof like he’s searching for patience that isn’t there. “Capri gave me the weekend off. She knew you were up here in Hollow Creek. Told me to come up.”
Just like that, the bottom falls out.
My God. It’s even worse than I imagined.
“Wait a damn minute. Capri sent you?”
Honestly, Reese, are you surprised? Did you really think he was going to track you down of his own accord?
No, this makesmuchmore sense.
Griffin slides off his cowboy hat, tossing it in the backseat. “Yes. You weren’t talking to me. I didn’t know where the hell you’d gone. I’m thrilled she told me, so that I could come up here and protect you.”
