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Oberon knew that, and when I phoned in the results of what I’d found for this case, he was on me like white on rice.
“Have you thought more about the offer?” he said before I managed to get off the line.
Oberon had offered me a third of the company alongside him and Trick. It was a solid offer, something I could rely on. But it wasn’t what I wanted.
“I do nothing but think.”
“And?” Oberon asked, his voice steady.
I sat there, staring at the wall, trying to find an answer that would make sense. “I don’t know,” I admitted, the words bitter in my mouth.
“You should get out of small-town Wyoming,” he said, always practical. “Head to LA. I’ve got a place you can stay until you figure things out.”
Leaving Whisper Ridge… The thought twisted something deep in my gut. It would mean leaving behind the friends I’d made here, those I called family. It would mean leaving Neil behind.
Neil. I couldn’t get him out of my head. The way he challenged me pushed me in ways I hadn’t expected. He was a big reason I’d stuck around this long. Hell, maybe the only reason. But what kind of future did I have here? Rootless, restless, and with no clear direction. Could I keep drifting like this? Or did I need to take Oberon up on his offer, leave it all behind, and start fresh somewhere new?
A thought gnawed at the back of my mind, refusing to let go.Is Neil something I actually want, or is he just something to pass the time because I’m bored?It was a brutal question, but I’d never been one to shy away from the hard truths. The chase, the tension, the way he always kept me on edge—it was intoxicating, sure. But was that all there was to it? Was I searching for a distraction, something to fill the void now that Quinn didn’t need me anymore? Was Neil just another challenge, something to conquer because I didn’t know what else to do?
Despite my attempts to believe otherwise, the pull I felt toward Neil wasn’t solely about filling the empty spaces in life. It was about him, about the way he made me feel, about the possibility of something real. And that was scarier than any enemy I’d ever faced.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen without seeing it. I was torn between the need for something more and the fear of losing what I’d found here in Whisper Ridge. I didn’t know what I wanted, but I knew one thing for sure—I wasn’t ready to leave. Not yet. Not while there was still something worth sticking around for.
“Thank you,” I began.
“It’s still a no,” Oberon finished with a chuckle. “Offer always stands.”
“Thank you,” I repeated.
And then he ended the call.
Now what?
The rain had started again, a steady downpour that seemed to soak the world in shades of gray. I grabbed a to-go cup from the diner, nodding at Merle as I headed out. The plan was to take a walk and clear my head. It was a loop around town, nothing special. But as if I had no control over my feet, I stood outside the sheriff’s office only to see him getting into his SUV.
Where was he heading?
What did I have to lose by trying to follow him?
Something inside me kicked into gear, and before I knew it, I was jogging, cutting through alleys, taking the shortcuts I knew so well. I stuck to the trees, leaping over stumps and puddles, my breathing steady, the thrill of the chase pulsing through my veins.
I watched the rain come down harder, sitting on his porch when Neil stopped in his driveway. For a moment, I didn’t think he’d seen me as he ran through the rain, hood on his coat up, then trying to shake off the water when he was under the porch cover, and I couldn’t help but stare as he spotted me and stiffened. His footsteps faltered as he reached the first step. He looked at me as if I was the last person he expected to see, and maybe I was. His eyes were so damn blue, like the sky after a storm, and I wanted nothing more than to drown in them.
Desire hit me hard, a wave of want so strong it almosttook me out at the knees. I’d been drawn to Neil since I met him but seeing him like this made me ache.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, exasperation clear in his voice.
I shrugged, playing it cool despite my pounding heart. “I went for a run.”
“In your coat?” His eyes narrowed, suspicious.
“It’s raining,” I replied, as if that explained everything.
Neil sighed, clearly frustrated. He climbed the steps, shaking his head, and I stood to meet him. This time, Neil closed the distance, crowding me into the shadows of the porch. The rain drummed on the roof, creating a private little world for us.
“Why won’t you leave me alone?” he asked, his voice low, almost desperate.
“Do you want me to? Really?” I asked, my voice soft, but the challenge was there.
