Page 64 of Where Love Lies

“Hey, Owen needs me for a second, will you watch her until I get back? I just don’t want to leave her after—”

“After what?” Paige asks, her full attention on me now.

“Yeah, I got her.” Rhodes gives a curt nod, before yawning.

“Thanks, be back in a minute.”

“After what?” Paige yells, just as I walk out the door. I don’t want to tell her about Heston looking for me; it will only upset her more, and I’m not sure how much more she can take right now.

Opening the front door, I look around for any sight of Heston, my heart beginning to beat faster and harder as I start to think he’s behind a bush, waiting for me to come out and shake me until I agree to take him back. Crossing my arms, I tap my toe anxiously, the feeling of being scared, washing over me and reminding me of when I was a kid getting up to use the restroom at night, and running and jumping to get back in bed because I was afraid something was under it, or behind me. Yeah, I can’t walk across the street. Not happening.

Grabbing my phone, I text Owen.

Me: Come to my place

34

Looking at the black flowers Paige and I planted, Owen leans against the house with his legs crossed at the ankles.

“So, let me get this straight, you told Heston to get out, he came back angry as hell, frightening even, so Rhodes stayed the night to keep you and Paige safe, then the stalker was looking for you at the market and now biker man is getting his club involved and baking pies with you?” His index finger tips out just so, as he looks at me with a raised brow.

“Yeah, that’s about it.”

“Well to be honest, I never liked Heston. I think he was just a rebound.”

My eyes snap to his, it’s like he’s in my head because I thought the same thing just yesterday. I really thought Heston and me had something great going, but somewhere down the line, things started changing between us, and I realized the only thing we had going was lust. I was sleeping next to a man in my bed every night, and I didn’t even know who he was.

“And fuck you for not telling me about you two not working out sooner.” He sounds offended, and I shake my head, knowing I should have told him sooner.

“Cam was right, I should have done a background check on him,” I mutter. I remember thinking how insane I thought Cam was for insinuating it. Figured it was just jealousy talking but now… I think Cam was on to something.

“Still no word of where he is?”

“He had a lot of debt with the wrong people before we split. I’m starting to think the way he lived caught up with him, and if they did…nobody is going to find him. I saw the people he made deals with when we were together, and they’re not to be messed with.”

“Damn,” Owen whispers, so I just barely hear it.

“So, are you still going to the block party tomorrow? I mean, I know you’re baking a pie, but what if Heston shows up?”

“I have to try and act normal for Paige. All I can do is pray he’s not dumb enough to show up tomorrow or I’ll kill him.”

“You mean if Beefy Biker doesn’t first?” Owen purses his lips, eyes serious.

“Yeah, I guess so.” I sigh. “Why do you think Rhodes is doing all this, doesn’t it seem strange to you?”

He scoffs. “No, he sees a single mother in distress, a hot single mother at that, and he’s doing what he can to get your attention, babe.”

“I don’t want to be anybody’s toy anymore, Owen.” Relationships and I are incompatible, that much I’ve learned.

“Even if he’s a big, broody biker, who comes to your side late at night?” Owen teases, forcing the corner of my mouth to pull into a smile. He might be a pain in the ass, but he always manages to make me laugh.

Rhodes slept over again that night.

* * *

Next morning

A loud knock on the door has me rising from the dead this morning and finding Rhodes in blue jeans and bare feet, a cup of coffee in his hand standing in my bedroom doorway.

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