Page 64 of Truck Stop Titan

“Good.” I pulled a mug out of the cupboard and shoved it his way. “Coffee’s hot. Help yourself. Creamer’s in the fridge, sugar’s on the table.”

Behind me, the chair scraped against the tile floor, then creaked, accepting Dane’s weight. How silly that my first thought was to buy new chairs better suited for a large man.

How inappropriate, the frantic knocking behind my ribs.

How maddening my nonchalance.

“Why are you here?” I asked over my shoulder.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

A huff. “You didn’t call me back.”

“And?”

The chair shifted. “You didn’t call back.”

I turned to face the beautiful, sleepy, frustrating man. “I was busy, getting Mim settled.” Figuring out how to deal with Matthew, I left unsaid.

Dane leaned back, crossing his arms, his legs stretched and crossed at the ankles, brows pulled low. “Put yourself in my place. You’re two thousand miles away. You’re screaming at your ex. You don’t call back to let me know you’re okay.”

“So, your first reaction is to hop on a plane?”

“Yes.”

“Again, why?”

His gaze dropped to the table. “I couldn’tnotcome.”

“You were worried.”

“I was scared shitless.” Dragging his thumbnail back and forth over his forehead, he huffed. “Moriah, you need to know, nothing scares me anymore.”

Cleary that admission wasn’t easy, judging by the look on his face.

That confession weighed heavy on my mind, too, for so many reasons, the most blaring, though, was that he cared enough to worry for us. And that was a good thing, right?

Trouble was, I knew so little about the man. If I chose to return to Whisper Springs, I risked a future full of scary surprises. Yet, those unknowns were still more appealing than whatever lay ahead for us in Shelbyville.

“Where’s Moretti?” He interrupted my introspect, peeking into the living room.

“Took a shower, then ran to the corner store. Said he needed some pain relievers.”

Tito came through the door that very moment, paper bag in hand.

“Perfect timing.” I set a plate in front of Dane, then another at the table for Tito.

Mim joined us shortly after. We ate. Mostly in silence. Tito cleared the dishes, then announced he had to hit the road, get back to the family, and disappeared down the hall, to gather his things, I assumed.

Dane and Mim made themselves comfortable on the sofa, Mim pointing the remote at the flat screen until she settled on a loud and colorful cartoon.

“I’m going to wash my hair,” I announced, although I was sure nobody was listening.

I bumped into Tito outside my room. He kissed my cheek, said, “I’m off,” then whispered, “I hope to see you soon, Moriah.”

I started to thank him, then thought,for what? For breaking into my home in the middle of the night? For escorting Dane The Destroyer on his mission to mark his territory? Don’t think so. Instead, I wished him a safe trip home, then locked myself in the bathroom, dead set on a long, steamy, soul-cleansing shower.

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