Her head tilted as she seemed to stare straight into my soul.
“It’s none of my business if you do.”
“Well, I don’t. I don’t want you thinking I do this kind of thing normally. I just needed . . . I don’t know. Something different.”
She nodded and gave me a weak smile. If I hadn’t known better, I would swear her eyes almost looked like they had tears in them.
“Well, I hope she was what you were looking for.”
I shook my head. “She wasn’t. Not anywhere near it.”
A small grin tugged at her pretty mouth. I wanted to walk up to her. Tell her she was the type of girl I wanted. The only girl I wanted. Instead, I shrugged and said, “But it was fun. At least the parts I remember anyway.”
Her face went pale, and she quickly opened the door and walked out without saying another word. The second the door shut, I let out a string of curse words.
Why in the hell did I say that?
The bathroom door opened, and Josh walked out.
“Was that Ellie?”
Shaking my head, I answered, “No. It was her friend. Ellie had to work. There’s the clothes on the bed.”
I slipped my boots on and waited for Josh to get dressed in the bathroom. Thank God that bitch left our shoes.
Sitting on the sofa, I cradled my head in my hands and closed my eyes. The only thing I could see was Ari’s face looking back at me right before she walked out the door. Was I imagining the hurt in her eyes? There was no way she would have been upset about this. I mean, she didn’t have feelings for me . . . did she?
Leaning back, my head fell against the back of the sofa, and I hit the cushions with my fists as hard as I could. “Fuck! Fuck!”
Josh walked back out and stood in front of me. “Dude, I feel the same way. I wish I’d never laid eyes on Sunshine. I’m also hoping she used your card to pay for the room.”
I reached for the remote that was sitting on the side table and threw it at Josh as hard as I could.
Chapter Eleven – Gunner
Walking in from my run, I glanced between Jeff and Josh. They both looked pathetic. “What’s wrong with you two?”
After Josh and Jeff exchanged looks with each other, Jeff looked at me.
“Sunshine is what’s wrong.”
“Tell me you’re talking about the sun’s rays and how you’re not getting enough.”
“I wish,” Josh replied.
I shook my head. “What happened?”
Sitting down on a chair opposite the couch, I waited to hear what these two idiots got themselves into.
Jeff spoke first. “It’s an evening and morning I’d rather forget.”
My gaze moved to Josh, who said, “Same here. Let’s just say we should have listened to you. I’m ready to get out of town for a few days.”
“That bad, huh? The ranch?” I asked.
Jeff and Josh both nodded.
“I’m sure Grams and Gramps wouldn’t mind that. How soon can you pack up and meet us back here?” I asked.