Page 19 of Wild Hope
My heart stops beating for a moment.
She’s doing okay.
What the hell does that mean? I was doing more than okay. When I had his cock in my mouth last night, he was singing my praises like I was a goddess.
“Nothing to report,” says Travis.
“Thanks for keeping an eye on her,” Quentin says. “I know it can’t have been fun watching my kid sister.”
Travis mumbles something that I can’t make out. But I’ve heard enough.
Nothing to report.
He was supposed to tell Quentin about us. Tell him we love each other and want to be together. Unless that’s not what he wants? He’s never said those words. We’ve messed around, and he’s told me I’m sexy and beautiful and made me come so many times I lost count. But he’s never told me this is forever.
The reality comes crashing down on me. I’ve been so stupid. I’m his best friend’s kid sister. My stupid teenage fantasies have run away with me again.
Of course Travis wouldn’t be interested in a pink-haired girl who’s barely out of her teens. He was tasked with babysitting me and thought he’d have some fun along the way. That’s why he didn’t want anyone to see us. That’s why he didn’t want to go all the way. Because this isn’t some teenage romance. This is real life, and in real life, men suck.
I’ve been so stupid. I shouldn’t have come back.
There’s movement in the office, and I quickly dart out of the way.
I take the door at the end of the corridor that leads upstairs. Going quickly and quietly, I throw off my apron and chuck it over the end of the bed. My stuff doesn’t take long to pack. Then I sling my duffel bag over my shoulder and take the fire escape that leads to the side of the courtyard. Nobody sees me as I drop to the ground.
I keep to the shadows until I’m past the compound. Then I walk quickly down the mountain road away from the restaurant, away from the Wild Riders MC, and away from Travis.
It’s a few miles to Wild where I can get a bus to Hope and then a train to wherever the hell gets me out of here the quickest. Unless I get a ride first. Once I get around the corner, I stick out my thumb.
Life on the road is uncomplicated. There’s only myself to look out for and no stupid heart to get in the way. It was a mistake to come here.
9
TRAVIS
As Quentin talks to me about the meetings, my mind becomes more agitated. I don’t enjoy lying to him about Kendra. The sooner I can get out of here and buy her the ring, the better. I’m about to make my excuses when Arlo comes in from the bar.
“You guys seen Kendra?”
At the sound of her name, my head jerks up. There’s a tone to Arlo’s voice that I don’t like.
“She’s in the restaurant, isn’t she?”
Arlo shakes his head. “She went to get napkins twenty minutes ago, and I haven’t seen her since.”
I glance at Quentin, and he’s scowling at Arlo.
“What do you mean you haven’t seen her?”
“She didn’t come back to finish her shift. It’s not like her.”
Kendra’s only been working at the restaurant for a week, but she’s reliable. I push my chair back and stand up, my heart hammering in my chest.
“She might be upstairs.”
Quentin and I both bolt for the door, and I get there just ahead of him. I take the stairs two at a time and race to her room.
“Kendra.” I bang on her door, and there’s no answer. “Kendra!”
