Page 15 of All the Missing Pieces

“I have no doubt.” I took another sip of my drink and leaned back on my stool. I chose my first question carefully. Something to ease us into conversation, nothing that would trip any triggers. Even though what I really wanted to know was how long Trey had lived here and if he knew Emerson Sinclair. “So what are the do-not-misses around Shady Cove?”

“Depends on what you’re after.”

“Hikes, lakes, anything unique.”

Trey mulled it over for a moment. “If you’re in real shape, there’s a hike that takes you through a waterfall. Wouldn’t go alone though. The rocks can be slippery.”

I tried not to bristle at that but mostly failed. “I know how to handle myself.”

“Doesn’t matter if you’re a third-degree black belt; you can still get dead if you slip.”

That was true enough, but I still ignored it. “Anything else?”

“Got a skydive outfit outta the private airstrip next town over. Get you an up-close-and-personal view of those mountains.”

That familiar buzz lit in my muscles. I’d been skydiving a few times before but with this backdrop? I couldn’t pass that up. “I’ll call tomorrow.”

Trey nodded, moving slightly to fill two pint glasses and slide them over to waiting patrons. As he moved back to his original spot I tried to ease into a new approach.

“Anything I need to be aware of?”

Those gray eyes sharpened. “Aware of?”

“You know, single woman traveling alone. What’s the crime like in the area?” That was always my excuse. Before long, word would get aroundwhyI was asking and I could be more direct. But for now, I liked going in broad.

Trey nodded. “Pretty safe on the whole, but that’s not a reason to be stupid.”

“Never is.”

“The worst we usually have are drunk-driving accidents and opiate overdoses.”

Made sense. Opiates had made a home everywhere, even in these smaller, rural communities, and it was an invasive beast. “I’ll be avoiding both those arenas.”

“Glad to hear it. Still wouldn’t hurt to take a buddy when you hit those trails.”

A prickle of annoyance skated over my skin. “I told you, I know how to handle myself.”

“Do you now?”

That voice. Deep, raspy, and a tone that had my whole body jerking to attention. It was just too bad it belonged to a giant dick. And not in a good way, no matter how much my body seemed to disagree.

5

COLT

It didn’t matterthat Trey had sent a text telling me my con woman was at the bar. My eyes would have gone to her instantly in a crowd. Those acres of blond hair tumbling down her back and over the back of the stool. The way her sun-kissed shoulders peeked out from some sort of tank top with too many colors to count. She oozed an effortless sort of beauty. But more than that, a light. From her golden hair to the fire in those blue eyes.

And that fire was currently pointed straight at me. And because I was a masochist, I liked it right there.

“Law Man,” Ridley greeted.

“Chaos,” I returned.

Those eyes sparked. “Chaos?”

“Can’t say you don’t bring that in your wake.”

Ridley lifted her glass, preparing to take a sip. “Or maybe you’re just boring as hell.”

---