Revealing Annie - Freya Barker Page 0,38

for days.

I should never have let it get this far. I’d already been feeling uneasy, but it was the sight of the dead bird on my doorstep Monday morning that brought it all home. Something that in and of itself probably isn’t that uncommon but, with my paranoia taking a firm foothold again after being recognized, not so easily dismissed. It also got me thinking about what happened to my car at the yoga studio and the times I felt I was being watched. I’d brushed those incidents off, forcing myself not to look at everything with suspicion. I’d been told enough I was overreacting, being dramatic. Heck, it’s what David told me himself the last time I saw him before his car ended up at the bottom of a ravine.

I can’t take the chance. Not with Sumo, and certainly not with his son in the picture. No way. I’ll end it, pack up my stuff this weekend, and head out of town. I’ll miss this place, the few people I know, and my dogs, but it’s better to rip off the Band-Aid.

My firm belief I’m doing the right thing is only reinforced when I catch my new neighbor, Will, watching me from his drive as I pull my car under the carport.

“Hey, Annie!” he calls out when I exit the car. Instead of answering, I give him a half-hearted wave and hurry inside.

I’ve barely managed to dry off when I hear a loud knock on the front door. I shove my legs in a pair of yoga pants and tug a clean shirt over my wet head before I rush to the front door, checking my peephole before opening it to Sumo.

He’s carrying a large pizza box and a big smile when he steps inside, once again making my house feel small. He shuts the door behind him, tosses the box on the nearest surface, and hauls me against his body.

I don’t get a chance to protest before his mouth is devouring mine.

Deep sweeps of his tongue and the rumble of his satisfied groan vibrating in his chest overwhelm me and before I can help myself I’m on my toes, my arms wound around his neck, and my body pressed close.

I’m so screwed.

Sumo

“I missed this,” I finally mumble against her lips when I come up for air.

I feel it the instant realization hits her. Her body goes rigid and the hands that were curled around my neck come down and shove at my chest. I’m not surprised.

Hell, she’s been avoiding me all week. I figured if I didn’t step in, and do something soon, she’d disappear altogether. I hadn’t planned on attacking her at the door, but when she opened it, looking fresh out of the shower—droplets of water still in her short hair and the fresh scent of soap on her skin—I acted. I’m not sorry I did, even as she’s pushing me away. For the duration of the kiss she was as lost to the moment as I was. I’m not above using that fact to lord over her head when she tries to break things off with me. Because I have no doubt that’s what she intends to do.

Not giving her a chance to shore up her defenses, I grab the pizza, walk into her small kitchen, and make myself at home looking for plates.

“Sumo…” she starts, looking all kinds of conflicted. Good, I want her off balance, with her shields down. It’s the only way I’ll be able to get through.

“Kyle. To you I’m Kyle,” I correct her, and watch as her face goes slack.

I know what I said when she was over for dinner—only family uses that name—which is exactly why I’m asking her to use it now. She knows it means something.

Admittedly, I spent the first few days of her ignoring me pissed as all get out, wasting too much time obsessively reading all I could find about her online. I scrolled through countless pictures of her; the long blonde hair, flawless skin under perfect makeup, and expensive clothes, nothing like the Annie I know.

Bryce reminded me of that Annie when I took him for dinner at the Chuckwagon last night. I wanted to give him a real ‘Western’ experience before the place closes down after this season. Beans, beef, and cornbread slapped on a metal plate. Eating at a long wooden table next to strangers, while a band of cowboys made country sound good on the small stage.

The kid had a blast,