The Rebel's Return (Red River) by Victoria James Page A

she’d struggled with the hill. “That sounds creepy.”
    He grinned. “Fine. In a non-stalkerish way, then.”
    “I avoided the river trail, and now I find you here!”
    “That’s disappointing,” he said. “My feelings are hurt, especially after yesterday.”
    For a second, it looked as though guilt flooded her eyes. She always was a softy. He’d destroyed that. The fact that she actually looked sympathetic even for a moment made him feel like a bigger ass.
    Then she pointed at him, and if he’d been standing closer, he would bet she’d be jabbing him. “Don’t try and guilt me. You should try being publicly humiliated when your boyfriend cheats on you and then leaves town. That is what hurt feels like.”
    He looked down at his wet shoes. “Touché. You’re right.”
    “Great. So move out of the way, I’m not done with my jog.”
    “It kind of looks like you are.”
    Crap. Obviously not the right thing to say.
    She placed her hands on her hips and started tapping her right foot. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    He ran a hand over his jaw. “Nothing. Just that you looked like you were struggling a bit.”
    Her chin went up five notches too high to be natural. “I don’t struggle with jogging. I’m…having a rough morning.”
    He frowned. “Oh. Everything okay?”
    She folded her arms under her breasts, and some damn fine cleavage came into view, straining against the zip of her hoodie. He forced himself to look away and reminded himself that it was his own fault he’d given all that up. “Everything is fine. Now, if you’ll get out of my way,” she said, trying to sidestep him on the sidewalk. He didn’t move until he had to grab her arm before she landed on the road.
    “Are you trying to get me killed?” she yelled.
    He didn’t let go of her arm. “I’m trying to prevent you from getting killed. You would rather walk onto a two-lane bridge than stand here with me?”
    She rolled her eyes. “I’m busy. I have to get home and shower and then do the almost-bride’s bidding.”
    “Oh.”
    “Yeah. Wait. Why were you looking for me yesterday, anyway?”
    Oh. That. Obviously the highlight of his day, but he didn’t want to ask her anymore. He shrugged. “Can’t remember.”
    Her eyes became squinty. “Spill it.”
    He knew her to be even more stubborn than he was. “I was going to ask you a favor.”
    She straightened up, looking guarded. “Well, what is it?”
    He shook his head. “I’ll ask someone else.”
    “Who? You have no friends.”
    Nice. “I have friends. Jake. Quinn. Evan.”
    She rolled her eyes. “But there’s a reason you were going to ask me.”
    He cursed his father. “It’s my dad. He requested you.”
    Everything changed when he mentioned his father. Her eyes became softer, her posture relaxed, and she looked sympathetic. “Oh, tell me, then. I’ll help him.”
    “I have to be in Toronto tomorrow for an investor’s meeting that was booked months ago. It’s for the day, but that means I won’t be able to drive him to the hospital tomorrow morning. He insisted he could drive himself, but—”
    “No, no,” she said, shaking her head. “Of course I can take him. Just text me all the details, and I’ll pick him up…oh wait,” she said, frowning. “What time do you have to be in Toronto?”
    “Noon.”
    “What time do I have to leave Red River to get him to the hospital?”
    “Eight.”
    “There’s a delivery I have to make. It should be fast, but it’s for nine o’clock. It’s a bunch of cupcakes to the ballet academy…” Her voice trailed off, and he found himself lost for a moment. God, he’d have done anything for Nat.
    He cleared his throat. “I can do it.”
    She smiled at him, and his heart swelled. God, he was cracking. “Thank you so much. All you need to do is enter the bakery from the back door tomorrow morning. The lady who runs the front of the shop will know you’re coming. They will be in pink boxes, lined up on the