Page 89 of Playing it Country

“Geez, Louise!” I yell as I grab the cat and cradle her against my chest and chuckle to myself. The cat stares at me and I roll my eyes as I rub under her chin. “You really should think I’m funny.”

She rubs against my hand in reply as I bend down to put her on the floor. The big bold letters of the email header catch my attention, and my stomach drops to my feet. I don’t want to look—I don’t want to confirm what’s on the screen I shouldn’t be looking at but I do.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM!

Dread settlesin my stomach as I sag against the counter and shamelessly read the email that Hannah received two days ago welcoming her to the new job in Colorado.

Colorado.

Not Tennessee.

CASE: Where are you?

The nightof passion I believed had taken place last night was nothing more than a goodbye. Dragging my hands over my face, I try and slow the avalanche of dread that’s gathering speed in my mind.

Why didn’t she tell me?

Coffee forgotten, I call the cat and shove my feet into my boots and grab my keys from the bowl Rhea insisted was the required location for said item—no exceptions. My sister was right because in all the years Otto and I had been livin’ here—we’d never lost our keys. The memory would make me smile if it wasn’t for the panic rising in my chest.

The cat trots off toward home once we’re outside, and I waste no time jumping in my truck and racing into town. I don’t know where to go—I don’t even know where to look, but before I know it, I’m pulling into the lot outside her would-be bookstore.

Sorren’s car is out front, and I make a mad dash for the door before swinging it open and practically throwing myself inside.

“Gold” by Dierks Bentley plays through the speaker, and Sorren turns slowly to look at me, paintbrush in hand. He’s almost never fazed by me—by any of us—and right now it’s exactly what I need.

“I tried to love her too big and too fast and I lost her. I lost her, man. Everything is just…” I rub my hand over my jaw as I try and rein in some of my emotions. “Is this it for me?” The words rush from my mouth without preamble as my chest heaves at the fear-laced admission.

Sorren blinks at me and then puts the paintbrush and cup back on the floor. His movements are unhurried, and I want to tell him tomove fasterand to tell me what I need to do to fix this—if I have a chance at fixing this because now that I have her I can’t imagine letting her go.

“We only have room for one overly dramatic Thayer, and Otto already holds that title.”

I blink at him as my mouth falls open.

“Did you hear what I—”

“Yeah, I heard ya.” He stares at me as he wipes his mostly clean hands on a rag he pulls from his back pocket. “I just want to know how much of this is real and how much of this is you overreacting.”

“She’s leaving! She got that traveling job and she’sleaving.”

He rubs his hands on the cloth—back and forth, back and forth—and I want to punch the indifferent look off his face.

“Did she tell you that?”

“I saw the email.”

“Did she tell you that?” This time when he asks the question, the words are slow and with emphasis placed on each one.

“She was gone when I woke up this morning.”

“So maybe, and I’m not the expert here,” he says pointedly, “maybe you should go talk to her before you have a complete breakdown. Because,” he says, motioning to the gray wall behind him, “I’m only painting this place in Seductive Dove once.”

I snicker because hearing the complete disdain in Sorren’s voice is enough for me to pull my head, at least partially, out of my ass.

“Seriously, what in the fuck is with you two and paint colors?”

Shrugging, I can’t help but laugh knowing I’d done it on purpose. I wanted her to look at this place and smile to herself knowing I’d picked it to torment her just like the damn walls of her room she hasn’t slept in for weeks.

“You’re gonna make some girl real happy one day.”

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