“What’s that?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Remember that I’ll always be here for you, because I love you,” she said quietly, her voice breaking. “Just like you’ve always been here for me.”

“Shit, Jessica . . .” I said, eyes filling with tears. I stepped toward her as she stepped toward me and then we were hugging and I couldn’t quite remember why I’d been so pissed. We stood like that—holding each other—for long seconds. Finally she broke the silence.

“Mel?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t think for one minute you’re off the hook for face painting.”

I pushed away, trying to glare at her but I started laughing instead, and then she started laughing and everything was okay.

• • •

Ten minutes later, I came racing down the stairs, my wet hair pulled into a loose bun on top of my head. I’d managed to clean up again, get dressed, brush my teeth, and even slapped on some lip gloss.

I hit the dining room, discovering the remains of our painting marathon the night before. Shit. I’d forgotten I needed to go buy paint. Jessica was going to kill me.

“Looking for these?” she asked, a shopping bag dangling from one hand.

“Face paints?” I asked hopefully. She nodded.

“Painter went out and bought them this morning.”

“See, he’s not that bad!”

She cocked a brow at me. “Seriously? He can buy you off with fifteen bucks of paint?”

“Don’t be a bitch.”

“But I do it so well,” she said, a reluctant smile coming across her face. “It was thoughtful. I can admit that. He left a note, too.”

“Let me see,” I said. She dug out a piece of folded paper, handing it over.

“I’ll save you some time. He said he’s sorry he had to bail on volunteering, but that he didn’t want to leave you hanging after he used up all the paint. He’ll be in touch as soon as he can.”

I opened the note, and sure enough—she’d quoted it almost perfectly. Suddenly I had an ugly thought.

“Jess?”

“Yeah?”

“You know how you’ve had the same phone code since high school, and I know that code?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Do you know my phone code?”

She stared at me, raising a brow.

“Of course.”

“I would never read your email or text messages. Just so you know.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“Jess?”

She blinked at me innocently. Like Bambi. “Yeah?”

“Is it even remotely possible that you don’t read my messages?”

My best friend gave me a beautiful, loving smile.

“Anything’s possible, Mellie. Now get your ass in gear—those kids get pissy if they have to wait too long for the carnival to start.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

PAINTER

Five hours later I pulled up to the shithole of a hotel Gage and I had been staying in the past week, wondering how long I’d be stuck here . . . I was ready to be home again already. Mel had done a number on me, no question. Never gave a damn before where the club sent me or worried how long it would take.

When I turned into the gravel parking lot—yeah, the hotel was that classy—I saw the cherry red Mustang convertible we’d seen in town last weekend parked next to Gage’s truck. Well, wasn’t that just interesting . . . the scandalous Ms. Tinker Garrett was leaning back against it, laughing at something Gage had just said. He was standing just a little too close to her.

Dirty fucker.

I bit back a grin, pulling my bike up next to them.

“Hey there,” I said. “Aren’t you going to introduce me, Coop?”

“You got here earlier than I expected,” he said, eyes narrowing just a little, although his voice was friendly enough. “This is Tinker—looks like I’ll be renting from her. I need a place and she’s got one, so it works out perfect. Tinker, this is Levi, a good friend of mine.”

She turned toward me, smiling brightly. God, she really was a pinup girl. All shiny hair, innocent face, and a body that wouldn’t quit. Up close I could see she was older than I’d realized—probably in her mid-thirties. Shooting Gage a speculative look, I had to bite back a smirk.

He had a thing for her, big-time.

Wasn’t that just unfortunate as hell, given the fact that he’d spent the last week chasing Marsh’s little sister, Talia. She had a bangin’ body, but no softness. No, that girl was a first-class bitch. Wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she had a pussy full of teeth. Sharp teeth.

Damned good thing I wouldn’t be the one fuckin’ her. Dodged a bullet there—Talia liked the older guys.

“Nice to meet you, Levi,” Tinker said, giving me a look every bit as sweet as the one she’d given Gage. Oh, that’d piss him off. “Looking forward to you moving in, Cooper. I need to get going, though—I’m headed down to Ellensburg for the night. Later!”

We stepped back, watching as she climbed into her car, backing it carelessly out of the parking lot before tearing off in a spray of gravel.

“Damn, she handles that stick like a pro,” I murmured.

“Eat shit, Levi,” Gage said. “Play nice or I’ll give you to Talia. She asked about you last night—guess one of her girls is into you.”

“Yeah, not interested. I’d just as soon my dick not fall off. Never seen such a diseased-looking pack of bitches.”