Page 18 of Still A Cowboy
Fia gave him a small, knowing smile. “Yeah. Me too.” She bumped his arm lightly. “But I also see the way you look at her. And I’m pretty sure she feels it as well.”
Cal couldn’t argue with that. Not even a little.
She glanced up at the house again. “If you want to know who’s renting it, I could find out. My boyfriend, Mason, works for Brent. He does repairs and stuff on the rental properties. Mason can get a look at the lease.”
Cal considered it, dismissed it. Then, shifted thoughts entirely when he saw a little smile tug at Fia’s mouth when she looked up at the house. Was that smile because she had fond memories of the place?
“Uh, have Mason and you ever stayed here?” he asked.
She blinked, clearly surprised by the question. “No. Mason’s talked about it, maybe us sneaking in when it’s not being used. Apparently, it’s got an indoor hot tub.” Her smile faded. “Why?”
Hell. He hoped that Mason wasn’t pulling a Brent and dicking around on Fia. But that didn’t feel right. He’d met Mason, and the guy seemed downright timid. There’d been no timidness fromthe man in the mask.
Fia glanced at her phone and made a face. “I’ve got to run. I promised I’d help Mason set up for the party. He’s probably tangled in a string of skeleton lights by now.”
Cal gave her a nod. “Good luck with that.”
She flapped her winged arms and grinned. “I’ve got Edgar power on my side.”
Without another word, she jogged off toward the street, the seagull beak bobbing with every step.
Cal turned and headed back toward the Seaglass.
When he stepped inside, the bar had picked up since earlier. More people filled the tables and booths, most of them in costumes that ranged from clever to half-hearted. A big sign near the bar readBuy One, Get One Half Off If You’re in Costume.
Delia worked behind the bar, wearing a pirate hat and a red sash tied around her waist. She was wiping down a tray, chatting easily with a group of regulars.
She spotted Cal and waved him over. “You know,” she said, giving him a playful inspection, “those jeans, boots, and Stetson could technically qualify as a costume tonight.”
Cal smiled. “I’ll pass on the drink discount, thanks.”
Delia leaned on the bar, lowering her voice just enough to make it feel like they were sharing a secret. “Not that I’m saying a word aboutsoulmates, but I think something is blooming between you and my daughter.”
He didn’t comment. Cal just gave her a polite smile and headed for the stairs. Delia’s soft laugh followed him as he made his way up.
At the top of the stairs, Cal paused, catching his breath from the climb. That’s when he heard it.
“Help! Someone help me!”
His chest tightened as he rushed toward Willa’s apartment door. It was unlocked. He shoved it open and stepped inside.
“Willa?” His voice echoed through the small space.
A low groan answered him from somewhere inside. “In here.”
He followed the sound to the bathroom, the door wide open. Her phone was on the vanity, the screen still lit.
His gaze snapped to the tub.
Empty.
Except for Willa, sitting in the middle of it with a towel draped across her chest, her shoulders hunched, her face somewhere between miserable and furious.
His eyes flicked down and landed on the problem.
Her toe.
It was wedged in the bathtub faucet.
