Stud in Texas (Rugged and Risque 4)

She wasn’t sure she’d be able to get through the whole story of what had led up to Mac attacking her, so she jumped in with what had happened at the studio when she’d refused to give him the sixty grand.

Reese sat quietly as she listened, her expression giving away the pain she felt for her best friend over hearing such shocking details, but not once did a look of fault flit over her face. She clearly didn’t believe Sky had knowingly invited or welcomed all of this trouble into her life, and that was a huge relief.

She ended the sordid tale with, “So he’s still after the money, and he burned down my trailer in Luckenbach yesterday morning.”

Reese gasped. “Oh my God. You loved that trailer!”

She nodded.

Realization must have slammed into Reese, because she was suddenly horror-stricken. “Sk

y! You could have been in there at the time! You could have been—”

“I wasn’t though,” she was quick to say as a chill crawled under her skin. “I was with Sam. I spent the night at his cottage. Obviously, I was there last night too. I really couldn’t think of where else to go at the time. He’s been extremely understanding and supportive.”

Reese jumped to her feet and rounded the desk. She pulled Sky into a tight hug and it caused fat drops to pool in her eyes. She squeezed them shut and let Reese console her.

“I am so, so sorry this happened to you,” Reese said. “My God, I can’t believe this has happened to you.”

“I’m okay now,” she choked out as emotion swelled in her throat. “Well, not totally okay. I am really, really mad. Like I need to kick Mac in the balls for the pure satisfaction of it mad. But I don’t even know where the hell he is.”

Reese pulled away suddenly. Gripping Sky’s biceps, she said, “You have to tell the sheriff. Mac is still out there and something else could happen. Something could happen to you.”

She swallowed down a huge lump of fear. “I know. I already told him my story. Yesterday morning. Sam took me. Which I clearly shouldn’t have allowed…” She blew out a long breath and shook her head. “He was upset to begin with, but now—”

“Wait. He knew?”

Sky cringed. “I told him after that dinner at Pietro’s. He kissed me and I just wanted it to go on and on. But I knew I’d have to tell him so that if I had any sort of adverse reaction as a residual effect from what Mac did to me, he’d understand that it wasn’t his fault. That it didn’t have anything to do with him. That I just might need more time.” She smiled suddenly. “I really didn’t need that much more time.” She whistled under her breath. “That man’s quite the miracle worker. Sort of a savior of lost souls, equine and human.”

Whatever dismay Reese might have felt over Sky having told Sam about Nashville before she’d told her best friend, she seemed to get over it. Fast.

She told Sky, “I’m glad he knows. I’m glad you felt comfortable enough with him to tell him, so that you no longer had this all bottled up inside. And so that maybe he could help you through it.”

“He’s a peach.”

“So are you.” Reese hugged her again. Then she asked, “What can I do to help?”

No pity. None at all. Sky breathed a sigh of relief.

“You still being my best friend works just fine,” she said.

“As if I wouldn’t be.”

Tears prickled her eyes. “I know. I just didn’t want to upset you. Or make you feel differently about me.”

“You know I’d never feel differently about you over something like this.”

Sky nodded. “In my heart, yes. But I did worry a little.”

“Don’t ever second-guess our friendship,” Reese said in a serious tone. “I mean it. And I also do want to know what I can do to help. Caleb will want to help too.”

With a shrug, Sky said, “Nothing to do, really. It’s pretty much in the sheriff’s hands. He and his deputies are on the lookout for Mac and they’re going to meet with the authorities in Fredericksburg.”

“You can’t go back to Luckenbach.”

She let out a hollow laugh. Swiped at her tears. “What’s to go back to? My trailer’s gone. All I own now is a bunch of scorched dirt and trees.”

“This is so awful,” Reese said. “But you can stay here. You know that, right? With Sam, or upstairs or even with Caleb and me, if that makes you feel safe. Whatever makes you feel safe, Sky.”