Page 11 of Beautiful Exile

Cope paused for a moment as if choosing his words carefully. “Watch out for Arden while I’m gone?”

Tension wove its way around my muscles, tightening every strand of sinew. “She in some sort of trouble?” Between the knife this morning, the hulking guard dog, and Cope’s request, I didn’t have a good feeling.

“No,” he said quickly. “It’s not like that. She just…my getting shot was hard on her. I wouldn’t mind someone being around for a while.”

Everything started to fall into place. Her need to protect herself. Being extra jumpy. But something still niggled. A piece of the puzzle didn’t fit, and I wanted to figure it out. Only the desire was bordering on need at this point.

“Of course. I’ll make sure she has my number, too. Just in case.”

“Thanks, man,” Cope said, one corner of his mouth kicking up. “Try not to get stabbed, though.”

“You just worry about getting my star player back on the ice,”I shot back. But it was so much more than that. I wanted my best friend to trulyheal.

“Yeah, yeah,” Cope muttered. “I think you’ve still got a little scab right there from my little sister kicking your ass.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thanks for the reminder.” I started heading toward the art studio as Sutton and Luca ducked through the fence rails. “Travel safe.”

“Thanks for letting us use your plane,” he called back.

“Anytime.” I turned, moving with a single-minded focus now. The guesthouse and studio perfectly complemented the main house with their mixture of reddish wood, stone, and glass. The design made me eager to work with Cope’s brother, Shep, who had executed the builds here.

But I couldn’t stay focused on that, the properties I’d be viewing tomorrow, or the meeting with Shep to talk about the design. Because my mind wouldn’t let go of thoughts of the woman with the haunted eyes. The walking juxtaposition. Hard and soft. Quiet and loud. Light and dark.

Those opposites in one human being tugged at me and made me want to know how both resided so fully in one person. But more than that, it made me want to knowwhy.

As I rounded the guesthouse, a retro truck came into view. A red Ford F-150, likely dating back to somewhere in the late seventies. The paint job was rusted in spots, and there were more than a few dings, but it somehow only gave the vehicle more character. And I only became more intrigued with its owner.

I walked up the workshop steps, and as I lifted my hand to knock, I noticed a camera tucked into the eaves.Interesting.I knew Cope had plenty of security on his property, so it made sense for him to extend that to his sister’s place. Still, something gnawed at me. Something didn’t quite fit.

My knuckles connected with the door three times. There was no answer. Nothing but angry strains of music from within the space.

This time, I tried the doorbell. I thought I heard a deep wooffrom inside, and then the music cut off. I waited, some phantom energy starting to buzz through my muscles.

The door flew open, and I was met with an adorable scowl. “Yes?”

Something about her expression only made me want to grin more. “Wanted to give you my number.”

The violet in those siren’s eyes flashed brighter. “Why would I need that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. In case you want me to kill a spider. Or fight off an axe murderer.”

Arden let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. “I relocate the spiders outside, and if an axe murderer shows up, I’m offering you up as a sacrifice.”

I only smiled wider. “You’re brutal.”

She lifted a shoulder and then let it drop. “The truth hurts.”

I slid a card out of my wallet and handed it to her. “In case you want to give me over to any axe murderers. Or need help with your horses or something.”

Arden arched a dark brow. “You a secret cowboy?”

I chuckled. “You never know. Either way, I’m good with grunt labor.”

Arden tapped the card against her thigh. “I’ll keep that in mind.” When I made no move to leave, she sighed. “What else do you need, Lincoln?”

Hell.

The way she said my name… There was a slight grit to her voice, a realness I couldn’t get enough of.

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