Chapter 6

Tori Townsend

As far as I know, Killian has been gone all day. After our interaction this morning, he had dropped his backpack inside the B&B and took off on foot toward downtown. Am I ashamed that I watched his backside until he disappeared around the corner? Absolutely not.

It's truly a fine ass. Round, firm. It deserves my attention.

I peek discreetly through the blinds while he strides up my driveway. Even from this side of the wall, I can hear his feet crunch on the gravel. His stride is confident, and since the drizzle has stopped for the time being, he has his jacket tucked into the crook of his elbow. Even in the darkness, I can see his arms covered in tattoos.

It does nothing to sway my initial thought that he might be trouble.

And, damn it, I find it completely hot. I've always been a sucker for the walking red flags .

I pull away from the window as he passes by it and look at my laptop that's sitting open on my dining room table. The camera feed is up, and it might be a little embarrassing that I've been waiting for him to return. Where the hell did he go? What did he do all day? And why the hell doesn't he have a car?

I mean, who the hell walks everywhere?

Leaning a little toward the screen, I watch as he unlocks the B&B's door, but for a split second, he swivels his gaze toward the camera. He stares at it for a moment, almost as though he knows I'm staring at him and he's daring me with it.

The rugged lines of his face cast shadows across his neck and features. Around here, you don't find men like him, and you sure as hell don't find men who have hair long enough for a man-bun. With the grooves of his large, muscular arms covered in ink, his confident stride, and the power he exudes, it'd be a miracle if people didn't give him a wide berth.

It should make me want to steer clear of him, but I'm already thinking of ways I can approach him again.

Ever since my ex, I've never been this drawn to a man. My ex was nothing like Killian, of course. He was the exact opposite in physique and demeanor, but he was trouble. A bad boy. I told myself I'd never get involved with someone like that because, in the end, all bad boys do is break your heart just like my ex did to me when he used me to sell my identity for extra pocket cash to pay for his weed.

My ex may have gone to jail for a few years, but if you ask me, he deserved far more than that for making me believe he loved me.

I haven't felt something for a guy since. I don't need a therapist to realize that I have issues when it comes to men, issues when it comes to things of deep commitment. Like marriage for example. No way . My ex screwed that over for me, ruined that dream my little girl self once had of a happily-ever-after and riding off into the sunset with a man I'd be deeply in love with.

Killian looks back to the door and opens it. I hold my breath until he's inside, and I plop down in the dining room chair when he closes it behind him.

Even through a camera, he holds me captive.

I'm in serious trouble.

My gaze drifts to his ID. I haven't given it back to him yet. Of course, I've researched him, but all I've found was an address he once had in New York, New York. It's the address on his ID, and there are no previous addresses before that. In my assessment, he had been a man of commitment, but what had changed? What made him sell his home and drift this far west?

I'll never get those answers, not unless I seek further help. I bite my bottom lip as I look to my right where my phone rests beside my laptop. It takes me a few seconds, but I pick it up, swipe in my password, and bring up Pierce's number. I press the dial button before I can think better of it.

He picks up on the third ring. "Tori? Is everything okay?"

I cringe a little. I don't call him. Ever. The only reason I have his number is because I didn't want to be a bitch when he gave it to me the night we slept together. "Yeah, sorry. Um-"

"How are you? Are you doing okay?"

I know he means about the woman I killed, but honestly, I haven't thought much about it since this morning, thanks to the puzzle that is Killian. He's been a good distraction .

"I'm okay." Even to my own ears, my tone is unconvincing.

"Are you sure? I can come over, and we can talk?"

I wave a hand in the air as if he can see me as my heart drops to my toes because he just might despite my protests. "That's not necessary, and I swear it's not why I called. I'm doing okay, I promise."

There's a long pause, and I'm sure the rejections stung a little. I cringe while I wait for him to say something, and when he finally does, I let out a slow breath. "Then what's up?" I can hear the disappointment in his voice, but I brush it aside because I don't have room in me to endure another emotion at the moment.

"I have someone who is renting my B&B," I begin.

"That's good," he answers. I hear the phone rustle on his end. "Some business is always good."

"Yeah," I answer as I peek at the closed blinds. I blurt, "I want you to look into him."

"What?"

"Research him." I regret the words as soon as I say them because, if roles were reversed, I'd want my peace instead of someone sifting through my life. But for some odd reason, I continue because it's also my personal safety and my business's reputation in question. If he's going to be a problem, I need to know. "Pick apart his past. Background checks and all that."

He chuckles as if he thinks I'm not being serious. When I don't laugh with him, he murmurs, "Wait. Really?"

"Yes," I answer with clarity.

"Why?"

I twist my lips to the side, wondering how much I should tell him because, really, all I have are opinions and suspicion, and a whole lot of attraction. "Because he wasn't very forthcoming about why he was here."

"That's not enough reason, Tori."

I frown. "Look, I just want to make sure that he doesn't cause trouble. I want to know who the man is that's sleeping in my backyard."

"Alright, alright." The phone makes a weird sound when he blows out a breath. "I can see what I can find. What's his name?"

"Killian Savage. He's from New York, New York."

"Okay. I'll look into it in my free time, but Tori?"

"Hmm?"

"I wouldn't think much of it. Anyone who causes trouble isn't going to come to Fairview. That would be mighty random."

"Need I remind you of the old sheriff who now sits in jail?" The previous sheriff is rotting behind bars for murder and attempted murder. He'll die of old age in there for his crimes, and that's only if the inmates don't shank him first.

He sighs. "Besides him."

"Right."

"Why don't you get some sleep? I'm sure you need it after last night."

I scowl but say, "Yeah, you're probably right," because I don't want the topic of the woman brought up again. Not when I have the distraction that is the secretive hot man behind my house. Not when it's serving me so well.

"I am right. Goodnight, Tori."

"Night," I respond, and then I hang up.

As soon as I move to set my phone back down on the table, my phone pings with an incoming text. I sigh as I read Tegan's message. She's promising to bring donuts to work tomorrow, and while this once made me grateful, I really need to think about eating more healthily again. But I know she's just trying to take care of me. I know that, by the way she's doing it, she thinks she's looking after me without trying to be obvious about it.

So instead of asking her not to, I thank her and tell her I'll see her in the morning. She'll probably be late again like she always is, but I honestly expect it now. It doesn't bother me. She's my best friend, and I know she means well.