Page 78 of Wild Card
Dalton’s gaze swept over me, making me realize I hadn’t put on a shirt.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “That why you’re looking so hard?”
His eyes snapped up to meet mine. “I was getting worried. I’ve been texting you for days. I know you’re pissed at me, and rightfully so?—”
I held up a hand, squeezing my eyes shut. “Just…wait. If we’re gonna do this, I need some Tylenol.”
Preferably extra-strength.
I headed for my RV, and Dalton followed me. I went around the corner—because I had to take care of the dogs before I could collapse into a miserable ball. Their food bowls were full, as was their water.
Gray or Bailey must have come by. Maybe they’d even let the dang dogs out while I slept. That explained a lot. Fucking meddling brothers. I didn’t need them to come over here and get in my business.
My chest warmed as I stared down at the simple gesture. Fuck. It shouldn’t mean so much that they’d cared.
“Axel?” Dalton asked behind me. “You okay?”
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. It was just the hangover making me raw. Just my pounding head and churning gut. Nothing else.
“Fine.” I turned and whipped out my dick. “I just gotta piss like a racehorse.”
I sighed with relief as I let loose on a scraggly little bush behind my RV. Loki trotted over and joined me, marking the leaves.
“Jesus Christ,” Dalton muttered. “Can we please talk? I don’t have much time.”
“Feel free to leave.”
“I’m not doing that,” he said, his tone firm.
I shook off my dick and zipped up. Clearly, he wasn’t going to leave me in peace until he had his say. “Fine. But let’s do this inside. I’ve got a killer hangover.”
“Yeah, I saw your El Camino at the pool hall last night. It’s still there, in fact.”
“Then you know I didn’t drive while drunk.” I flashed a grin over my shoulder. “I’m a model citizen.”
He sighed, though his lips twitched, a little of that stern demeanor slipping. He couldn’t hide the smile in his eyes. They always gave away what was really going on inside him.
Dalton Harvey was easy to read, even in my hungover state, and right now, his eyes were full of warmth for me. A little exasperation too. But mostly fondness.
The look threw me a bit, and I whipped back around, stumbling as I took the final step into the bus. Dalton caught my arm, steadying me.
I shook him off, too rattled for touching.
“Sit anywhere,” I said, moving toward the driver’s seats. I popped open the glove box and pulled out a bottle of Extra Strength Tylenol. I poured three capsules into my hand and dry swallowed them.
The faster this shit got to work, the better.
I washed my hands in the tiny sink, then went to the small fridge opposite the bench where Dalton had settled. Banshee followed me around, while Taz had plopped himself right in Dalton’s lap. That traitor.
Though Taz was pretty much an extension of my feelings. When I’d been angry with Gray, Taz had snarled at him. When I liked someone, Taz did too.
But I did not need the reminder of how much I liked Dalton.
Sugar sat just inside the doorway, watching us with serious eyes. She was my best guard dog. She was protective, but she assessed a situation before acting.
Oreo and Loki were probably out playing. They were my two most energetic dogs.
I opened the fridge and pulled out a Mountain Dew. “You want anything?”
