Page 98 of Against the Autumn Pines
“Just thinking about life, I guess.”
Wyatt Carragan had easily been the thing holding me together over the last week. He’d moved all of his projects to his home office, he’d spent any free time with me, gave me free rein of his house—and especially his kitchen, and when life just felt too damn heavy, he helped me find a sense of bliss in a headspace where thinking wasn’t required.
Not to mention Ivy and Aspen had been over almost every single night to spend time with me and keep my mind busy when he had to get work done. Even Payton had tagged along a few times, and while I didn’t know her all that well yet, I had a feeling we’d be fast friends given the less life-altering circumstances.
“Do you want to talk about it?” He leaned down, kissing my shoulder and then my neck.
“Mm, I could be persuaded,” I replied.
Just as his hand found its way beneath my shirt, his warmth seeping into my bare skin, my phone started ringing.
“Ignore it,” he whispered as his lips grazed against my collarbone.
“I can’t. It could be the inspector or the insurance guy or the detective,” I groaned just thinking about it as I reached for my phone on the side table. “It’s Evan.”
Wyatt looked at me, his brows drawn together. “Answer it.”
I tapped the green button and put it on speaker phone. “Hey Evan.”
“Ember? Is Wyatt with you?” He sounded nervous, his words half mumbled.
“Yeah, Evan. We’re home. Is everything okay?”
“Can I come over?”
I glanced back at Wyatt, and he shrugged. “Your call, little flame,” he whispered.
I typed out the address and sent it to him. “Sent. I’ll see you soon?”
Evan was quiet for a moment. “Yeah, I’ll be there in ten. I’m at the ranch.”
I nodded. “See you soon.”
Evan hung up, and I stared at Wyatt.
“What do you think he wants to talk about?” I questioned.
Wyatt laid back on the bed and sighed. “I have a feeling we’re about to get some pieces we’ve been looking for in the puzzle.”
I found myself falling back next to him across the bed. “What if I don’t want them?”
He rolled over and pulled me in for a gentle kiss before pulling back and smiling—though the gesture didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t think you have much of a choice, Ember.”
Wyattand I were sitting on the couch watching Evan pace back and forth across the floor, his hands dragging through his hair, his boots still muddy, and his clothes dirty from work.
“Want a drink, Evan?” Wyatt asked, trying to break the silence.
Evan nodded, still pacing until Wyatt handed him a glass filled with some sort of dark liquor.
“Bottoms up man, you look like you could use it.”
Evan stared at it for a moment, the dark liquid in a short crystal glass, before he threw the whole thing back. He cringed and shook his head as it went down, letting out a deep breath through his mouth and setting the glass on the table.
“Do you guys think I could stay here for a couple of days?”
“Evan, yes of course, but tell us what the fuck is going on.” I didn’t yell, but it was clear in my tone that I was done with whatever this pacing game was he was playing.
“Elliot and Dad are moving drugs through the Dunagan Ranch. Uncle Howie doesn’t know.” He shook his head, his hands on his hips. “Fuck!” he yelled. “I didn’t even know. Not until yesterday. I went looking…the name you said Wyatt? It sounded so familiar, and I know he saw you a couple of weeks ago? I kept asking what he was doing on the line like that. Why he was anywhere near your property and the fences and shit. He wouldn’t answer me.” He trailed off, lost in thought, and Wyatt got up, pouring him another shot of whatever liquor he was feeding him.
