Page 46 of Buck This
Heat touched her cheeks, and she ducked her gaze back to her bag, thoroughly touched by the unexpected compliment. “I think you are a badass too.”
“You know I can hear the truth in a person’s tone?” he asked.
“Shifter senses?” she guessed.
He nodded. “You are a truthful person. I like that you say it how you feel it.”
She brushed her teeth, thinking about all that he had said. He was a man of few words, but the words he did utter were important, and deep.
She grabbed the water bottle he’d been planning on taking to his truck and set it next to hers on the counter next to the bed and slipped under the covers he held up for her.
She scooted back toward him, and he dragged her right up against his warm chest and kissed the back of her neck. She thought he would try for more because that’s what Reece had said. They buck to fuck. He didn’t though. Instead, his forehead rested against the back of her hair, and his breathing deepened almost immediately. His body relaxed against her. He didn’t stay awake long enough for a back massage, but she understood. Today had been eternal, and he had bucked a ninety-four, and then managed media afterward. If he could fall asleep this peacefully this fast, with her in his arms, she was happy. If she could give his weary soul some peace, she was proud.
Torrey smiled to herself and stared at the television he’d left on. It was an infomercial about jewelry. Way less interesting than the news, but it was exactly what she needed to fall asleep just as deeply as the man who held her against his slow-beating heart.
Chapter Twelve
A strange buzzing sound woke him up.
Buck sat up in the dark, his hand resting protectively on Torrey’s waist. She was still sleeping soundly if her steady breathing was anything to go by, but something felt…off.
Buzz.
It was his phone vibrating with text messages. Not many had his number, and he’d retreated from all meaningful friendships after Teague had died, so it made no sense that someone was texting him in the middle of the night.
Buzz.
Maybe it was Quickdraw and something was wrong.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Carefully, Buck eased out of bed and tucked the covers back into place so Torrey wouldn’t get cold.
He picked up his phone from where he’d left it on the counter of the small kitchenette last night, and what he saw on the screen chilled his blood.
The first text was from an unknown number and read,It should’ve been you that died.
Buck’s heart dropped to the floor.
There were moments in a man’s life that altered the course of it completely.
The first one happened two years ago when he’d lost Teague.
Buck had the second one this week when he’d met Torrey.
He’d had another when Quickdraw had gone all in with coaching him.
But this fourth moment was one that would destroy it all. It was one that dragged his ghosts from their graves.
It was one he would never be able to banish from his mind for the rest of his days.
Here in the dark of his RV, Buck stared in horror as text after text appeared on his phone, picking up speed.
…is this true?...
…what the hell, man…
…it’s on the news already…
