Shadows of You (Lost & Found #4)(24)

“Brought you some deer feed but didn’t see your car.”

There were no pleasantries with Roan, just straight to business. I admired the authenticity of it in a way. “My station wagon’s at the mechanics’.”

“Good.” Even the word sounded like a grunt.

“Thanks for the food. You can put it in the back if you want.”

Roan jerked his head in a nod and then followed me down the hall to the storage room. I opened the door and flicked on a light. “Anywhere’s good.”

The shelves were packed full of non-refrigerated supplies, so there wasn’t much room. But Roan slid by me and dumped the food in the corner. As he stood, we nearly came nose-to-nose.

I sucked in a breath. That faint sandalwood scent was back. It swirled around me in a tempting tease. Up close, Roan had an otherworldly beauty with a sharply angled jaw and haunting eyes. A faint scar bisected one of his eyebrows, and I had the bizarre urge to trace it with my finger.

Roan’s gaze dropped to my lips. “I can load it into your car later.”

I forced myself to take a step back. “That’s okay.”

“It’s heavy.”

“I know, but I’m used to lifting heavy things.” Hay and feed were never light.

Roan scowled. “You could hurt yourself.”

I rolled my eyes. “Or I’ll just get a workout in.”

Roan opened his mouth to argue, but Zeke yelled from the kitchen.

“Got customers.”

And the cook wasn’t about to deal with people if I was around.

I hurried out of the storage room. “Thanks again.”

Roan simply grunted.

I wondered if I could decipher what each one meant if I studied them hard enough. My lips twitched at the idea.

Roan hovered by the bakery case as I slipped behind it. He looked unsure, uncomfortable.

My brows pinched. “Did you need something?”

He shook his head jerkily. “You got a ride home?”

I felt something squeeze deep in my chest. “I’m picking up my car at three.”

Roan frowned. “Gonna take longer than that to fix it.”

“Jim isn’t fixing it today. Just doing an assessment.”

That frown deepened. “It’s not safe to drive.”

“It’s safe enough for now.”

Roan simply stared me down.

I fought the urge to squirm under that dark blue gaze.

“Excuse me,” a patron said from the other side of the counter, and I flushed from the roots of my hair to the tips of my toes.

“How can I help you?” I hurried to fill the customer’s order. When I turned back around, Roan was gone.

A flicker of disappointment rooted itself somewhere deep. I worried that spot on the inside of my cheek.

A throat cleared, and I turned back to the register.

Ms. Peabody was standing at the counter, a stern look on her face. “I didn’t know you were friendly with the Hartley boy.”

She said it as if Roan were thirteen instead of well into his thirties. “I’m friends with the whole Hartley family,” I hedged.

I wasn’t sure Roan would consider me a friend, more an annoyance, but I’d be his friend anyway.

Ms. Peabody’s lips thinned. “They are a wonderful family, but Roan…you need to be careful around him. He’s not like the rest of his siblings. Not exactly normal.”

My spine snapped straight. “Roan is an incredibly kind and caring human being. He was here to bring me food for an injured deer that he helped me rescue. That sounds like an amazing person to me. If you want to judge him because he’s quiet or a little gruff, go ahead. But don’t do it in front of me.”

Ms. Peabody snapped her mouth closed, her face turning red. “I was trying to look out for you.”

“Maybe. Or were you trying to stir up gossip and trouble?”

The redness deepened. “I don’t need this kind of attack. I’ll take my business elsewhere.”

I wanted to shout good riddance as she flounced out of the café, but I resisted.

A slow clap sounded, and I looked to see Elsie grinning as she did it. “Bravo. That woman is awful.”

Jonesy chuckled. “Can’t say I’ll miss the side of bitter with my morning joe.”

“But that hottie can come back anytime. He’s got a great ass.”

I choked on a laugh, but it died on my lips as I watched Ms. Peabody storm across the street. I couldn’t imagine what it must be like for Roan to live with that kind of cruelty and judgment day in and day out. No wonder he rarely ventured into town.

But as much as I understood, it made my heart ache for the man who had to feel incredibly alone.





11





ROAN





Those green eyes were burned into my memory—the spark of heat in their depths. My hands clenched and flexed as I tried to shake the image loose.

No luck.

I had a feeling Aspen’s eyes and those berry lips would be playing on a loop for a long time to come.

I’d almost kissed her. Came this close to closing the distance and tasting that mouth.

I cracked my neck as if that would rid me of the need coursing through me. Lust didn’t control me. Never had.