Page 68 of Ridin' True

I hated lying to him, even via text. Though, it wasn’t all a lie.

I would be there soon. I hoped.

It was six-thirty when I was returned to the parking lot at the office. I was quick to get behind the wheel of my car and lock myself inside, but it took me a moment to start the engine. Sixty minutes earlier, everything was so clear. Now I was at a total loss for clarity.

My phone buzzed with a text alert, and I didn’t need to look to know it was Jed.

It was time to go home.

Autopilot got me there, my thoughts adrift as I drove. I barely had a chance to push the button to kill the ignition before Jed was at my door, opening it. I screamed, not having seen him, and the startled look on his face made me feel unhinged.

“Sorry. I’m sorry. You scared me.”

“Lex, what’s wrong?”

“Um, can we just go inside?” I asked, moving to step out of my car.

He gave me room, but only just enough to stand. He then took my hand, pulled me out of the way, shut my door, and started for my unit.

He let me go when we reached my door so I could free my locks, waiting until we were inside before he repeated his question.

“Lex, what’s wrong?”

My back was to him, and I wanted to turn and look into his eyes, but my emotions had caught up with me. I knew if I saw him, I wouldn’t be able to hold it together.

“Um,” I managed, trying to swallow the knot in my throat. “So, I met Fred Hoffman today. It’s why I was late.”

“Darlin’, look at me.”

I shook my head and kept going. “A couple of Rocco’s guys, they picked me up, gave me a ride. Couldn’t tell you where we went—although, they didn’t put me in the trunk this time, so that was nice. And there were horses. It didn’t seem like a ranch, but maybe it was. I don’t know. I really should learn to pay more attention when kidnapped.”

“Damnit, darlin’,look at me.”

“I can’t,” I breathed.

“Alexia—”

“I don’t—I don’t know what to do. Any way I look at it, there’s trouble. And I can’t fix it. I can’t fixanything. And I’m so tired of trying to keep it together all the time. For the love of God, can I not just be happy?”

When Jed got sick of waiting for me to turn around, he came to stand in front of me. Taking hold of my arms, his gaze found mine as he asked, “Lex, darlin’, what the fuck is goin’ on?”

That’s when I burst into tears.

“I think maybe you should go,” I squeaked.

“Like hell.”

“I’m a magnet for trouble. And the happier I am, the bigger the trouble, so—it’s probably best if we just quit before I’m totally in love with you.”

“Lex, I’m not goin’ anywhere. Tell me what the fuck happened?”

“Jed, I—”

He grabbed my jaw, holding my chin firmly as he got in my face and said, “I’ve known you three weeks, and you’ve already got me wrapped so tight around your little finger, it’s a wonder I’ve still got balls to speak of. I take what you said to mean I make you happy, and I’m glad to hear it, darlin’, cause I’m not goin’ anywhere.

“I’m also gatherin’ Borrero took my woman for another ride today, and that pisses me right the fuck off. Hearin’ Hoffman had somethin’ to do with it doesn’t calm me down one bit. But I’m gonna need you to stop cryin’, gorgeous, and quit tryin’ to get me to leave, cause when I do, you’re goin’ with me—but I’d like to have the facts before we go. So, Lex—whathappened?”

My knees went weak, and I had to grab hold of his kutte to keep myself from falling into him. I don’t know which part of what he said made me stop crying, but I was able to draw in a breath and nod my understanding.