down every time. “There’s no need—that’s all. I’ve got this.”
“It’ll be easier to clean up this place if we both do it. It’ll be easier for you to get to the airport if I drop you off. After what happened at the Blue Suede Shoe, it might even be easier for you to sleep, knowing I’m here. Why are you so anxious to get rid of me?”
“Because it’s going to be hard enough,” she said. “We should just...get the goodbye over with.”
He turned her to face him and lifted her chin so she’d have to meet his gaze, but he didn’t get a chance to say whatever was on his mind. A determined knock at the door interrupted.
Somewhat relieved to avoid whatever had been coming next, she hurried to answer it.
With Dallas in the apartment, she felt perfectly safe, didn’t bother to check the peephole. She threw the door open, expecting a neighbor carrying a box that had been delivered while she was gone or something.
Instead, it was Ethan who stood on her stoop. “You!” she said.
“It’s about time you came back,” he responded. “I would’ve driven to Silver Springs, but it felt too much like entering the lion’s den. Whoever you’ve been with certainly doesn’t like me much.”
“For good reason,” she stated. “But...how’d you know I was home?”
“I asked the neighbor to give me a call if she ever saw you.”
“My neighbor contacted you?”
He gave her a taunting smile. “She happens to be a loyal fan.”
“A loyal fan of yours, maybe. Anyone who was loyal to me would never do such a thing.”
His smile faded. “Look, I’m sorry, okay?”
“For...” She was dying to hear him admit what he’d done, to take responsibility for it. But he didn’t answer. He leaned closer, his eyes widening in shock.
“Are those bruises on your neck?”
“Yes,” she snapped. “That’s what happens when someone chokes you! After everything you’ve done to destroy my life, I can’t believe you’d send some thug out to Silver Springs to intimidate and threaten me.”
“That’s just it,” he said. “That’s why I’m here. I didn’t send anyone. Would I like you to drop the lawsuit? Hell, yeah! But I would never have anyone hurt you.”
“You hurt me!” she cried. “You posted that video online and—”
“Look,” he broke in. “You’re suing me. I can’t comment on that. I’m sorry if anything I’ve done has caused you pain, but I didn’t do this.” He gestured to her neck.
The door slipped out of Emery’s hand as Dallas opened it wider. “We’re going to find the cowboy who choked her and prove you were behind it all, so you might want to admit the truth now. I promise I’ll be in a far more forgiving mood if you do.”
Ethan stepped back. “I know you...”
“I’m going to get to the bottom of this if it’s the last thing I do—even if I have to hire a private investigator,” Dallas went on, ignoring his reaction. “And when I have the proof I need, I’m coming after you.”
Ethan lifted one hand. “You were the guy who came to the house and asked for Tommy. You said...” He glanced between them. “Oh, I get it. That was a setup. You’re also the one who threatened me.”
“Like I said, we’re going to get the information we need—one way or another,” Dallas reiterated.
“I can understand why you wouldn’t believe me. But I didn’t have anyone choke Emery.”
“Maybe that wasn’t what you specifically requested, but if you sent someone out there, you’re responsible for it,” Dallas insisted.
Ethan pressed a hand to his chest. “You don’t understand. I really didn’t do it! Having someone attack her is serious. I’m not that kind of guy.”
The neighbor came out and looked down at them. “Thanks for the call,” Ethan said, wearing a forced smile as he waved at her. Then he lowered his voice, “Can I please come in so that we can work this out in private?”
Emery shot her neighbor a dirty look for taking Ethan’s side, and the woman ducked back into her own apartment as Dallas opened the door even wider. “I’d love to have you come in,” he said.
Ethan shot Emery a worried glance. “This guy’s going to hear me out, isn’t he?”
“To be honest, I don’t know,” she said but only because she took some small pleasure in the fact that he was nervous. For all everyone had to say about Dallas’s temper, she knew she could trust him not to go too far.
“You’ll be fine as long as