Saranya Chapter 9
Although I technically lived near the ocean and beach, I rarely had the chance to enjoy them.
War knew this, and that was why he whisked me away this morning to a small cottage.
I was shocked to discover it was a rental with a private beach.
I asked him how much this cost him. He refused to tell me or allow me to help pay for it.
I knew he earned a great deal of money as an architectural engineer.
He was highly sought after, which led him to travel for his work at times.
It was his job that had him in California when I was in Las Vegas.
However, I wanted to pay my way. Sometimes, he let me. Times like this, he adamantly refused.
After arguing and not winning, we settled into enjoying ourselves. He had stopped on the way and picked up a grocery order he’d sent in. We put together sandwiches for lunch. I’d cook us a more substantial dinner.
I hated to admit it to him, but I was relaxing. I was outside on a lounger, soaking up the sun’s warmth. Due to my fair skin, I was slathered in sunblock. The temperature was a bit too cool for me to be wearing a bathing suit, but the shorts and T-shirt I had on were perfect.
Abruptly, my dozing was interrupted by War coming to his feet. The last I knew, he was playing a game on his phone after we stopped talking. I opened my eyes.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“No. I remembered that I had forgotten to get something at the store. I need it for dinner tomorrow night. I should go pick it up while I’m thinking about it.”
“Okay, let me change, and we’ll go,” I told him as I swung my legs off the lounger.
“There’s no need for both of us to go. You stay and chill. I’ll be back. Is there anything you can think of you want me to grab?”
I thought for a moment, then shook my head. “No, not that comes to mind.”
“Well, if you think of anything, text me.”
He bent and dropped a kiss on my forehead. He was almost to the gate that led to the front of the cottage when he hesitated, glanced back, and said, “Remember, no matter what, I love you.”
“Ah, I love you, too. What do you mean by no matter what?” Unease hit me.
“Nothing. I’ll be back,” War repeated, then disappeared.
I lay there puzzling over his cryptic words. Was there another reason he was here? Did War have something he wanted to tell me, but didn’t know how? My spiraling into what that might be occupied me so much that when I heard the gate open, I became aware I hadn’t heard his car.
“About time you got back. We need to talk,” I said without turning around.
“You’re right, we do. Glad you feel the same way,” a male voice that wasn’t War’s said. I scrambled to face him, thinking I was wrong. My mouth dropped when I saw I wasn’t. Standing there was Cowboy.
My body reacted to seeing him in those tight Wrangler jeans, boots, and that brown cowboy hat on his head.
His black T-shirt molded his delectable upper body, just as his jeans molded the lower half.
It took me a few moments to shake myself free of my stupor.
Thank God I had on sunglasses. I came to my feet and crossed my arms. I stayed where I was.
“Cowboy, what are you doing here?” I demanded to know.
“I’m here to see you.”
“Why? How did you know I was here? Are you following me?” I asked, taking a step that brought me closer to the house.
“Saranya, please, don’t run off on me again. I’m not here to harm you. And I’m not following you. I came to finish what we started at your house. I know I fucked it all up, but I know what I want to say.”
“Explain to me if you’re not following me, how you knew where to find me?”
“War told me.”
His answer shocked me. It wasn’t what I expected to hear. I shook my head in denial. “No, he didn’t. No way would War do that. Why would he?”
“If you don’t believe me, call him and ask. I’m not lying. He knows I’m desperate to speak to you, and I convinced him to help make it possible.”
My hands were shaking so hard when I withdrew my cell phone from my pocket that I almost dropped it. It took two tries to find and press War’s number. I kept Cowboy in sight the entire time, while he leaned nonchalantly on the corner of the house.