Read Online This Kiss (Made In Montana Book 12) by Debbi Rawlins - Free Book Online Page B

tomorrow, anyone who cared would know exactly where Ethan Styles was, so she had to tell Lola something.
    The smartest story to tell was mostly true. Ethan had unknowingly violated the terms of his bail and he was willing to cooperate. Which saved Sophie from having to fight off hordes of fans. Yes, some gray area existed, since she had Ethan in her clutches at this very moment, but no one had to know...
    It didn’t feel good lying to Lola like that. In fact, Sophie couldn’t recall having ever lied to her cousin, not about anything important, anyway. And here she was doing it now because of Ethan?
    God, he was like a drug. And she felt like a junkie. A cocky junkie telling herself she’d clocked in enough sobriety. She could resist him. Easy. Might as well have had
denial
tattooed across her forehead. She’d tempted fate, and fate had kicked her right in the butt.
    Her phone buzzed. It was Lola’s ringtone. Sophie hesitated, briefly before deciding it was better to talk now, while she had privacy.
    Just as she accepted the call, Ethan opened the door.
    With his damp hair slicked back, it looked darker, more like the dusting of hair visible above the waistband of his jeans. Which she could swear now rode even lower on his hips than before.
    “Sophie? You there?”
    “Yeah. What’s up?” She started to turn, then decided she’d rather keep an eye on him. He really needed to put his shirt on.
    “I thought I’d hear from you by now,” Lola said. “Where are you?”
    “Blackfoot Falls. I texted you when I arrived.”
    “Yeah, two hours ago. Have you seen him yet?”
    “Yes.” She watched him open the closet and pull out a duffel bag. He appeared to be ignoring her, but she wasn’t stupid. He was listening, hoping to hear something he could use to his advantage. Fine. As long as he stayed quiet.
    “And?” Lola’s impatience came through.
    “I’ll have to call you later.”
    “Got it. Just tell me this,” Lola said. “Will you be able to pick him up tonight?”
    She swallowed. “No.”
    Ethan turned in time to see her wince. Or maybe her voice had given away her guilt over the lie. He studied her a moment before swinging his bag onto the bed and sorting through his clothes.
    Lola was still there—Sophie could hear the police scanner her cousin liked to keep on low volume in the background—but she hadn’t said boo.
    “Okay.” Sophie swallowed. “Give me an hour.”
    “Hey, kiddo.” Lola’s voice had softened. “This turning out harder than you thought it would?”
    Sophie sighed. Her head hurt, as did every lying bone in her body. “Yes,” she admitted. “But I can do this.” She realized what she’d said and spun to face the window. It was too late. Ethan had heard. “Gotta go.”
    She disconnected, then stared out at Main Street until she was satisfied no telltale blush stained her cheeks.
    Ethan was watching her when she turned to him. He gave her a small crooked smile that didn’t help at all.
    “I have to move my car and get my bag,” she said with deliberate gruffness. “You going to be here when I get back?”
    “I gave you my word.”
    “Okay.” She glanced around, pretending to search for the keys she knew were sitting under her jacket. “Guess I’ll just have to hope that means something to you.”
    “I expect so,” he said, his tone making it clear he didn’t like his integrity questioned. “Mind picking up a six-pack? There’s a market at the other end of Main.” He dug deep in his pocket, pushing the jeans down another inch before producing a twenty.
    It occurred to her that he was trying to buy time by sending her to the store. Not likely. She believed his word did matter to him. And even if she was wrong, he knew he’d be a sitting duck tomorrow, so why bother disappearing now?
    She grabbed her jacket and keys. “What kind?”
    “Your choice.”
    Sophie laughed. “You’re not getting me drunk.”
    “Sharing a six-pack? I didn’t think so.”
    Funny, she