CHAPTER FOUR

Dylan—

Elaina's SUV idles in the airport parking garage while I return my rental truck. Finishing up and grabbing my receipt, I head to the passenger side and slide in the seat next to her.

She pulls away, and we're soon making the loop around the city and headed southwest.

"How far is it?" she asks.

I swivel my head. "Durango? About six and a half hours. I can take a turn driving if you need."

"I think I'll be fine."

I grin. "You one of those people who don't let others drive your car?"

Her face flushes. "Maybe."

I chuckle and stare at the road. "I get that."

Rosie sticks her head between us, and I scratch her ears. "She's a pretty dog. I love her coat. You don't see many German Shepherds with the mostly black coloring."

"She is pretty, isn't she? Most people don't see that; they just see a big dog they think will attack them."

"She trained?"

"We did training, but not for that, though I think she'd defend me with her life if it came to it."

"That's good."

"Thanks for coming with me to get her. Going early was smart, though it seems Elliott has other things to occupy him this morning."

Her voice turns bitter, and I study her profile. Her jaw is tight, and her lips are pursed. "My brother is a dick. I'm sorry he broke your heart. I hate to see you waste another second thinking about him. It's best you shake it off. The sooner the better."

"That's easier said than done."

I stare at the road. "I don't mean to sound like an insensitive jerk. I just know there's no changing him. He is what he is. No one is more important to him than he is."

"I don't know why I didn't see it."

"Maybe you did, you just didn't want to accept it. You wanted the fairytale. I can't blame you for that."

"I'm too old to believe in fairytales," she murmurs.

"Hey." When she turns, I tilt my head. "It's not wrong to want those things. Lots of people get their happily-ever-after."

"But not you, and not me. How is that fair?"

I huff a laugh. "Fair? That's one thing life isn't. But it doesn't mean you should give up." I wonder at my ability to give her advice I won't take myself. I gave up on love and family a long time ago. We ride in silence for miles, until I gesture to a sign. "You want that exit onto 285 south."

Once she makes the transition, we head toward the mountains in the distance. It's only early October, but there's already a few inches of snow on them.

"You ski?" I ask her, wanting to know more about her.

"I do. But I wasn't raised here. I only moved to Denver for the job at your father's company. I haven't even been outside Denver."

"Then where's home?"

"Sacramento."

"Why didn't you have the wedding there? Isn't that tradition? The bride's hometown?"

She shrugs. "It was just easier to do it in Denver."

"You gave in to Elliott," I say, knowing without her admitting it. I huff out a long sigh.

She glances me way. "I guess I'm not one for confrontations. Is that so wrong?"

"Not at all. But it makes me angry to think he bulldozed you into something you didn't want."

"He didn't bulldoze me."

"You sure about that? Elliott likes to get his way."

"I was happy with the wedding we'd planned. He let me have everything I wanted."

"Don't defend him to me."

"I wasn't. I—"

"You were," I cut her off. "And I'm sure he didn't let you have anything. Your father paid for all of it, didn't he?"

She nods but won't reply, so I let it drop. "Look, let's not talk about my brother, okay?"

"Fine." She bites the word out through her teeth, and I'm sorry I said anything. Then her tone softens. "The mountains are pretty. I should have taken the time to see the area."

"I'm glad you get to see it with me. I can show you a few places along the way."

An hour into the drive, we hit Conifer, and I look over at Elaina. "You want to hit up a coffee place?"

"God, that sounds fantastic."

We turn off the highway and drive past a restaurant. "How about this place? I bet we could take Rosie out on the patio. You hungry?"

"Sure."

She parks, and I go in and talk to the hostess about a table outside. It's chilly, but because of the dog, they accommodate us. Once we're seated with menus, I scan it and realize how hungry I am. The waiter takes our orders, and I settle in my chair and notice Elaina staring off.

"I was supposed to be leaving for the airport about now. Our flight was at ten." She says the words softly, letting it sink in.

She seems to need to talk about it, so I give her the opportunity. "Where were you going?"

"Maui. I've always wanted to go there."

"Me, too."

"Maybe he's taking Madison instead."

Hearing her say the words I'm already thinking, I study her carefully. She busies herself by toying with the silverware and won't meet my eyes, but I think she knows I'm watching her.

"Hey." I cover her hand with mine, stilling her motions. "You escaped in the nick of time. I thank God you did. You're mourning the marriage to a man you thought he was, but he was never that man."

She nods, and her eyes glaze. I imagine she's too choked up for words. I give her time. Hopefully, she'll eventually see I'm right. She needs to get past this to the other side and realize she escaped something horrible; she didn't lose what was never there in the first place. But I've said enough. My words just need time to sink in. I don't want to push her. She needs to come around on her own. I'm hoping the time and space I'm giving her in Durango will do just that.

The waitress brings a bowl and a bottle of water for Rosie. "Here you go."

"Thanks." I take the bowl and fill it, setting it down.

Elaina puts a hand to her cheek. "I didn't even think to do that."

"It's okay. You're distracted."

Her eyes glaze. "That's no excuse." She ruffles her dog's ears. "I'm sorry, girl."

I sip my steaming coffee and watch Rosie finish the bowl, then lay at Elaina's feet. Our food comes and I slip her a piece of bacon.

