Page 9 of Solid as Steele
She laughed with him, but deep down, there was some truth to his statement. In their early teens, he’d taken a liking to her. Boyfriend/girlfriend kind of liking. She never thought of him that way. It had caused an issue for two summers, but then she started dating in high school, and about the same time, he fell for a girl named Mia Blackburn whose uncle owned the resort next door, and that was the end of his interest in Mackenzie.
“If the guys give me a pass,” Ryan continued. “I could be there by six.”
“Sounds perfect. Owen will bunk in the guest house and you can stay in the cabin with me or with him. Your choice.”
“Hmm, a potential criminal or a beautiful woman? No contest.” He laughed again. “I’ll take the crook.”
She hadn’t seen or talked to Ryan in about a year and had forgotten what a joker he could be. His good nature would help lighten the mood with the very serious Owen.
“How long of a trek are we talking about?” Ryan asked.
“We’re not really sure. Owen said he believes he walked most of the night.”
“Then I’ll bring provisions for an overnight campout.”
“That sounds great.” She took a moment to consider other items she might need to mention to Ryan. “Since this guy doesn’t know who he is or if he has any money, he can’t pay you, but I can.”
“You still make that earthquake cake?”
Odd question.“I haven’t for years, but I sure can.”
“That will be payment enough if you can rustle one up by the time I get there.”
“That I can do.” She laughed. “Text me when you know if you’re sure you can come.”
“Will do.”
She ended the call and went back through the sliding doors of the ER’s main entrance, the whoosh as they slid drawing attention from the patients inside. She spotted Owen striding across the lobby, his gaze seeking the area around him. He had the look of a cop. A person who was always assessing his surroundings for potential danger. Or maybe a desperate criminal who feared he was being hunted.
She’d never realized how similar the look could be between the two types of people. But there were differences too. The officer’s expression usually held confidence. The criminal mostly held fear. And Owen was marching like a man with purpose. Shoulders back. Long, fast strides. Chest thrust out.
A man who was used to being in charge. That was her take on it, anyway.
He approached her, but kept on walking, moving past her, striding through the door and outside. She followed him. He took deep breaths as if being inside smothered him, and he needed fresh air. Maybe he’d gotten bad news. She opened her mouth to ask.
“I’m ready to go,” he said. “Can you arrange another ride?”
“Sure.” She thumbed through her phone to the rideshare program and requested to be picked up. “Good news. Only five minutes out.”
She stowed her phone and looked at him. “What did the doctor say?”
“No serious head injury. Not bad enough to cause the amnesia.”
Curious.“Then what?”
“He thinks I suffered some sort of traumatic shock.” Owen shoved his hands into his sweatshirt pockets.
What in the world had he witnessed out in the desert that was bad enough to make a strong guy like this lose his memory? She desperately wanted to know, but even more—feared the answer.
Maybe he did too as he fell silent, and they stared ahead until the four-door sedan arrived. He opened the front door and asked if she could ride in front. The female driver agreed. Probably because he smiled at her. And man, what a smile. Mackenzie caught it only from the side, but all those rugged good looks turned into charming and playful.
He moved out of her way, and that smile traveled with him, broadening as he locked onto her face. Mackenzie had a pure shot to the heart. Then it changed to fear.
A sociopath killer could turn on the charm like this too.
She climbed into the silver Honda that held a strong scent from a pine tree air freshener dangling from the mirror. Owen settled in the back, the car shifting with his weight.
Which guy was she going home with? The charming man he seemed to be or a man who might be planning to kill her?
