Page 62 of Swept for Forever
Part of me wanted to give him the truth. That’s what normal people did, right? They shared pieces of themselves when the air between them felt like something more.
But then there was the other part. The one that hadn’t forgotten Stiff-Neck’s threat.Family, friends. I couldn’t risk letting Dom get close, not if it meant putting him in someone’s crosshairs.
“Cheyenne,” I said. The last thing I wanted was Dom following if I ever had to run away from Stiff-Neck.
“Right,” he said.
Did he believe me?
Maybe not.
Reading lies must’ve been part of the whole lawyer package.
We packed up our trash in silence, then stood. But instead of heading back to the truck, Dom nodded toward the avenue. “You up for a little walk?” He nodded at my crutch. “Flat path. Just a couple of minutes, tops.”
I pretended to think it over.
“Fine. As long as Uber Dom stays on standby.”
“You know I’ll carry you if I have to,” he said, dead serious.
I followed him past the houses, taking in the details I hadn’t noticed before—the porch swings, the flowerbeds, and the way some houses had bikes propped against fences, as if kids had just hopped off them. Then Dom stopped in front of one.
It was a little different. It was newer, more like a chateau, but it still managed to blend in with the forest backdrop. Tall windows reflected the trees, and pale stucco walls, steep rooflines, and a wide stone patio gave it a clean elegance without being showy. Outdoor furniture was arranged neatly near a cluster of boulders and what looked like the start of a water feature. It was the kind of place where I could picture a golden retriever sprinting across the grass. Maybe even kids playing.
I planted my good leg, then cocked my head. “Nice.”
“French influenced, but still Montana,” he said.
“Huge yard.”
“And the back too.”
My feet itched to check it out, but the car in the driveway said someone still lived here.
“I’m putting an offer in,” he revealed.
My brows lifted. “Wow, you’re really going for it.”
He shrugged. “I love it.”
I gave the whole façade another glance. “I bet. Near the park, the river.”
“Yeah. Big enough for a family.” His voice was easy, but something flickered in his expression, as if he wasn’t quite used to saying family.
I nudged him. “They in L.A. now?”
His head snapped toward me. “What?”
“Wife, kids.”
Dom let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Autumn, do I look like a guy who left behind a family interstate?”
I stared at him, my heart tripping.
He’s single?
Something in my stomach flipped, diving straight into the deep end, freestyle, Olympic record speed.
