Page 26 of Broken Trails
“Looks like you’ve made a friend,” Isla murmurs, not missing a beat. I nudge the cat gently with my foot, but she doesn’t budge.
“Yeah. Great. Just what I needed.”
Because what better sign from the universe than a moody freckled feline who’s got the same energy as the woman I can’t stop thinking about?
“She give you a name?” I lean against the desk a little too casually.
“Who?” Isla frowns.
“The woman who brought her in.”
“Oh! Are you talking about that gorgeous red-haired woman?” Molly chimes in, glancing up from the open folder in her arms. My spine goes rigid at the mention of red hair. If that doesn’t confirm my suspicion, nothing will.
“Yes, but we don’t know her name,” Isla says, sliding her gaze back to me.
“Hm.” The sound rumbles out of me before I can stop it.
“She didn’t say much though,” Isla continues. “Just that she was just passing through. I’ve never seen her before, though.” She pauses, then tilts her head at me. Eyes narrowing. “Why so many questions, anyway?” she asks, like the thought just clicked. “What’s it to you?”
Molly watches too now, mouth twitching. “Yeah,” Molly adds, suspicion blooming in her voice. “What’s with the sudden interest in this woman?”
I straighten, letting out a short breath through my nose. “It’s not—” I shrug. “Just curious. Who rescues a cat and disappears? Kind of odd, don’t you think?” They both stare at me like they know I’m full of it.
Isla narrows her eyes. “She did seem nice though… polite. Bit on edge maybe, but sweet enough.”
“She kinda scared me,” Molly says at the same time, still thumbing through a file. “You know, in that bossy, don’t mess with me kind of way. But still gorgeous.”
Isla shakes her head slowly, lips twitching. “God, you’re such a contradiction.”
Molly shrugs. “So was she.”
Passing through.
I roll that thought around for a moment while their chatter fills the room. So… there is a chance. I let it hover at the edge of my mind, like the rest of the unsaid things I’ve learned to ignore. And so, my mystery woman stays just that. A mystery.
Except I actually know her name. Zoe. That’s all I’ve got. Just a name and the memory of her voice echoing in my brain. But for some damn reason, it’s enough to pull at something in me. It’s strange. I don’t even know her, but I find myself wanting to. What’s her story? Where’s she been? What’s she running from?
And maybe… just maybe, Zoe might be the distraction I’ve been needing.
Not the kind that burns fast and leaves ash, but something else. Something that lingers. Makes me curious. Makes me feel. The push and pull in my chest is irritating at best. I’ve spent my whole life learning how to be untouched by people. I’ve built walls so tall, even I forget what they’re hiding.
Love’s never been on the cards. Lust? Sure. Flings? Easy. But the real stuff? That’s a luxury built for people who haven’t had to unlearn survival. Still… something tells me Zoe isn’t just passing through.
Isla clicks her fingers in my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Hello? You just spaced out for a moment. Don’t you need to head back to work?”
Molly snaps her fingers suddenly, as if remembering something. “Wait! I actually remember her number plate.”
Isla’s brow furrows. “Why on earth would you remember that?”
Molly shrugs. “Dunno. Photographic memory, I guess.”
Isla shakes her head. “Well, it’s not like we can do anything with that.”
But maybe I can. At that thought, two ridiculous ideas hit me square in the head, one skirting the edge of potentially being illegal, but for once, I don’t swat it away. Hell, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done anything illegal before. And if I’m wrong about all this, then it just wasn’t meant to be. I’ll take my chances on that one.
“This is going to sound pretty fucked up,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck, “but just… hear me out…”
Isla’s eyes narrow in on me with interest. Even the kitten’s ears twitch like she’s listening.
