Page 26 of Tiger Born

He could take her away from here.

The thought struck him, but the next question deflated him.

Then who would keep Stellan from killing? Who would keep the bounty off his head when he did? What if he found another Rabbit? Dame had stopped him from so much damage over the years. If he was left alone? Any death would be on Dame’s hands, and he couldn’t do that. He wouldn’t even be a man worthy of someone like Misty if he did that. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself.

He couldn’t just pack her up and run away like Marsden had. Dame had a sense of responsibility that Mars had lacked since birth.

It felt even more important to keep Misty safe now, but he knew what he would have to do.

He would have to convince her to leave this place and never look back.

And he couldn’t go with her.

The glue would be gone, and he would be left here in more pieces than before.

Chapter Seven

It was taking Dame a long time to pick up food, but she already knew what that meant. He wasn’t coming back.

Something bad had happened with his brother earlier. Some realization that she was a problem in his life, and now she would be stuck in the aftermath. Okay. She’d only met him officially yesterday, so this was no big deal. She’d had fun, the sex had been amazing, and that was that.

“He’s just a guy,” she said aloud, testing the words.

If she was a Cat, she would hear the lie in her voice so easily. Even as a human, she could.

She stirred the boiling pasta and padded to the front window, looked down at the parking lot, and her car was back. It was parked in the same spot she’d parked it in earlier, but there was no sign of Mars, or his truck with Dame in it.

She sighed. They’d done it. They’d done the switch off without her knowing. She hadn’t been diligent enough on the window. Right now, she imagined Dame in the passenger’s seat of Marsden’s truck as he took him to his own rig, wherever he’d parked it.

Where did he even live?

What was his number?

Today felt big, but it shouldn’t. She didn’t know why she felt like crying again. This was strange, and too much. She was a strong woman. She didn’t fall for men fast like this. It wasn’t her way.

So…

What was it about him? What magic did Dame possess that she’d imagined a future with him after one rollercoaster, and at times traumatic, day?

She returned to stir the pasta she wasn’t very hungry for. Uncle Tim had always made her butter noodles when she wasn’t feeling well, and that was her move now. Comfort food.

Her phone vibrated with a text, and she checked it with such hope in her chest. Stupid hope, because she and Dame had never even gotten to the part where they exchanged numbers.

It was Uncle Tim, checking in. She replied to his text that her friend was gone, and she sent him a picture of the noodles. He would know exactly what she was making.

She drained them and seasoned them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then melted butter with them, and grated fresh parmesan cheese on top. She sprinkled fresh-cut parsley over it and sank down into her couch with a hearty bowl. Maybe the sound of the television would drown out her thoughts.

She wished she had his number.

Wait.

She sat straight up.

LameDame10.

She set the food down and navigated to her Instagram page in a rush and did a search for Dame’s handle.

Nothing came up.