Page 8 of Treasured

I look at this small group of women that I've just met. Strangers. But, it's been a long time since I've had friends to talk to. Dex made sure I spent all my time working so I didn’t have a chance to make friends.

"Well, the short answer to your question, Boots, is that I have not been in touch with Creed and Jake. And I don't imagine they're too eager to hear from me."

"But she said they were your fated mates," Presley says, brows furrowed. "How can you leave fated mates?"

"And how do you know they don't want to hear from you?" Boots asked.

"It's been six years," I say, my heart hurting just thinking about them. "They must have forgotten about me." I don’t mention my concern that they are married since I realize not even Boots would bring them up to me if that was the case. That gives me a small thrill of hope, though that’s just silly.

"Maybe they didn't really feel the arrow of love, like Grizz and Bryce with Jenny," Tori says. "They thought they'd felt it, but it turns out, they'd just convinced themselves that they had. Sort of wishful thinking, I guess."

"Yeah," I say. "I think that's what happened. We were so young. I'd just gotten out of high school and they were only a year older. I-I really cared about them but I wanted to go and explore the world."

"That sounds exciting," Cassie says. She's obviously very kind and I like her, and the others, even after just a short time.

"Well," I laugh ruefully, "that would be one way to describe it."

CHAPTER4

Creed

"We don't really havethe time to do all of the interior work on this place, so we thought maybe you guys would be interested in the job," Ethan says and his twin, Hawke nods in agreement. We're standing outside a newly built house on the edge of town talking with the brothers who own the biggest construction company in the area.

We don't usually do such big projects, but we're good at home repairs. We specialize in interior finishing.

"Wow," Jake says, "that's mighty generous of you."

"Well," Hawke says, "we're a lot busier now than we used to be."

"Yeah," I say, "business does seem to be booming."

"Oh, it is. But we're talking about us," Hawke gestures between himself and Ethan. "We've got a family now. Can't be out working all the time."

"Yeah, Shelby'd have our hides if we did that," Ethan says.

Damn, but the two of them look happy. Have been ever since they brought Shelby back to Eagle Canyon. I remember the bad case of despairing fever they had, too. It was ugly. But you'd never know it to see them now.

"So you met her in Las Vegas, right?" I say.

"Yeah, strangest thing. We were there just to get out of town and then, there she was," Ethan says. "Like a miracle."

"At Lucky's Pawn Shop," Hawke says with a laugh.

"Well, we're not nearly so busy," Jake says. "So we'll be glad to help you guys out. Thanks."

"So...uh...do you guys ever hear from Tracy?" Ethan says, shifting around a bit.

"No, not for years," I say. "I don't think we'll ever hear from her again."

"Maybe you guys should try going to Las Vegas," Hawke suggests. "You never know."

"We actually tried that," I say. "The flight got canceled."

"Seems like the Great Spirit wants you to stay here," Ethan says.

"That's what I said," Jake pipes up.

I shake my head. "I'm not sure I believe in the Great Spirit."

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