"That's not good for her, you know."

"Hey, I'm making friends, here."

She rolls her eyes. "Fine. Just this once."

I've eaten half my plate when my phone goes off.

Trez.

"I've got to take this. If the waitress comes back, order me another coffee."

"Sure thing." She seems relieved for the moment alone.

I stand and move toward the sidewalk. When I'm far enough away that I'm confident Elaina can't overhear the call, I put the phone to my ear. "Hey, man. What's up?"

"How'd the wedding go? You bring a bridesmaid to your room?" He chuckles.

"More like the bride."

"I'm sorry. What?" He pauses a moment. "Did you just say bride?"

"Yeah."

"No shit. How'd that happen?"

"My brother happened. He was his usual dick self. He shoved her face in the wedding cake. This sweet beautiful girl he got lucky enough to marry ran out of the reception in tears."

"What an ass."

"I talked her into hanging onto the marriage license. If she doesn't file it, the marriage isn't legal. I convinced her to take a few days to think about things. That, and I told her a thing or two about my asshole brother and what a life with him would look like."

"Man, that's crazy."

"That's not all."

"What else?"

"I'm bringing her home with me."

"Baja, you're kidding, right? Mr. Loner is going to have a house guest?"

"It's not a joke, Trez. She had nowhere to go. She'd already given up her apartment, and friends and family weren't an option."

"Why couldn't she go to a hotel?"

"She's got a dog. A big one. German Shepard."

"So you're bringing home a dog, too? Mr. Clean Freak?"

"Quit, all right?"

"Fine. So, when do you get back?"

"We're on the road now. Taking her car back. Should be there by mid-afternoon."

"All right. Well, the reason I was calling was to tell you Rock called a meeting."

I squint into the horizon. "Something up?"

"Yeah. We'll tell you about it tonight."

"Great. You know I love suspense."

He chuckles again. "Drive safe."

"Hey, bro?"

"Yeah?"

"I haven't told her about the club."

He huffs out a breath. "And how long you gonna keep that a secret?"

"Don't know. Just didn't want to give her an excuse not to trust me."

"What's this chick's name?"

"Elaina."

"All right. I'll pass the word and tell the boys to stay away from your place. I'll see you tonight, yeah?"

"I'll be there." I disconnect and turn. When I approach the table, Elaina is on the phone, and Rosie is sitting up, staring intently at her, head cocked, ears perked.

"Elliott, stop. I know exactly how much you miss me, because I know exactly who you took to bed last night. In our honeymoon suite on our wedding night, no less."

"What are you talking about, Elaina?" I hear his response through the cell.

"I'm talking about you sleeping with my cousin, Madison." Elaina pauses. "What's the matter, Elliott? Cat got your tongue?"

"You've lost your fucking mind. How could you drag your cousin into this? I'd never do such a thing."

I want to yank the phone out of her hand and tell his sorry ass off, but at the same time, I don't want my brother to know she's with me. The less he knows, the better.

Elaina looks up as I slide into my chair. Her lips are tight and her jaw is thrust out. Then she rolls her eyes.

"Don't deny it. I know the truth. I'm beginning to find out you're not the man I thought you were."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You've shown your true colors, Elliott. I closed a blind eye to them, because I wanted that happily ever after. But my eyes are wide open now."

"You're still pissed about the cake? It was just a joke. I said I was sorry."

She stays silent.

"Are you coming back or not?" he hisses.

"Not a fucking chance, asshole."

I'm proud of her when she disconnects and tosses the phone on the table. Glancing around, I see a couple guys staring at us from the parking lot. I stare them down, until they walk away.

The waitress brings our food, and we eat in silence for a while.

"Everything okay?" she asks, throwing me.

"Huh?"

"Your phone call."

"Oh, yeah. Just a buddy of mine. No big deal."

"Oh. I thought it may have been important the way you walked away to take the call."

I shrug. "He just wanted to know when I'd get back to town. He was going to pick me up at the airport, but there's no need now." I shove my last bite in my mouth and notice she's no longer eating. "You not gonna eat?"

"I lost my appetite."

Nodding, I pick up the check. "I'll go inside and pay for this. Be right back."

When I return to the table, she's standing, Rosie at her side.

"Maybe we should walk him around that grass over there." I nod to a large strip of lawn out near the street. We wander over. "You want me to drive the rest of the way?"

"No, I'm good."

"Okay. You change your mind, let me know."

Her phone goes off again. She looks at the screen, then answers it. "I don't want to talk, Mother."

I can't hear the response, but Elaina drags in a long breath and shakes her head.

"No, I'm not. I'm taking time to think about things." She pauses. "Things. Mother. I just need to think." She begins pacing, and I reach for Rosie's leash. She relinquishes it without a fight. "Well, there are things you don't know about. He slept with Madison last night, Mother, so obviously he's not the prize you thought he was, either." She paces some more. "Because I have proof. Do you want me to send you a picture?"

I lead Rosie farther away, and miss what she says next, but a second later, she's stomping toward her car. Since it's the only vehicle, I'm hoping she doesn't drive off and leave me and Rosie.

I whistle. "Come on, girl. Let's get in the car before she leaves us both here."