Page 45 of See It Through

Her eyes narrowed. “You assume I would have asked you to stay.”

“I assume one time wouldn’t be enough for either of us and we’d fuck until we both passed out. That’s all I assume, sweetheart.”

Her puff of breath was warm and frustrated. “I’ve never fucked all night, but yeah, I think I probably would with you.” She gave me a shove, which was becoming her signature, though this one had very little force behind it. “Well, you better get gone then.”

I let go of her hip to tap my lip. “One more, then I’ll get gone.”

With a sigh, she rolled her eyes. “Oh, all right. If it’ll get you leaving sooner.”

Her lips were on mine in the next breath, her fingers tangling into the back of my overgrown hair, kissing me sweet. We took our time, exploring the feel of lips and skin that had been entirely foreign before tonight. As soon as things turned heated, we cut it off, both taking a step away at the same time.

I jerked my chin toward her steps. “Get in there. I’ll wait here until I see your light flick on.”

She retreated backward, her swollen lips hitching into a smirk. “Night, Remington.”

I barked a laugh. “Glad I didn’t kiss the sass out of you.” I shooed her away. “Get out of here, Hannah Kelly.”

With a laugh of her own, she ran up the steps and disappeared out of sight. I held my breath until light spilled from her apartment then started my walk back to Joy’s. It wasn’t nearly as interesting, but it was quiet, giving me the space to think. Too bad that was the last thing I wanted to do. Not right now, when I was feeling better than I had in a long while.

I didn’t come out of that headspace until I reached my truck and noticed a slip of paper under my wiper. Grabbing it, I unfolded it and froze when I read the message someone had left behind.

Hannah Kelly is a slut. Stay away.

My head whipped around, searching for anyone who might’ve been watching, waiting for me to receive this, but there was no one nearby.

I crumpled the note in my fist, enraged anyone would think that about her, let alone leave me a message with these words on it. As if I’d heed this feeble fucking warning.

I felt it then. The walls of this town closing in around me, squeezing my shoulders tight. This was what I’d hated about living here. Everyone watching, thinking they knew other people's business when they had no clue what went on behind closed doors.

The old, familiar urge to run far licked at my heels, but I tamped it down.

This was one note. One jealous, idiotic person.

No one was going to force my hand.

I’d leave Sugar Brush when I was good and ready and not a second before.

Chapter Twenty

Hannah

My mind was alreadyon my next stop as I packed up my tools. Today had been one of my busier days, but I only had one more client, then I could take a long, cold shower. The sun had been brutal, beating down like a hammer. My mother had instilled the importance of skincare from a young age, so I’d slathered on sunscreen every couple hours, but I was still soaked in sweat.

This job wasn’t for the weak, but that was why I loved it. Not many things were better than spending my days taking care of horses, moving my body, and rarely having to sit behind a desk. If I had to work in an office—well, I’d probably be fired on my first day for spacing out. Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about that.

I approached my truck, not noticing the flat tire until I was already upon it.

“Shit.”

This wouldn’t do. I had a spare, but driving on a spare wasn’t ideal when my next job was forty-five miles down the road.

Circling the rear, I put my tool bag on the ground and went back to check out the tire, realizing the front one was flat too. A pit of dread swelled in my stomach as I bent down to look at it. There was no mistaking the wide, jagged puncture in the tread. I trailed around the truck to examine the other tires, swallowing down bile as I confirmed all four had been slashed in the same way.

I hadn’t run over something sharp. Someone had done this on purpose.

Wind knocked out of me, I fell into my front seat, my legs dangling out the door. I needed to get to my next job. That wasn’t a question. The “how” was what was stumping me. I’d call Cay or Mac, but they were both working. Phe was too. I also needed my truck towed. I couldn’t exactly leave it at my client’s ranch, and it wasn’t drivable.

Calling a tow was my first step. Once that was arranged, I sucked it up and made another call.