Page 48 of Wait in the Truck
“Oh, really?” He scratches at the stubble on his chin with a few fingers. “Because I could have sworn he told mehe’d be back today.” He tilts his head to the side, peering at me like a stealthy snake. “You sure you don’t know where he is?”
I’m really glad I don’t have a clue what Kade and Rhett did with him. At least when I say I don’t know where he is, it’s the truth. “Sorry. I’m not his keeper. I’ll let him know you were looking for him.” I edge closer, hoping he’ll take the hint and back his disgusting ass right out the door. But he doesn’t. Instead, he cocks an eyebrow and stares at me intently, in a way that makes my skin crawl, all while pursing his lips as if he knows I’m hiding something.
Shit.
A soft chuckle falls from his lips, disturbing as fuck. “Sage, how do you think your daddy will feel when he finds out that Rivers boy was here while he was away? I’m bettin’ he’ll be pretty mad.”
“What are you talking about?” I huff, my brows furrowing.
“Don’t play coy, girlie. I saw that big fella hereall weekend long.”
My mouth slowly drops open. All at once, it hits me like a lightning strike during a midsummer thunderstorm. “Oh my fucking god. You’ve been watching me. Not just today, either.”
He admits nothing, simply gives me an obscene grin, and now there’s no doubt in my mind that this is who has had me on edgeallthis time.
Fuck.Honestly, it’s been a while since I felt like I was being watched. And maybe I’ve simply been distracted, so I haven’t noticed him sniffing around. But now I know —he’s never stopped.
Samuel’s tongue slips out, sliding over his lower lip. “Have you kept your pretty mouth shut about what you saw?”
“Haven’t said a goddamn word. You’d already be gone if I had.”
He raises a brow. “Well, maybe to ensure your silence, we should strike a deal. You keep your mouth shut or maybe when Ridge gets home, I’ll have a chat with him about what his daughter’s been getting up to.” He rubs a hand over his jaw, perusing me, and shrugs nonchalantly.
I narrow my eyes on him. Not that this disgusting bastard knows, but he has nothing on me. Or at least, no one to tell. Not anymore, anyway. Raising a brow, I huff out, “Well, Samuel,thatsounded like a threat, not a deal.”
“Did it now, little miss?”
A surge of anger rolls up my spine. “Yeah. It did.” I step closer again, refusing to back down. “How about you get your disgusting cow-fucker face out of my house or Iwilltell my dad about your sick obsession with sticking your dick in our cattle.” Fury burns through me. “I somehow doubt Dad will care much about what I’m doing when he hears how you’ve been trying—emphasis ontrying—to abuse our animals with your tiny,limpdick.”
From the expression on his face, I’ve shocked him, and before he can get any other ideas, I rush forward, planting both hands on his bony chest, and shove him hard.
He stumbles three steps backward and catches the heel of his boot on the lip of the step and goes flying ass in the air out the door. He’s still cursing a blue streak as I slam it shut and flip the lock. The look he aims at me from the flat of his back is nothing short of lethal and sends a grotesque shiver down my spine. That man grosses me out while also scaring the shit out of me. Who knows what’s in his head now. I jam a chair under the doorknob, in case he gets any bright ideas, before hurrying to make sure the front door is locked.
I need to tell Kade about what he did, but it’s probably best I keep the part where Samuel was moaning my name to myself. He’d lose his shit. I’ll have to let Rhett know, too—he’ll want to check on all the animals. I feel like crap for not saying anything before. Fucking hell.
Fumbling for my phone, I pull it out of my back pocket, then open the text conversation I have going with Kade. I pause, thumbs over the keyboard. I have to be careful what I send… just in case things go sideways and anyone has a look at my text messages. I chew on my lip for a moment or two before finally tapping out a couple lines that make it seem like nothing much is amiss.
Samuel came by to check on the cattle.
Could you tell Rhett there was an issue?
Still no sign of Dad.
Wanna come over?
I’m making dinner.
I have enough for both of you.
I’ll fill Kade and Rhett in on Samuel as soon as they get here. Hiding it is only going to cause more trouble. The other night, Kade wanted me to promise to tell him if anyone else was bothering me so he could take care of it, and I’d said nothing. That was dumb. But I’m ready to spill everything now.
Including how I feel about him.
KADE
26
I takethe turn down the driveway leading to Lilac Meadows too fast. The truck fishtails, tires spitting gravel in every direction. The wheel jerks in my grip, but I don’t slow down. If anything, I press the gas harder.
