Page 32 of Feral

My cheeks burned hot from his insults… and the truth in his words. Rob was a fuck buddy. We hadn’t stated we were anything more and, really? What else could he be? He thought I was someone else, and when he found out, he’d kick me out. That totally worked because I was leaving anyway, right after Jett was in handcuffs. Still, that stung.

“Rob means nothing. I’m here with you, now, aren’t I?” I gave him a coy smile.

He looked me over. “I don’t take sloppy seconds from a Wolf.”

Stepping back, he slammed the door in my face.

Oooooookay. That went badly. My target, who I was supposed to get all hot and heavy with, thought I was a slut.

I walked back to the car realizing I probably was. No, I wasn't sleeping around—I liked sex, and I liked it naughty—but I was monogamous. Markle saw it differently. Starting the engine, I slapped my hand on the steering wheel and groaned. I’d fucked up. Whatever the beef was between Markle and Rob had messed with my plan. No, I’d ruined it all by myself. I’d made an attachment. I had no idea what kind, but there was something between me and Rob. Admittedly but unsaid, something more than just unbelievable sex. I’d felt it and ran with it.

I should’ve steered clear and kept my eyes on Markle.

“Stupid hormones and sexy cowboys,” I grumbled as I turned out of Jett’s driveway and onto the dirt road. I pulled over to the side. The sun hadn’t set yet, but it was behind the mountains, and the evening sky was soft and muted. Crickets chirped through the open car window. The perfect Montana evening, and I was alone in a car on the side of a rural road.

I was such a fuckup. Behind me was the case that I’d probably blown. Vaughn had okayed the job because I matched the real Natalie Shefield but also because I could become friendly with Jett. Get on his property. Get close. Gethim.

I grabbed my cell.

“Vaughn.”

“Small problem,” I said, staring out the windshield at a falcon circling high overhead on an updraft.

“What?”

“I’m not Markle’s type.”

I heard his sigh. “You’ve got to be shitting me. You’re pretending. It’s not the dating game. Fake it.”

“I did. He’s not interested.” I wasn’t telling him the reason why. What I did with Rob was none of his business. Vaughn was single. Who he fucked wasn’t anything I wanted to know.

“I’m going to watch the place again later. We have the lead on the animal hauler.”

“Canadian customs confirmed the eighteen wheeler you spotted passed the border crossing north of Shelby. There are a lot of rules for live animals headed to Canada, words like breeder cow and brucellosis came up in the report.” He sighed again. “All I know is the transport happened as you suspected. Find a repeat.”

“Yes, sir.” I wasn’t going to argue. He was technically complimenting me in a bassackwards sort of way.

He hung up. It was my turn to sigh as I headed toward my house.Natalie’shouse. The case was going to hell. At least I didn’t have to kiss Markle again. As for Rob, I had no answers there. I wanted to be with him, to see him smile. Tomakehim smile because I knew I could do it, and I had a feeling it was a rare thing.

As if my thoughts had conjured him, Rob was on the porch, leaning against the rail as I pulled up. I couldn’t help a smile of my own at the sight of him. A crisp pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. A simple, but lethal, combination.

He took his hat off as he came down the steps and met me.

“Hi,” I said, going up on tiptoes and kissing him. “I didn’t expect you.”

He didn’t kiss back, only sniffed. Once, then again. “You left this at my place.” He held up my earbuds for my phone. “I thought I’d return them.” There was no smile on his face. “You were with Markle again.”

Markle had confronted me about the same thing only minutes before. With him, I’d been a little worried I might get shot. With Rob, I was worried I might get my heart torn out. I wasn’t sure which would be more painful.

He looked down at my hand.

“With wine.”

Shit.

“What happened? He fuck you and forget about it?”

Okay, that pissed me off.