CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

JOSH

I pound on the door, but there’s nothing. I pound again, trying to drive my fist through the wood.

She won’t take my calls, and now she doesn’t answer her door. GODDAMMIT!

I’ll have to wait her out. I back away until I hit a wall. She’ll have to come out eventually.

It doesn’t take long for me to become bored. I should go back to the office, but I’m determined to talk to Kim and fix things between us. I get strange looks from residents who walk past me. Fortunately, no one calls the cops. Yet.

I catch a break at the ten-minute mark. A woman gives me a double-take and marches over to me. She’s about my age, dressed in yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Your typical attire for a woman running errands.

“Are you waiting for Kim?”

“Yes.” I stand straight, hoping she can get Kim to come out of her place.

“She’s gone. Won’t be back until next week sometime.”

Gone? I didn’t think she would leave.

“Thanks,” I say instinctively and wander to the elevator. I’m going to my office to figure out my next move. Need to make some calls and find her.

I make the calls, and now I need to sit back and be patient. I’m killing time looking at a report when Ryder walks in.

“You are such an idiot,” he tells me while taking a seat across from my desk.

Still with the name-calling. Doesn’t he think I know by now what a terrible mistake I’ve made? I ignore him for now. Fuck him.

“You need to go find Kim,” he says. “My wife and her friends haven’t stopped bothering me about my idiot brother. They’re driving me crazy.”

He leans forward and places his elbows on his knees.

“I’m making everything right,” I tell him. “Once I find out where she is.”

“I can help you with that.” I’m sure he can. All-knowing Ryder Dalton. “She’s at Mary’s place,” he says. “Zoey said she’s staying there for a while. I’ll give you the address, and you can be on your way.”

I rise out of my chair. “Why didn’t you start with that?”

He shrugs and gives me her address.

I grab my keys and head toward the door. “Don’t wait up for me.”

“Ass,” he says as I make my way down the hall.

You’ve gotta love the guy.

* * *

I make it back to my apartment and grab some things before getting into my car and heading out of town. I type the address my brother gave me into the GPS. It’s supposed to take an hour to get there. Bet I can do it in less.

I need to come up with a speech that gets me out of the doghouse and back into Kim’s good graces. If she doesn’t forgive me, I’m not giving up. I need her in my life, and I’m not a quitter. She doesn’t know who she’s up against.

The directions say I’m close. I take a left that brings me to a gravel road that winds around trees. An old house sits in a clearing. An even older barn sits behind it. This has to be it.

What a dive. Does somebody really live here?

I hop out of my car and walk toward the porch. Hesitate before taking the first step onto the stairs. Not sure if they’ll hold me.

While I debate the sturdiness of the steps, the door opens, and an old woman shuffles out. Closes the door behind her. Mary? The gray-haired lady is dressed in a white long-sleeve button shirt with overalls. Paint splatter covers her clothing. She glares down at me from the top of the porch, hands resting on her hips.

“Who are you, and what do you want?” Her eyes get beady. “I’m not buying anything you’re selling.”

She thinks I’m a salesman? No one in their right mind would try to sell anything here.

I swipe my hand over my mouth. “Is Kim here?”

“Who’s asking?”

I blow out a breath. Steady.

“Josh Dalton, and I’m looking for Kim.”

The woman smiles and does a one-eighty.

“I’m Mary Lewis.” She extends a hand. I shake it. “I’ve been expecting you.  Come in, I’ll get our girl.”

“Thank you.”

I follow her into the house. Now comes the hard part, getting Kim to forgive me.