Page 43 of West Bound

“She’s soft on you. In a not-very-nunly sort of way. Are you aware of that?” Dakota gives me a stern once-over.

“Wasn’t that what you and Charlotte wanted? I seem to distinctly remember you encouraging me to seduce her.”

“Yes, but you’ll be good to her, right? You’re not going to rip her poor heart out, are you? She doesn’t deserve that. She’s been through enough.”

“Her heart isn’t involved. She doesn’t trust me enough for that. She’s just lonely, and her dependence on me right now is probably confusing her feelings. But no, I don’t intend to hurt her. I’m not an asshole all the time, you know? Just when it’s necessary,” I grumble.

I’m not about to admit to Dakota that I have some semblance of feelings myself. I haven’t even figured out what they are yet, or if they’re even real, or some of my own confusion over being so close to her for so long. But Dakota would run to tell Grant, and he’d be sounding the alarm bells and wanting someone else to stay with her at the cabin.

In their view, wanting to fuck her is one thing. He and everyone else could get behind that. It was part of the plan. Actually wanting to see her smile is another thing entirely. The kind of thing that will make them question whether my head is in the right place.

I already know it is, and more importantly, I know Zephyrine needs someone who will look out for her in all of this. I’m the right person for that job, regardless of what the consequences might be for my sanity.

“Well, in that case, maybe do the girl a solid and make her feel a little wanted back? It won’t kill you. She’s beautiful and sosweet. I’m sure you could endure the hardship,” Dakota lectures me. Days like today I see why she and Grant are so well matched.

She’s right. It wouldn’t be a hardship at all. It would be letting my interest turn into an obsession, though, and that’s an entirely different set of challenges. Especially in these circumstances.

“You sound like my brother now.” I turn and head down the steps, determined to end this conversation before she starts giving me tips on how I might make her feel wanted.

“Might do you some good too, considering how uptight you are!” she calls after me as I head for my truck.

I’m sure it would. Too much good. I look up as I approach the car, seeing Zephyrine sitting there in a pretty little sundress Dakota must have gotten for her. We need to figure out where to get her more nun clothes. Wool skirts and high-collared blouses with those oversized cardigans she likes to wear. Not fucking sundresses that make me wonder how things might have gone if we’d met under different circumstances.

SEVENTEEN

Zephyrine

The alcohol buzzingthrough my veins and the kind gesture from Levi have me feeling brave as we make our way back into the cabin. Dakota’s advice is running through my head, making me want to test her theory. Nothing risked, nothing gained after all.

“If I run off into the woods again, would you chase me or send one of your guys?” I tease him.

“If you run off into the woods, it’ll be the last time.”

“Is that a threat?”

“A promise because you’ve clearly had one too many drinks, and you’ll end up snapping your ankle.”

“You’re a buzzkill.”

“I’ll work on it.” He gives me a side-eye, but I see the way his lips twitch with amusement.

“You should. Dakota said that’s how you are all the time. All work and no play. Is that true? It would explain how you could do the priest thing so well.”

“I’m focused. Yes.” His tone tells me he’s wary of where this is headed.

“She said you don’t play ever.”

“Dakota doesn’t know anything about my personal life.”

“But you don’t have a wife or a girlfriend?”

“Do you think I’d be out here playing house if I had a warm bed with a wife in it?” He raises a brow.

“I don’t know. My husband did.” I shrug as he ushers me into the cabin.

“Your husband is a piece of shit. If I ever had a wife, she’d be the type who would slit my throat over something like that.” His hand goes to his abdomen on the way in. It’s my turn to raise a brow, but then I could see him with a wife like that. One who has the same penchant for violence and zero tolerance for any lack of loyalty.

“Are you okay?” I ask, noticing the grimace he makes.