Page 171 of Stay With Me

“I swear to God, you two.” Tripp shakes his head, clearly done with us. “If I thought you were actually tryin’ to get into her pants, there’s no way I’d leave her with you.”

Tilting my head toward him, I glare. “I’m not a puppy. I can be left alone and not chew on the furniture.”

“Thenbehave, Sunny.” He kisses my forehead before walking out of the trailer. “You too,” he warns Landen, and the two of them share a moment before Tripp drives off in his truck.

Since they need him for cabin call at three, and I don’t close until then, Landen stays with me for thirty minutes so I’m not alone. Then he’ll drive us back to the ranch, and I’ll either hang out with him or Noah at the training center until Tripp’s done with work.

“How do you spend all day with him?” Landen asks once Tripp leaves. “He seems moody.”

“That’s because he’s not a sit and do nothin’ kinda guy. He needs activity and to be outside workin’. Like a wild animal.”

Landen paces the small area as I wipe down counters, and I laugh to myself at him being exactly the same way.

“Mags.”

I’m on my hands and knees looking for a box of straws when he says my name. “What?”

“Stay down there.”

“And what? Give you head? Har har, very funny.”

“I’m being dead serious. Do. Not. Get. Up.”

The panic in his voice is makingmepanic.

Moments later, I hear a deep, recognizable voice when he responds to Landen’s warm greeting.

“You’re not Magnolia,” he says. His tone is meant to be lighthearted, but I hear the seriousness in it.

“Nope, you caught me.” Landen bemuses, and when I take a peek at him, I see his firm stance as he crosses his arms. “I’m just helpin’ out while she’s away. In New Jersey. Visitin’ her Italian family. A big reunion.”

The fuck?

That is weirdly specific.

“Ah. That’s interesting. Sutherland is a Scottish surname.”

“She’s Italian on her mom’s side.” Landen’s response is immediate.

“Explains her dark hair and complexion.”

“Guess so. Can I getcha a drink or muffin?” Landen prompts.

“Just a black coffee.”

“Comin’ right up.” When Landen turns around to grab a cup, I hear the recognizable sound of a gun cocking. I can’t see the other side of the counter, but Landen’s spine goes ramrod straight.

“Tell me where she really is,” Emilio demands. “Now.”

I cover my mouth with my palm, trying to hide my heavy breathing as my heart beats wildly.

“I already told you,” Landen says, spinning back toward him. “She’s not here.”

“And I know you’re lying. So you either tell me or I’m going to shoot up this whole little trailer and then light a match and leave you inside it.”

Oh my fucking God.

I don’t know how he’s keeping his cool, but he swipes his tongue along his lower lip as he smirks. “No, you won’t.”