Page 3 of Deserving Ryleigh
She turned her back on the only man who had the ability to tear her to pieces with a simple look and headed for his cabin. If she had any other place to go, she would. But she’d moved out of her apartment in Los Alamos when Stone was missing so she could share whatever scrap of information she found in a more timely manner. The small guest room in Tiny’s cabin was her home for the moment, and while she was grateful for the roof over herhead, every second spent with Tiny was torture. Because he hated her. He’d made that clear.
Thankfully, he didn’t follow her back to his cabin. Ry let herself in and went straight to her room. She lay down on the bed and curled into a ball on her side. Closing her eyes, she tried to think, to strategize. But even though she desperately needed a plan, she couldn’t think about anything but the confusion and worry in Tiny’s eyes after she’d stupidly overshared.
She’d never seen those expressions on his face before in regard toher. Usually he looked at her with suspicion and contempt.
Confused and weary from the stress she’d been under, Ry fell into an uneasy sleep. One punctuated with her father’s face, laughing manically, and Tiny shaking his head and telling his friends, “I told you she was trouble.”
CHAPTER TWO
Tiny stared at Ryleigh as she disappeared into the trees, headed for his cabin. He was confused. The things she’d said…they blew everything he’d thought he knew about the woman out the window.
He’d be the first to admit that he’d been hard on her. He wasn’t sorry. She’d lied to them over and over. Not only that, but it was obvious with her computer skills being what they were, she could easily steal The Refuge blind. The thought of anything happening to this place made Tiny’s blood run cold.
He couldn’t imagine not living here. Not being in the mountains of New Mexico. If this place failed, he had nowhere to go. Had no idea what he’d do. The Refuge had saved him, and he was so grateful to Tex for hooking him up with Brick and the rest of the men, and to all of his friends for deciding to make a go of the unique retreat.
And after years of much-needed healing and calm at the place he’d help to build with his own two hands…the truth of the matter was, Ryleigh made him feel things he’d thought were dead and buried.
She infuriated him, frustrated him…and yet a part of him, buried way down deep, worried about her.
Hehatedhimself when he yelled at her. He didn’t miss the way she flinched from him and seemed to withdraw every time. And yet, he hadn’t been able to make himself stop. He was soangrythat she’d deceived them all, and he simply didn’t trust her. Sure, he didn’t trust many people in his life, but the one thing he couldn’t tolerate was lies, and Ryleigh had lied her ass off from the second she’d stepped foot on The Refuge.
But it was finally dawning on him that maybe, justmaybe, she’d had damn good reasons for those lies.
Just like some of his friends had suggested might be the case. But he’d refused to listen.
She’d said a lot of things tonight, things he needed to think on and share with his friends and Refuge co-owners…but the thing that bothered him the most was the fact that she was scared. No.Terrified. Of what, he didn’t know, but it didn’t sit well with him. Not at all.
Tiny turned and went back into the lodge, realizing quickly that he was in no mood to socialize. He found Tonka, who was standing away from the group, watching his wife with a small smile on his face.
His friend turned to Tiny as he approached.
“You leaving?” Tonka asked without preamble.
“If that’s okay with you,” he said with a shrug.
Tonka’s lips twitched. “I think I, more than anyone, understand when someone needs space.”
Tiny chuckled, then sobered. “The changes in you are, frankly, amazing. The man I knew when we first arrivedwouldn’t have been able to cope with being around this many people for as long as you have tonight. Would’ve especially hated being the center of attention like you are.”
Tonka shrugged. “Don’t love it, but Idolove Henley. And seeing how happy she is, how she thrives being around her friends…it makes what I want immaterial.”
“Doesn’t it worry you? How much your life has changed because of a woman?” Tiny asked, genuinely curious to hear his friend’s response.
“No. Here’s the thing…I wasn’t actually living at all before I let Henley in. I was stuck in the past and what happened to me. I allowed it to guide my life, instead of dealing with what happened and moving on. Thanks to her, I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop when bad shit happens. We either have to find a way to get past what life throws at us, or we stop living altogether.”
“That sounds like something a shrink would say,” Tiny said cynically.
“Maybe, maybe not. And I don’t even care that you’re talking shit about my wife’s profession. I’ve learned a lot from Henley. It’s not as if her life has been all sunshine and roses. If she can come out the other side of the horrors she’s lived through, why can’t I? I’ll always miss Steel. There will always be a hole in my heart for my dog, but life goes on. And to answer your question…I’ll never enjoy being the center of attention, but for Henley, I’d do anything. Same goes for our unborn child and Jasna. They’re my everything.”
Tiny was happy for Tonka. He really was. Even if he couldn’t understand that kind of devotion. It required trust, and he didn’t have it in him to trust a partner thatway. Not again. He’d been burned too badly. “Right. Anyway, I’m headed out.”
“Saw Ry leave a little bit ago. I’m guessing she’s not going to plan The Refuge’s downfall if you take your eyes off her for two minutes,” Tonka said dryly.
“Now that Stone’s back and she doesn’t have anyone else to rescue…I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he retorted.
“The women like her. They’ll be sad if she leaves,” Tonka said.
Tiny shrugged. “They’ll be all right. They have their husbands. And all the soon-to-be-born babies.”
