to hers and held it for a long second, then said, “Yeah, the marketing stuff was not at the top of my list. Like I said, I had some shit that needed taking care of at a job site. But you”—he reached out and brushed two fingers across her cheek—“were way up on my list.”
Ashley tried to pretend that he wasn’t having an effect on her, but it was hard to do since her stomach was doing somersaults. To keep him from seeing her reaction, she turned away.
“We have an appointment on Monday, so I shouldn’t have made a big deal about it. I guess I’m just feeling a bit homesick—you know, missing my friends and all that.”
“Do you have a guy in Denver?”
She jerked her head back. “No. But what does that have to do with work?”
“Nothing.”
Silence grew between them. She took another sip of coffee, then asked, “How’s your brother doing? I wanted to ask you about him, but you’ve been out of the office.”
The fine lines around his mouth tightened. “He’s fine.” His tone was curt, telling her not to ask any more about it.
“That’s good.” Picking up the bill from the counter, she sighed. “Well, I have to get going. I’m working on another campaign for a company in Aspen, and have a Zoom meeting with the owner during my lunch hour tomorrow.”
“Yeah, Zach mentioned it.”
She rose to her feet. “I’m glad we bumped into each other. I feel better knowing we’ve cleared the air between us.”
“I didn’t know we needed to, but it kicks ass that we got to hang for a bit.”
Ashley walked down the aisle to the cashier’s counter and handed the woman her credit card, with Smokey on her heels.
“How’re you doin’, Smokey?” the cashier asked as she ran the card.
“Not bad. How did the specials go over tonight?”
The woman smiled broadly at him. “Sold out on ’em.” Turning to Ashley, she handed her a pen, along with her card and the receipt. “Here you go.”
Signing the receipt, she placed her card back into her purse. Nodding her thanks to Smokey as he held the door open for her, she walked out into the cold night air, though it was nothing like the past week, which had been downright freezing.
“I think the weather’s finally getting warmer,” she said.
“Feels that way. Where are you parked?”
She pointed to a row of cars under a white florescent lamp post. “Over there.”
“I’ll walk you to it.”
Gravel crunched beneath their feet as they walked in silence, but when Ashley approached the Buick, she groaned.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Waving her hand to the right front tire, she informed him, “I’ve got a flat. I must’ve run over a nail somewhere.”
Switching on his phone’s flashlight, he knelt down by the flat and inspected it, running his fingers over the side of the tire. Straightening to his full height, she noticed his clenched jaw and furrowed brow.
“Do you have a spare?”
“Yeah, but you don’t have to change it. I belong to an auto club. I’ll just call them.”
“Pop the trunk,” he ordered as he strode over to the back of the car.
As Smokey worked, Ashley sensed that something was bothering him. Maybe he’s irked because he’s changing out my flat? I told him he didn’t have to do it.
“Who’s got a grudge against you?” he asked as he stood up.
The muscles in her body tightened. “What’re you talking about?”
He pointed to a thin slash high up in the sidewall of the tire. “This was done on purpose. What’s going on?”
Under Smokey’s intense gaze, she bit down on her bottom lip, scrambling to come up with an answer.
His index finger gently pressed against the skin just below her lip and pulled it free. “And don’t BS me. Someone’s fucking with you.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I hardly know anybody in Pinewood Springs. It’s probably a group of bored teenagers, running around vandalizing cars.”
Smokey stood completely still, his gaze piercing hers. Ashley shifted from foot to foot under his scrutiny. He doesn’t believe me. Maybe I should tell him. She darted her eyes away from his. Tell him what? That a guy I’d testified against has driven all the way to Pinewood Springs to slash my tire? That he has nothing better to do than play games with me? He’ll think I’m a paranoid nut, for sure, and he’d probably be right.
“So you’re sticking with that?”
“I guess I am.” Pressing the key fob, she opened the door, smiling up at