Blood And Bone by Dawn Brown

again. He hated talking about the man. His father. “How much damage can Shay…she really do?”
    Ian stared at him, frowning. Damn. Had his uncle heard his near slip? That’s all he needed, for Heddi to realize he and Shayne were…were what?
    Nothing. You’re nothing to each other. She found you stranded at the side of the road and gave you a lift. That’s it. She would have done the same for anyone. Warn her about Heddi, pay Shayne back for helping you last night, then forget she ever existed. Easy.
    Or it should have been, but the memory of her mouth on his had stayed with him all day. Still, the less he had to do with her, the better off he’d be—her too. Look how his family was trying to manipulate him, and all they knew was he’d rented her a house. What would they be like if they knew he was interested in her?
    “I wish I were as confident as you, but I knew your mother, and she was no saint,” Ian said. “Have you thought about what this book could do to your sister? She’s spent the past twenty-five years running from that night. What will happen if she has to face it?”
    “Do you honestly think I haven’t considered Julia’s reaction?” Hell, he’d be the one who’d have to put her back together in the aftermath.
    “Did she ever tell you anything about that night?”
    Des shook his head. “Never.”
    Ian sighed, his shoulders drooping. “I suppose her being out of the country is almost a blessing.”
    “Yeah, I guess.” He didn’t want to talk about Shayne or Julia anymore. It was like shining a spotlight on his lose-lose situation. No matter whose side he came down on, he was betraying one of them. “Can you finish here for me?”
    Ian smiled. “Of course. Go home and get some rest. And, for God’s sake, stay away from Tic.”
    “It’s not like I go looking for the man,” Des muttered as he stood. His muscles had stiffened while he’d been sitting, and now they hurt. He probably needed more ibuprofen.
    Going home and resting sounded good, but first he needed to make a stop. He still had to warn Shayne about Heddi. Then they’d be even.
     
    The sun had sunk behind the trees, leaving the sky streaked with shades of turquoise and indigo and the woods dark by the time Shayne turned up the dirt drive toward the cabin. She’d stayed in the city longer than she’d initially planned, hoping to track down Robert Anderson. Between his envelope and the possibility Gwen had been involved with another man, she had to talk to him.
    Who had the man been? What had happened to him? Did Robert know? With Anderson’s trying to convince her he’d been innocent, the odds of his admitting he’d known about the affair weren’t good, but from what she’d seen, Robert Anderson wasn’t a man who hid his emotions easily. If she introduced the possibility, she might be able to get an idea of how close to the mark she’d hit based on his reaction. And if she pushed a little, maybe she could even get the man talking.
    A fine plan, except Anderson still hadn’t bothered to return any of her calls. She’d even contacted Anderson’s lawyer, hoping he might be able to set up another interview, but no such luck. She’d had no choice but to start back to Dark Water.
    Still, she wasn’t ready to give up yet. She’d keep trying.
    Shayne emerged into the clearing in front of the cabin and frowned. Light seeped from the gap between the drapes. Unease prickled her skin. Had she left the lamp on in the living room? Maybe. She’d been tired and distracted when she’d left.
    She stopped the car and cut the engine, before climbing out and hoisting her bag over her shoulder. A soft breeze rustled through the leaves, lifting the ends of her hair, and a chill gripped her belly. Who would she find this time? Tic and his rifle? Hudson?
    Cut it out, you could have left the light on. You’re making a big deal out of nothing . Still, her pulse fluttered in her throat as she started toward the cabin. Instead of