“You want anything, Ash?” Margo called, wiping down the espresso machine.
He shot her a smile, and just as he opened his mouth to answer, the bell above the door rang, signaling a new customer. He clamped his mouth shut and shifted, no longer blocking the view. From my place, I saw my friend stiffen, his back straightening, his shoulders going rigid as his eyes landed on the woman who had just stepped inside.
She was tall. Maybe an inch taller than Margo. She wore a baby pink tank top and a long white skirt, and brown sandals laced over the tops of her feet. A large brown leather bag was hooked over her shoulder. Her brunette hair hung in loose waves just past her shoulders, framing her oval-shaped face. Her skin was warm, sun-kissed, and covered with freckles, but her honey eyes were what grabbed my attention. My brows slowly came together as chatter from the group died down, the air in the bookstore shifting as something dangerous radiated off my friend. Something tugged at my memory, a chill swooping down my spine.
“Ash?” Carrie whispered. “You okay?”
He said nothing, staring at the woman as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Welcome to Rossy’s!” Margo chirped, moving to the front of the bar, oblivious to the pain seeping from Ash. “Are you here for air conditioning or coffee?”
The woman’s eyes landed on Margo’s and her dark pink lips stretched into a wide smile.
Ash jerked back at the sight.
What the hell?
Gray and I shot each other a glance, both of us on the move. But by the time we got to Doss, it was too late. The woman’s honey eyes had landed on him, recognition sparking. She gripped her purse tighter, sucking in a sharp breath. My headturned to her and then back to Ash as I came around his side, finally getting a good look.Fuck.
His rough features were painted with devastation and pain, and the color drained from his face.
“You,” he pushed out gruffly. I could tell he was trying to be gentle, but the emotion clinging to his voice wasn’t allowing him to do so. The woman had all but backed herself into the window display, trembling.
I lifted my hand to her. “Hey, it’s okay.”
She ignored me, her eyes never leaving Ash’s.
“I’ve been searching for you,” Ash croaked as he took a single step forward. “Fuck, look at you.” He pushed a hand through his hair, holding it at the top of his head, his nostrils flared. “Thought I’d never find you.”
It clicked then.
And the detonation was just as devastating as the pain growing in Ash’s eyes.
“Holy shit,” Carrie breathed. “That’s—she’s—”
The preacher’s wife.
“I have to go,” the woman finally said, her soft voice rocking Ash. He flinched but thankfully recovered.
“No, wait. Please, wait!” Ash begged as she pushed off the window and ran for the door. He started after her, but Gray and I were there, restraining him.
“No,” Grayson grunted, pushing him back with me.
He fought, but fuck, he fought like hell to run after the woman who’d been haunting his dreams for the last two years. Ash roared then, becoming like the bear we’d always compared him to. “No!I can’t lose her again!”
“You chase her, she’ll run,” Gray barked. “You cannot scare her!”
“Take it easy,” I grunted, pushing against him. When he finally had his back against the bar, I looked at Margo. “Go after her, baby. Make sure she is okay.”
She nodded, bolting out of the store with Sarah and Carrie in tow.
Ash was trashing and fighting against us. “No!Fuck!She was here!” he screamed as we dragged him to the back.
“Rossy, lock the fucking door! No one in or out unless it’s one of our people,” Grayson ordered over his shoulder.
I kicked open the door, and we got Ash inside the room. Grayson blocked the door, and Ash was in his face, seething. “Let me out,” he growled.
“Easy,” I warned, standing beside them. “Take a breath, Doss.”