Page 40 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
“But I’m asking you. Seems like you’veslipped into a tailor-made role here. Carved out a place foryourself.” Retro’s mouth smiled, the expression not reaching hiseyes, and the observation made her uncomfortable. “Sweet deal, ifyou ask me.”
“I’m only doing what’s needed.” Threadingher fingers together, she hid the way her hands shook at hisquestioning.I’m not a fraud.The reminder made her rebuttalstronger than it might have been a moment before. “Swear, I’m notpushing into anything that’s not my business.”This man isimportant to Einstein, even more so than to Bane.“Promise, I’mnot in anything I shouldn’t be.”
“Oh, I’ve no doubt of that.” He waved a handexpansively, stirring the air between them, that careful distanceshe was always careful to maintain.Except with Einstein.“Do you think I should call Einstein back now or let him wanderoutside?”
“I thought he was going to bed soon? Whywould he have gone back outside? Did he forget something?” Sheglanced at the door, failing to penetrate the darkness beyond theglass. “And as far as what you need to do, Retro, I wouldn’tpresume to try and dictate that, especially not where it involvesEinstein.”
“Do you know his history?” The questionseemed casual, spoken in a soft voice, but if anything, Retro’sgaze sharpened, piercing her through and through. “Know whathappened to him?”
“If I did—”Idon’t.She picked her words carefully, not wanting to giveoffense in her defense of the man she’d come to think of as afriend. “Then it still wouldn’t be my place to relate thosestories. People’s business isn’t mine, and I try not to insertmyself where I’d be unwanted.” If Einstein had something in hispast he hadn’t shared with her, while it might hurt because of thatfriendship she’d imagined, maybe him not telling her wasn’tintentional.I’ll ask him tomorrow.“Retro, sir.”
“Oh, well done, lady.” This time Retro’seyes shone with amusement matching the curve of his lips. “You’lldo for my boy, Marian. You’ll do.” He held out a hand and waited,stuck in that pose until Marian lifted her palm to meet his. “Thisis our pact. We’ll do what’s needed to get our boy to pull his headout of his ass. I’ll work on my side of things, and you—” Helaughed softly, in a way that made her feel included in whateverthe joke was. “You just be yourself. It’ll all work out in theend.”
Releasing her hand, he turned and made hisway to the stairs, going upwards without a backwards glance.
What in the world did he mean by that?
She moved closer to the door and peered out,only seeing vague shapes of trees silhouetted against the orange offaraway flames.
Retro wanted her to help him keep Einsteinsafe.I can do that.She glanced at the rowdy crowd in theliving room and kitchen, then gave them her back as she made herway down the back hallway to the little mudroom she’d turned into aprivate sanctuary for herself.
This close to the outside door, she’d becertain to hear the comings and goings of everyone. She locked thedoor and undressed, pulling on her sleep clothes and climbing intobed. Without meaning to, for as long as she stayed awake, she kepther ears tuned to the door opening and closing. Finally, the soundwas followed by footsteps making their way upstairs.
Only then did Marian turn on her side andclose her eyes, sinking quickly into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Ten
Marian
Rising to her toes, Marian felt the pull oftense muscles as she waved, hand still moving long after thedisappearing figure would have stopped looking.
She rocked backwards, thudding painfully toher heels as she pulled in a long, slow breath.
Einstein had been here for three days. Thattotaled up to three shared mornings, orbiting around each other asthey moved through the kitchen. Six rides sitting behind him, backand forth to town. In the year since she’d first met Einstein,Marian had been careful to keep her side of the relationshipexactly as he seemed to need it. Loose, casual, and easy. Still, adozen times she’d caught her gaze on him a little too long.
“You gonna tell him how you feel?” Retro’svoice startled her, and Marian whirled, staring up at him.
It took a long set of breaths in and out,but she finally found the words she needed to say. “I don’t knowwhat you’re talking about.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.” The manheaded back inside, leaving Marian to glance over her shoulder atthe empty road.
It’s the only way I can keep him as myfriend.
Chapter Eleven
Marian
Laughing and looking up into Horse’s face,Marian let her imagination take her on a tiny trip. One where theywere more than friends. She suppressed the shudder that rolledthrough her body. In the two years since she’d fallen into thisenchanted life, her body and emotions still seemed to only react toone man, and it wasn’t Horse.
“Never met a girl who liked fishing.” Horsecontinued their conversation, not noticing Marian’s sidetrack intonever-happening land. “You’re one of a kind, little sister.” Hisshoulder bumped against hers, rocking her sideways. “Whoevercatches you better realize how much of a keeper you are.” Hefinished tying a new lure to the line and tossed his hook into thewater, picking up the cane pole with one hand, the other pattingher thigh gently.
“If there’s ever anyone fishing forsomething like me, they’d need to be bold enough to get pastGunny.” She finished piercing the wriggling cricket with her hookand swung the line out, dropping the hook into the deep end of theswirling pool of water. They were on the bank of the creek that ranbehind the houses, at a spot where the water had eaten away at thebank, carving out a place where it grew wide and deep. “Not seeingthat happening anytime soon, my friend.” Even with the openinvitation to call him brother, she never took advantage of theoffer. That word meant too much to the men in the clubs, and shewould never hijack it for her own benefit.
“He does present a formidable barrier. Whatif…” The tip of his pole dipped, and he froze, fingers spread onthe handle in anticipation. It stopped moving and he relaxed. “Whatif I could find someone that he’d approve of, would you beinterested in dating?”
With a shake of her head, Marian cleared theimages from her mind again. “I know you aren’t talking aboutyourself here.” His laughter made her smile, and she was glad hehadn’t taken her words as an insult. “Gunny’s made it clear what hethinks of that idea.”
“Oh, yeah. He has done that. No doubt aboutit.” Horse chuckled again. “No, I was thinking of this guy in town.I’ve seen him hanging around the club. Seems like a nice guy. Maybedate material?”
