you run out of good gossip to barter with at the local donut shop and thought youâd dig up some here? Iâve got more important things to do than feed your salacious curiosity.â
She spun to go, but paused mid-turn at the sound of Jimâs low chuckle. She glanced back. His pleased expression made Aliceâs frown deepen.
â
Salacious?
I guess Dylan has his hands full with you.â
Alice gave a disbelieving bark of laughter, a comeback forming on her tongue.
âYou arenât helping matters much, Jim,â a man said. Alice started, her retort forgotten. Dylan strode into the clearing, Sal Rigo trailing behind him.
For a stunned second, she just stared in shock, sure she was hallucinating Dylanâs tall, impressive form. He wore an impeccable dark blue suit, a pristine white shirt, silver cuff links, and a silver and navy striped tie. Even through her amazement at his presence, Alice distantly acknowledged he looked downright amazing. His bold masculine features seemed tense and determined. His near-black eyes flickered over her quickly. She was so keyed in to him she knew instinctively he was making a quick thorough assessment of her well-being. He seemed both bizarrely out of place in the midst of the sylvan setting, and yet completely at home at once, like he utterly owned these woods.
Which he did, of course.
âDylan,â
both she and Jim muttered at once. Jim sounded just as surprised as Alice. Seemingly having decided all Aliceâs limbs were where they should be, Dylan locked his attention on Jim. Sheridan had labeled Dylan the iceman earlier, and Alice had often had reason to suspect he would be intimidating when pressed. Seeing him at the moment, Alice knew sheâd been a hundred percent correct in her assumption.
âWhy are you questioning Alice out here in the woods?â Dylan demanded quietly.
âYou make it sound so unusual. I just had a few questions about last night, thatâs all. It hardly warrants an emergency trip from the office on your part,â Jim said incredulously. The sheriffâs gaze ran over Dylan and then Rigo, lingering on Rigo. Rigo was nearly as tall as Dylanâs six-foot-three-inches, but bulkier. He reminded Alice of a rock. Alice now knew that Dylan had personally commissioned Sal Rigo and another man from Durandâs security division with the task of watching over Alice at the camp. Dylan had originally done it without her knowledge. Alice was being followedâspied on, in truth. To see the evidence of her surveillance so blatantly paraded in front of her raised her hackles.
âWhatâs all this about?â Alice hissed, her question for Dylan.
âThatâs what Iâm trying to find out,â Dylan replied with seeming calmness, still pinning Jim with his stare. âWhat is it that you feel is so crucial to question Alice about while sheâs working?â
Jim sighed and took a step back. âThe truth? I guess I came to ask her whatâs got you like this,â the sheriff said, waving at Dylan.
âGot me like
what
, exactly?â
âWhatâs got you rushing out of your office and traipsing through the woods the second Mr. Security Guard here says the word,â Jim said mildly, nodding at Rigo. Alice saw Jimâs glance slide over to her, his eyebrows arched expectantly. Dylanâs gaze followed the sheriffâs lead, flickering over her. For a split second, his gaze locked with hers.
Stop this, Dylan. Stop making more of this than there is! If you insist on highlighting the Addie Durand situation, how can I keep up this constant effort to minimize it and deal with the everyday details of my life?
Dylanâs features stiffened as if heâd heard her panicked thoughts. He turned his shoulder to Alice and faced Jim. Feeling utterly dismissed by him, Aliceâs anger and helplessness swelled.
âI see you
think
you already know the answer,â Dylan said