Page 32 of His Virgin Woman
“Yeah, and Shae, whoever did it had a key.”
He looked toward Leah.Peyton wouldn’t have done this, as she had been home with him.He nodded toward Leah, as Bill left.He knew there would have to be an investigation.
“You set fire to this place?”Shae asked.
“What?Hell, no.I love working here, in case you didn’t notice.And with this place going up in smoke, I’m out of a job, Shae,” Leah said.She looked toward the car.
“Whoever did this had a key.You’re the only other person who had the key.”
“I got robbed,” Leah said.“I reported it to the sheriff, but he never came back to me.The keys were in my bag.”Leah ran fingers through her hair.
Shae didn’t like this.He had no reason to doubt Leah’s word.Running fingers through his hair, he was not in the best of moods.
“Okay, fine.I believe you.”And with that, he got to his truck, while sending a text to the sheriff that they needed to meet.
He drove Peyton back to the ranch.She was crying, and he reached over and placed a hand on her knee.
“You know, I don’t think I even care,” she said.
“You care.”
“No, I don’t.I was starting to hate that place and now it’s gone.”She laughed.“Maybe I did it.Maybe I left something on.”
He pulled up to the ranch, parked his truck, and turned toward her.“Stop it.”
Tears fell from her eyes.“You know I was starting to hate that place, and now I don’t know what I’m going to do.I can’t afford to rebuild.I can’t ...it’s too much.”
He reached over and gripped the back of her neck, forcing her to look at him.“Look at me, babe.It’s going to be okay.I am going to figure something out, and we’re going to work through this.You’ve got nothing to worry about.I promise you.”
“What am I going to do?”
“I’m going to take care of you.”
She shook her head.“I can’t let you do that.”
“Enough,” he said.“Tonight, you stop fucking thinking and let me handle everything.You understand?You’re not alone.You’ve got me.”
“Until you are done with me.”
He wanted to tell her he was never going to be done with her, but he didn’t know how much she could handle today.She had already been through so much, and right now he just wanted to give her time.
