Page 23 of Rhett

I shook my head. “I can’t tell you what she was thinking. She never talked about my father no matter how many questions I’d asked about him. So when I found his letter, I thought it was my chance to get answers about the man who walked away.” I shrugged. “A small part of me hoped he wasn’t some shitty man who didn’t give a fuck about me. Maybe a part of me hoped to find why I’ve always felt so different from everyone else. Why I’d never fit in, despite my best efforts. Maybe feel a connection to you.”

“We can make this work, Nova,” Bonnie insisted. “You’re my only family, and believe it or not, I love you.”

“How can you not hate me?” I turned to face her. “My grandmother killed your son. My mother kept you from having a relationship with me.”

She tightened her fingers around the steering wheel. “Because they did this—Jackie and Marcy. Not you. But that’s history. You’re here, and you don’t know what a gift this is to me. I can’t wait to teach you everything I know about our kind. You’ll love living here.”

I shook my head. “I’m not moving here, Bonnie. I have a life to get back to.” Which was a lie. I didn’t have friends or a romantic relationship because I traveled a lot—living a nomadic life—searching for what… I didn’t know.

“You do remember that Others can smell a lie, Nova. It smells like burned rubber.”

Embarrassed at being caught in a fib, I said, “Okay, that was a lie, but I can’t live here, Bonnie. I don’t want to live in a town that hates me because I have a Hunter bloodline.”

“They’ll learn to accept you like they did Imani.”

I highly doubt that.

“How about we just take it one day at a time?” Bonnie suggested.

“Sure, we’ll make the best of it while I’m here. But don’t push, okay?”

“Fine. I won’t push… much.”

“Good. Which reminds me. My SUV broke down near Henry’s place. Is there someone you can call to tow it to the nearest repair shop?”

“Yep. Let me call Emmett. He owns the only repair shop in town.” Bonnie tapped a button on her steering wheel, and the sound of dialing echoed throughout her vehicle.

“Hi, Bo,” a man’s deep voice said. “What’s up?”

“Hi, Emmett. I need a favor.”

“If you’re calling about your granddaughter’s car, I’m already en route. Rhett asked me to pick up her vehicle.”

“Well, that’s nice of him,” Bonnie exclaimed.

I snorted.Rhett isn’t nice. He’s an asshole.

“It’s late, so I won’t be able to look at her vehicle tonight,” he said. “But first thing in the morning, I’ll make it a priority.”

“Thank you, Emmett. I’ll bring Nova over to your shop in the morning.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Emmett replied. “According to town gossip, she’s a looker.”

Bonnie laughed. “Damn right she is. Nova gets her looks from me.” Their call ended.

“Thank you for making the call,” I said.

“My pleasure.” She drove through tall gates and meandered up a driveway, cruising past manicured gardens before parking in front of an impressive Victorian home set against a lush green forest.

I gasped. “Your home is beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She turned to smile at me. “Let me show you around.”

She got out and I followed. Climbing up the stairs, Bonnie unlocked the door, ushered me inside, and flipped on the lights. From the foyer, I could see the great room and the backyard. Her home was grand.

I followed her into the great room. Bonnie took off her elaborate kimono, revealing a skintight leather dress that looked like it cost a fortune. Her body was curvy but fit, and just like Heidi had remarked, I did look like a younger version of Bonnie.

We were family, so I asked, “How old are you?”