Page 120 of Riding the Sugar High

With a sigh, she pulls the blanket over herself. “Come on, cowboy.”

“Fine, goddamnit.” I stand and fit into my clothes. Whoever is on the other side of that door better have a good reason to be here, or I’ll punch them in the stomach. “Don’t you dare get dressed.”

“I would never,” she purrs.

I walk out of the room, but not before sparing her another look. My chest warms as I watch her head settle on my pillow, her blonde and pink hair ruffled, her eyes gleaming, and her smile full.

With a decisive step, I walk through the house and swing the door open.

“So youaresleeping with her,” Aaron mumbles as he looks down at the open zip of my jeans. “Didn’t see that coming.”

Of course. Ithadto be Aaron.

“I’d show you proof, but I don’t give a single fuck about what you believe.”

His severe gaze meets mine as he fits his hands into the pocket of his gray suit, and I could barf. We used to make fun of corporate idiots, and now he’s one of them. With his tailor, expensive aftershave, and hair pulled back with gel. It’s ridiculous, and it’s not Aaron. “Look, I’m here because...”

He looks down at his feet, and my blood pressure rises as my fists clench. “What?” I bark. “Are you pausing for effect?”

As he glances up at me, his throat works hard. For a moment, he seems to be deciding if what he wants to say is worth mentioning, and an uncomfortable tingling moves up my spine.

His shoulders drop, and with a sigh, he takes his hand out of his pocket, holding his checkbook. “Tell me how much you need.”

“I’m not taking any money from you,” I say flatly. I’m pretty sure this isn’t why he’s here, but it works just fine for me. Whatever gets him to leave faster.

“Logan, this is our family farm. Set aside your feelings about me for once, and please think about Mom. Think about yourself. Your life, your work.” He steps forward, then scribbles in his checkbook. “Just take this. And next week, I can come over. We can figure out a plan to make it work. Maybe not one hundred percent vegan farming, but?—”

As soon as he holds the check out, I grab it, rip it apart, and set it in his hand. “Good enough for you?”

He laughs, his lips bending bitterly. “Always the same Logan. Act first, think later. No matter who pays the consequences, right? Fuck everyone else.”

I give him a shrug. “All I can say with confidence is fuckyou. Now, if you don’t mind, I was obviously busy.”

I push the door to close it because, truth be told, I couldn’t care less if hedoesmind. There’s a woman in here I intend to do terrible,terriblethings to.

Aaron holds his hand up. “Logan, wait.”

There’s an edge to his voice—something that feels a lot like desperation—and for that reason only, I open the door again, meeting his distraught expression.

“The farm isn’t the reason why I’m here. Not—not the only reason.” He can’t even look at me, his eyes stuck on the floor as he mumbles, “I can’t find...Josie.”

A shiver runs down my spine. “The fuck does that mean?”

“She called in sick at work, picked up Sadie and went home. Then she called the babysitter, and she just...left.”

“When was this?”

“Three hours ago.”

I roll my eyes, exhaling in relief. “Good god, Aaron. She’s probably running errands or grabbing a drink with a friend.”

“The babysitter said Josie ran out without a word the second she arrived. That she was visibly upset.”

Okay, well...that’s weird. “Did you try her parents’ place?”

“On my way here. They haven’t seen her.”

“I haven’t either. Since I went to the station yesterday.”