“Sounds a little stalker-ish to me.”
“I hate to think of it like that but yeah, okay, I was lurking around in the shadows, spying on her.” Mitch shook his head. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Turns out, according to Trixie’s sister, she knew somebody was watching her. Poor thing thought she was going crazy.”
“Poor thing indeed,” Cash muttered.
“Anyway, Brock and Rory found out I was in town. They paid me a visit. Told me—rather than asked me on a favor like good, decent friends might do—to leave her alone. They left and I made up my mind to go see her anyway. I drove out to their place this morning and they were already gone.”
A slow smile crept across Cash’s face.
“You think this is funny?”
“I do,” Cash replied.
Mitch took a drink of his beer and studied his buddy. This was what bothered him about Cash. The guy had always had a tendency to act nefarious at the oddest times. Cash seemingly found weird amusement in the strangest situations.
“This isn’t a laughing matter. I love her, man. I’ve always loved her.”
Cash turned up his beer and took several drinks before he said, “Well maybe you can tell her.”
“Did you not hear a word I just said? Brock and Rory loaded her up and they left town. I have no idea where they went or when they plan on returning to Fletcher.”
“Well I can’t answer the last one for you, but I know where they are.”
“Where?” Mitch asked, flattening his palms on the countertop and leaning forward. “And how could you possibly know where they are? You don’t even know them.”
“After what I witnessed today, I wish like hell I did.” Cash chuckled. “They’re here, man. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I had planned to leave tomorrow. I didn’t know how they’d feel about a convict staying on the property without your knowledge. I was planning on hiding out in the barn again tonight and leaving before sunrise.”
Mitch felt a strange sensation wash over him. A little tickle on the back of his neck left him with chill bumps on his arms. “What do you mean they’re here?”
“I saw them today.”
“You saw them?”
“Yep,” Cash replied. “And I would’ve gone up and introduced myself, only they were in a somewhat compromising situation when I found them. I decided it was best if I stayed out of sight.”
“How did you find them?” Mitch asked, his balls throbbing as he thought of the possibilities.
Cash’s upper lip curled. “Let’s just say your little woman is quite the exhibitionist.”
Mitch narrowed his gaze. “You’re sure you saw Trixie…here…with Brock and Rory?”
“Yep,” Cash replied, drinking from the can again. “And I can see why you’re so smitten. Damn if she’s not the prettiest little minx I’ve ever seen.”
“I hope you didn’t watch longer than you should have,” Mitch said, dumping most of his beer in the sink and marching across the room to the French doors leading to the deck. Staring out at the dark waters, he added, “She’s not an exhibitionist, you know.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Cash said.
“She probably didn’t know anyone was watching her,” Mitch reminded him.
“They were fucking in broad daylight. There were boats all over the water today. If anyone had been within a mile of the place, they would’ve heard the hollerin’ and carrying on. If they’d been a hundred yards away, they would’ve seen the show.”
A smile tugged at Mitch’s lips. If he could win his way back into Trixie’s good graces again, he’d remember this day and this conversation. He’d have her fucking his brains out on the dock so anyone and everyone could watch.
His cock twitched in his slacks. He fantasized for a moment, longing to go find them, wishing Brock and Rory would welcome him back into their small intimate circle, the place where he was certain they’d eventually welcome him once they realized he wanted to be a permanent part of their family.
Cash moved behind him. He went to the refrigerator and helped himself to another beer.
“Maybe you’re mistaken.” Mitch turned around. “I mean it could’ve been anyone.”
“It was her. I’ve seen enough of her pictures attached to your cell wall. And I heard her call out Brock’s name.”
Mitch closed his eyes. They’d brought her back to the very location where their love affair had started, to the place where their unusual relationship had begun.
“They may have left North Carolina, but if you ask me, they weren’t trying to dodge you. Think about it, Mitch. I came here looking for you because I couldn’t come up with anywhere else you might have gone.” Cash sniffed. “I bet they were thinking the same thing.”