One corner of his mouth twitches. Not quite a smile, but close enough that my stomach does a stupid little flip.
“Right,” Kaleb replies.
“I’m Taron.” I tuck a sopping strand of hair behind my ear. It immediately falls back into my face.
He nods once. “Saw you leave in a hurry. Wanted to make sure you weren’t in trouble. Some of the guys in there can get loud after a few beers.Rowdy. They mean no harm by it, but it can be intimidating if you’re new and this isn’t your regular kind of hangout. Which I’m guessing this is not as far as you’re concerned.”
“Oh.” My cheeks heat despite the cold. “No, no trouble. I just… forgot my wallet. And my phone. Back at the B&B. So I kind of panicked and ran. Like I said, it’s been a long day.”
I watch as Kaleb considers what I’ve just said. Rain drums on the awning above us, loud enough that I have to raise my voice a little to be heard.
“Please don’t think I’m crazy,” I say, immediately feeling foolish.
“You hungry?” Kaleb asks.
My stomach chooses that exact moment to growl.Loudly.
And Kaleb hears it. Of course he does.
“I’ll cover your meal,” he says. “And a drink if you want one. You come back in the morning, leave the cash with the bartender. Tell him it’s for Kaleb. He’ll know.”
I stare at him.
It’s the nicest thing anyone’s offered me in weeks, and also the sketchiest-sounding thing anyone’s offered me in weeks too.
My brain flashes through every warning sign I’ve ever read in a true-crime podcast summary. Stranger. Isolated small town. Offering to pay for things. But then I think about the chili I abandoned, it will be steaming hot and ready for me in less than fifteen minutes, and the fact that I haven’t eaten anything substantial since the granola bar on the bus this afternoon.
And Kaleb’s not… pushy. Not sleazy. Not like Pace.
He’s just standing there, rain dripping off the brim of the baseball cap he must have grabbed on his way out, waiting for me to decide.
I swallow. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Didn’t say Ihadto. Said Iwould.”
There’s something final about the way he says it. Like the conversation is already over and we’re just waiting for me to catch up. If I didn’t know better, I’d say I’d just stumbled upon a Daddy. Maybe it’s my hungry talking, but suddenly my tummy is doing all kinds of flips as I look up at Kaleb’s wide chest, strong shoulders, and ultra masculine face.
I glance back at the tavern door. Warm light spills out, the smell of woodsmoke and fried onions drifting on the damp air.
“Okay,” I say quietly. “Thank you, K-K-Kaleb.”
He nods again—like that settles it—and opens the door for me.
I step inside first. The heat hits like a blanket. My teeth are chattering now that I’m out of the wind. Heads turn, a few curious glances, but no one says anything. Kaleb follows close behind, close enough that I can smell pine and clean sweat and something faintly like motor oil.
I feel tiny next to him.
We stop just inside the entrance. The server from earlier spots me and raises an eyebrow.
“He’s with me,” Kaleb says. Simple. No explanation.
The server nods and goes back to wiping down the bar.
I turn to Kaleb. My heart is thudding too hard. “Um… do you want to… sit with me? I mean, since you’re paying and everything. I don’t mind. Or… sorry, that’s probably weird. You probably have…”
“I’m good,” Kaleb says. Not unkindly. Just matter-of-fact. “Got a friend waiting. Food’s already cold. Have a good stay here. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Disappointment hits me like a slap, even though I have no right to feel it.