Free Dalton, Tymber - Stoneface (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Tymber Dalton Page B

stall her departure from Rapid City. She could claim she lost track of time and spend one more night there. “Where are you staying?” When she told him, he sounded shocked. “Oh, hell no! You pack your bags, right now, and get your sweet tush over here. You’re staying with me tonight, girlfriend. That place is a dump. You come over here, spend the night, and my boyfriend and I will take you out and treat you to the best steak dinner you ever had, guaranteed. Anyway, I owe you coffee, if I recall.”
    She couldn’t refuse that offer. Besides, didn’t that now put her trip into the deductible business expense category? Bonus.
    He gave her directions and hurried her off the phone. “Get packed, check out, and I’ll be waiting here for you. I’ll play tour guide and oh. My. God. I cannot believe I finally get to meet my buddy face-to-face!”
    When she got off the phone, she knew she had a smile on her face. At least the trip wasn’t a total loss.
    She’d wait to call Liam and tell him that. He’d know exactly what she was doing.
    Stalling for time to avoid flying again.
    Less than an hour later, she pulled into the bookstore parking lot. When she walked through the door, her eyes landed on a tall man, not quite as tall as Deputy Dickhead that morning, but just as good looking.
    They grow ’em cute in South Dakota.
    He finished ringing up a customer. When he spotted her, he let out a decidedly unmanly squeal that didn’t seem to fit his hunky bod. “Gwen!”
    She nervously smiled and nodded. “Tim?”
    He raced over to her and, before she could say anything else, he picked her up and swung her around. “Oh my god! Girl, you’re here! In my store! My favorite author!”
    She felt heat race to her face. He had shaggy blond hair and sweet blue eyes. She knew Tim was ten years older than her, but he didn’t look it.
    And he’s gay. Fuck. My dumb luck.
    “I’m sorry you thought I was mad at you,” she apologized. “I didn’t mean to make you think that.”
    “Oh, hey, it’s okay!” He grabbed her hand and led her to the back of the store, to his office, and pulled her up a chair. “Okay, so spill it. What’s up?”
    It spilled out of her, all right. With the stress of not finding Amy and having to fly home alone finally catching up with her, she burst into tears as she told him the story. She concluded with her literal gut-wrenching terror of air flight.
    Tim handed her a tissue and hugged her, gently patting her back. “Hey, sweetie, it’s okay, it’s all right. I don’t know who that asshole is you dealt with this morning, but my boyfriend’s a detective with the police department. He’ll help you.” He looked at her. “I wouldn’t feel right putting you on a plane in this state of mind anyway.” He hollered through the open door for someone while she blew her nose.
    A young woman appeared a moment later. “You bellowed?”
    “Celia, meet Gwen Oxford. You know, Gwenna Olmsford.”
    The other woman’s jaw dropped. “Holy cow! Nice to meet you.”
    Gwen nodded and tried to smile even as she sniffled. Jesus, my first real, on-the-road live appearance outside of Ohio, and I’m a damn basket case.
    “Hey, can you watch the store for me?” Tim asked Celia. “Call in one of the gang to work extra and help you out. I need to take care of Gwen.”
    “Sure.”
    Gwen’s phone rang “Silent Lucidity.” As soon as Liam heard her voice, he asked, “What’s wrong, Gee? Why are you crying?”
    That started her crying again as she tried to explain she was now sitting in Tim’s store and acting like a total douchebag.
    Liam tried to soothe her. “Gee, sweetie, it’s okay. Calm down. Let me talk to him.” She’d told Liam about her ongoing e-mail “relationship” with Tim.
    She handed him the phone. “It’s my brother, Liam. He wants to talk to you.”
    Tim took the phone. “Hello, Liam?…Yeah. That’s an understatement…I understand. Seriously, as long as she needs, I’m not letting