Page 13 of Hard Knock Hero

We’d reached the front of the diner. Aiden turned to face me and shifted his weight from one boot to the other. His large hands were tucked into his coat pockets. I returned his gaze as he studied me. “I expect that you feel the same?” he asked.

“Sure. But I’m in no place to make demands. I have friends in Hartley, but it’s complicated. There are a lot of dynamics at play in this town, more than I’ve explained.” This entire conversation had been draining enough already. “That’s why I asked my brother to help me. I didn’t know where else to turn. But he’s coming all the way from Virginia, and this storm is causing delays. I got a text at the bar saying his flight to Grand Junction had been canceled. Even when he gets there, he’ll still have to rent a car and drive to Hartley. I have no idea when he’ll get here.”

“That answers another of my questions.”

I cringed. “Yeah, the brother thing. I spoke without thinking. Nobody in Hartley knows much about Trace. It just didn’t seem right for Owen to make you leave because of me, and that was the solution my brain came up with. To say you were my brother.”

“I don’t mind. I won’t be here long, anyway. I guess I’ll have to answer to the name ‘Trace’ while I’m in Hartley.”

“Either that, or I’ll have to admit to Owen that I lied. I’ll delay that as long as possible, thanks.”

“It’ll be obvious when the real Trace gets here, and he’s not me.”

“That’s a problem for tomorrow. I’m still working on today.” My usual motto these days. I took out my keys and unlocked the front door. Then I glanced back at him, my throat going dry. “Uh, I guess you’ll need a place to stay tonight.”

Aiden shrugged. “I’d been planning to bundle up in my car. I’ve slept in worse places.”

“Military?” I guessed.

He nodded. No elaboration.

I huffed, a cloud of white appearing in front of my face. “You can’t sleep in your car. That’s ridiculous. It’s freezing out here, and if you die of hypothermia, I don’t want that on my conscience. But I need to know something about you. I can’t invite some stranger to spend the night with me.”

I realized my poor word choice. Aiden’s expression remained in its usual impassive state, but his eyes were smirking.

“I mean, spend the night in the building where I live,” I corrected. “Nothing more than that.”

“Nothing more than that had even crossed my mind. So you do live here? Upstairs?”

“Yes.”

“I agree that it’s not a good idea to ask strange men to spend the night with you.” That smirk continued to ricochet in his eyes. Aiden took his wallet from his pocket. “So how about this? I’ll give you my driver’s license to keep while I’m here. You can take a picture of it and email it to whoever. I could give you my family’s contact info, too. If you want, you can call them to vouch for me. Assuming you have reception, because I don’t.”

“My phone has decent reception. Only certain carriers work around here. But I’ve also got Wi-Fi in my apartment upstairs. It works in the diner, so I’ll get you the password.” I held out my hand for his driver’s license, and he plucked it from his wallet and placed it on my palm.

West Oaks, California, I read. I’d never heard of it.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “But I want to know something more about you. Somethingreal. After the saga I just gave you, it’s the least you can do. It had better be interesting, too, or I just might decide to let you freeze in your car after all.”

He pursed his lips sardonically. “All right. Don’t know if it’s interesting, but here goes. I was in the Army a few years back. Now I’m a chef. I rented a cabin way out in the woods for a few days. That’s why I passed through Hartley, and that’s where I’m headed as soon as the road’s clear. Eventually, I’ll end up in Steamboat Springs.”

“Steamboat is a long way from Hartley.”

“The cabin is between here and there. I had a hotel booked for tonight an hour east of Hartley. Was supposed to finish the scenic drive to my cabin in the morning.”

He’d told me just barely enough to answer some of my questions from earlier. And he’d told me in theleastinteresting way possible. Like he was determined to be mysterious and make me ask more questions. Questions he’d no doubt ignore.

But I couldn’t resist.

“Are you on vacation or is your trip to Colorado work-related?”

That made him pause for a moment. “Both. I have a work engagement in Steamboat Springs. But the cabin is just for fun. I like snowy woods. And quiet.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard. Are you meeting up with anyone for your vacation? Friends or family who’ll be worried when you don’t show up?”

“No. I’m going by myself.”

I frowned. “Alone. In a remote cabin. Is this like a meditation retreat or something?”

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