Desert Bound (Cambio Springs) (35 page)

“Asked what?”

“You all right?”

Such
a good guy. 

“Yeah. Thanks for the extra hours this week. Christmas kind of wiped me out. And it’s getting warmer again, so the kids are going to need new clothes. Though the boys are mostly taken care of with hand-me-downs and I think my sister has some stuff for Loralie. So that’s good. And—”

“I didn’t ask about the kids.” He stepped into the office, grimacing.

“I don’t—”

“How are
you
doing, Allie?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m fine.”

“You say that every time someone asks, and every night you walk in here, the circles under your eyes a little darker.”

She stiffened. “I’m doing my work, Ollie. Tracey says I—”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” he clipped, stepping even closer.

“What are you trying to say, then?”

He gritted his teeth. “Seriously?”

She felt crowded. And Ollie never made her feel crowded. She knew other people probably felt that way, but she never had. From the time he’d been a boy, Ollie Campbell had been the kindest, most considerate boy in the world to her. And having three of her own boys now made her realize that kind and considerate were not the natural states of male children.

But he wasn’t acting very kind or considerate lately. Mostly, he seemed annoyed.

All. The. Time.

“Why are you mad at me?” she whispered, trying not to cry. She cried when she was angry or nervous or just overwhelmed. She hated it. And she felt the tears gathering at the corners now.

He scowled. “I’m not mad at you.”

“Yes, you are. All the time now. It’s like… I’ve done something to piss you off. And I don’t know what. Ever since Joe—”

“I don’t want to talk about your husband, Allie.”

“Ex.”

“You signed divorce papers I don’t know about?”

She blinked and looked up. Ollie towered over her. Well over a foot taller than she was. The tears dried up and her temper rose with her chin when she glared at him.

“No. I have not signed divorce papers because my lawyer can’t find my
ex
-husband to give them to him. He’s run away, leaving me with four confused children, a lot of debt, and bills I can barely pay. So when I say my
ex
-husband, it’s because nothing in this world—
nothing
he could say or do—can make up for having to explain to my four kids why their dad, my
ex
-husband, is no longer there to say goodnight. Why he can’t even be bothered to call them. So in my mind, Joe is my
ex
-husband. And he was the minute he stepped foot out of the door while I was serving meatloaf!”

“Allie—”

“I worked my ass off to try to make that marriage good, and my
ex
-husband gave me nothing. It’s over.”

“Allie-girl—”

“It was over before he walked out the door.
That’s
how over it is.”

Ollie stepped another foot toward her and suddenly his hand was on the back of her neck. The heavy weight of it shut her up, the dark look on his face made her suck in a quick breath as something foreign, warm, and a little scary curled in her stomach.

“I get that you don’t want me to call Joe your husband,” he said in a low voice.

His hand stayed on her neck and she couldn’t look away.

“Good.”

“He’s your ex. Even though the papers aren’t signed.”

“Exactly.” Why was she out of breath?

“Good to know.”

His head dipped down. Not a lot. Just a fraction. But for a second, her mind was consumed with one thought.

Kiss me. Please.

She blinked and pulled back. His hand left her neck, and he took a full step away from her. Which, with Ollie’s giant legs, was something like half-way to the door.

He cleared his throat again. “You got your stuff?”

“Yeah.”

“Come on then.” He nodded down the hall. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“Thanks.”

She couldn’t read the expression on his face, but least he didn’t look annoyed anymore. His face was shut down, but his shoulders were relaxed. Something in her heart eased. Maybe he was just worried she’d make the mistake of taking Joe back if he came begging. It was probably that. Her dad had been worried about the same thing for a while. It must have been that.

But when she walked past him, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and that curl in her belly didn’t ease. 

It just got a little warmer.

ELIZABETH HUNTER is a contemporary fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance writer. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher. She once substitute taught a kindergarten class, but decided that middle school was far less frightening. Thankfully, people now pay her to write books and eighth-graders everywhere rejoice.

She currently lives in Central California with her son, two dogs, many plants, and a sadly dwindling fish tank. She is the author of the
Elemental Mysteries
and
Elemental World
series, the
Cambio Springs
series, the
Irin Chronicles
, and other works of fiction.

Website:
ElizabethHunterWrites.com
 

Elemental Mysteries fan site:
ElementalMysteries.com
. 

E-mail:
[email protected]
.

Twitter:
@E__Hunter

Find me on Facebook!

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