Chapter Nine #3
Bryce turned to face the view. Put his hands on top of his head, his shirt rising up to reveal a swath of muscles rippling across his back.
I pictured what it would feel like to slide my hands over his skin.
How he’d taste if I pressed my mouth against the crease between his shoulder and neck, the subtle hint of salt lingering on my tongue.
I tugged on my ponytail, forcing myself back to reality. This was what happened when it’d been too long since you’d had sex. You started fantasizing about touching a stranger, who you weren’t even sure you liked, much less trusted.
‘A guy could get used to this. Maybe I’ll just stay here and become a hermit.’
I forced my gaze away from him, leaning down to stroke Flora’s head. ‘But you just listed off all the things you like about LA.’
A twitch in his cheek said I’d hit a nerve. ‘It’s all right.’
He walked a few feet forward, making sure to stay away from the edge. ‘I can see why my uncle loved it here. There’s a sort of peace to it all.’
‘This place is good for reflection. I come up here when I’m struggling with a problem, or when I need to clear my mind.’
‘Does it help?’ he asked with a sad dip in his voice.
I hesitated before answering. This spot was where I came to hide from Belladonna whenever she’d suddenly appear.
To me, she was a wraith. Always bringing darkness to every place she went.
She swirled into a room with rainbow-hued skirts and silky-thin blouses and charmed every male, no matter their age.
Her hair was always dyed a deep midnight black and set in tight curls that hung all the way down her back.
A pair of worn-in, brown Lucchese boots covered her feet whether it was nine or ninety degrees outside.
She was colorful. Vibrant. Always showing up with gifts from the last city she visited.
She thought she was a joy in our lives, when in truth she was nothing but a bad tornado crushing everything in its path.
Maybe if I ignored her email, like I did her, it’d eventually disappear too.
‘I know I promised not to ask any questions,’ he said, interrupting my thoughts. ‘But I know a way I can prove to you that what I want to report will be honest.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘Help me with my research. Show me around town. Introduce me to people who will tell me the real story about Harvest Moon.’
What he was offering was a chance to have a front-row seat to what he’d be writing. What he’d be researching. A chance to protect my sisters and Clo if needed.
The wind picked up, making the fallen leaves dance around us in a circle.
A crack of brush from skittering rabbits, the call and response in the trees from the robins, always happened when I climbed this trail.
I was used to the animals tracking me, but I hoped Bryce wouldn’t notice that we weren’t alone.
His steady gaze stayed on me and I started to answer when my phone buzzed. Three dots danced on the screen, the signal doing its best to try and reach me. A second later, a quick succession of texts popped up.
‘Problem?’ he asked.
‘I need to head down. There’s an emergency coming to the clinic.’
‘What kind of emergency?’
‘Judge Greene’s dog, Julius, got into a tussle.’
‘With another dog?’
‘No, a porcupine. He’s got a face full of quills.’
His eyes widened. ‘That sounds painful.’
‘It is. We usually have to sedate the dog to get them all out.’ I picked up the bowl and shoved it into my bag.
With a quick whistle, Flora followed me down the trail.
When we got to a lower part of the path where I could get a stronger signal, I started to call Bree until I realized she and Jessa were on the way to their concert.
‘Dammit,’ I muttered.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Both my employees are out of town. The last time this happened we had to remove over forty quills. It’s a much faster job with two people. I’ll have to call Lia.’
‘I can help you. That is, if you’re willing to put me to work.’
‘No, it’s okay. Lia can probably get someone to fill in for a short time during her shift.’
‘Dani.’ His determined voice made me look up from the screen. ‘Don’t bother your sister. I’m right here, and I owe you one.’
It would be easier to let him come along than to bother Lia, who would definitely drop everything to help me but grumble about it the entire time.
‘Seeing a dog with a face full of quills can be hard. Sure you won’t get squeamish?’
‘Squeamish?’ he said like he was offended.
‘Thought for sure you were going to pass out with Indy at the clinic, and he wasn’t even bleeding.’
‘I’ve reported from war zones for fuck’s sake.’
I gave him a knowing look.
‘Helping another dog feels like paying it forward. I swear I’ll be fine.’
‘I’ll agree, but only if you promise to warn me if you get light-headed. It can be hard to see a dog in so much pain.’
Indy trotted up beside him and nuzzled his leg.
‘I can get through it. I promise.’
We headed back down the trail, and I tried not to think about what happened the last time the two of us were alone in the clinic.