“No! I don’t want to see anyone.”
Even as Montana asked herself when she was going to learn to butt out of other people’s business, she found herself asking, “Aren’t you lonely?”
Tears filled Kalinda’s eyes. “I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t let anyone see me like this.”
Fay moved to her daughter’s side and took her uninjured hand. “Oh, honey. You can’t hide forever.”
“Why not? I’m a monster. I’m ugly.”
Sympathy and pain jumbled together in her chest. Montana remembered what Simon had said about making people normal. Would Kalinda ever get there?
“He really wants to meet you,” Montana said. “To be honest, Reese isn’t all that. I don’t think you’d have to worry.”
Kalinda stared at her for a long time. “You promise he won’t say anything?”
Hoping she was doing the right thing, she nodded. “Just ten minutes. If he gets on your nerves I’ll take him away and you never have to see him again. Is that fair?”
“Okay.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll give you plenty of warning.” She glanced at Fay. “Are you all right with this?”
“We both need to get back into the world,” Fay told her.
Having Reese stop by wasn’t exactly the same as the world, but it was a start. Now all she had to do was make sure everything went perfectly.
SIMON SAT IN HIS OFFICE, updating charts on his computer. Despite his laserlike focus, he was aware of a small dog carrier in the corner of the room, along with two dishes. One was filled with water, the other with kibble.
He’d agreed to let Cece use his office as a temporary home. Having her around helped Kalinda heal, which was his primary concern. But the cage or crate or whatever it was called distracted him. Stupid but true.
Worse, he found himself anticipating seeing the dog. She was small enough not to be a bother, and friendly. He’d never considered himself a pet person, but she wasn’t too bad.
He finished with the chart and leaned back in his chair. Who was he trying to kid? While he thought the dog was fine, the person he most wanted to see was Montana.
It had been eight days since that night. Eight days since he’d told her the truth about himself and she’d explained why he was wrong.
He’d always known no one would understand. Still, he’d found himself hoping she would get it, that she would see what he went through. She hadn’t.
He supposed the fault wasn’t hers. After all, she didn’t have any life experiences to prepare her for someone like him. Her world had been safe, kind. The most important person in her life hadn’t turned on her.
There was no resentment in the thought. Knowing that Montana believed in goodness and the kindness of strangers made him sleep easier at night.
He missed her. There it was—the uncomfortable truth. He missed looking at her and talking to her. He wanted to have her tell him about her life and then he wanted to make love with her. Slowly the first time, savoring all that he could, then taking her hard and fast, both of them breathless.
He closed his charts and stood. Before he could leave his office, someone knocked on the partially closed door.
“Come in,” he called.
Two men entered. They were about his height and age. One was blond. He recognized the other man. Ethan Hendrix. Simon had met him at the family picnic after the car accident.
“Are we interrupting?” Ethan asked.
“I was just finishing paperwork. Good to see you again.” The two men shook hands.
Ethan introduced his friend. “This is Josh Golden, the second most famous athlete in Fool’s Gold.”
Josh grinned. “Give me a break. You really think Raoul could ride a hundred and eighty-plus kilometers in the high mountain stage of the Tour de France?”
“Sure.”
Josh chuckled. “Right.” He turned to Simon. “Admit it. You’ve heard of me.”
Ethan laughed. “You don’t have to do any upper body workouts, do you? Carrying that ego around is more than enough.”
Josh laughed. “You’re jealous because all the ladies love me.”
“I’m only interested in one lady loving me. You can have the rest.”
Instead of looking pleased, Josh seemed to deflate. “Good point. I only want Charity, too. Well, damn. What am I supposed to do with the rest of them? Simon? Interested?”
He found himself agreeing that there was only one woman who had recently captured his attention. “I would be a poor substitute.”
They continued to banter with each other. Simon found himself enjoying the conversation, even though he wasn’t saying much. They had obviously been friends for a long time—something he missed with his lifestyle. He was never in one place long enough to make connections that lasted.
Without wanting to, he remembered being eleven and standing in his mother’s small kitchen. His ears were ringing from the backhanded slap that had just landed across his cheek.