Read Her Grave Secrets (Rogue River Novella Book 3) for Free Online

softened her tone, feeling a bit guilty about her barrage of questions. “Just because this is how it’s always been between you two doesn’t mean you have to always walk the same road. If you want a closer relationship with your father, you need to make some steps and keep at them. You said he was older, right?”
    “He’s in his late seventies.”
    “Oh, Zane. And he lives alone? That breaks my heart.” The thought of Zane’s father living by himself and rarely hearing from his only son stung deep. Not everyone was as interactive as her family, but sometimes family was all you had. She wanted this fixed. Now.
    His jaw flexed again. “I’ll think about it. He’s not a helpless old man sitting alone in the dark staring at the phone. He’s very busy with his ranch and community. He’s got all sorts of buddies he talks to. Can we not talk about this right now?”
    She agreed but made a mental note to talk to her mother about it. Zane and his father were the only people left in his family. No wonder her parents had half-adopted Zane. Did her mother know something about Zane’s relationship with his father that she didn’t? She realized it was best to let it go. For now.
    “Help me take the stuff outside,” she requested. For a small apartment, she had a huge deck, and it had a lovely view of the river. It’d been the selling point for her. She could overlook a cramped bedroom and minuscule bath because of the awesome outdoor space. Zane grabbed the tequila bottle and balanced all the taco fixings in his big hands. She followed with the shrimp and spicy coleslaw. They sat in quiet companionship as they loaded up their corn tortillas. Zane took a bite and sighed.
    “How did I not know these existed two months ago?”
    “I know, right? One of the few things I miss about LA is the variety of food and, of course, the sunshine.”
    Zane cleared his throat and opened his mouth. Then closed it.
    “What?” Stevie asked. “You were going to ask me something.”
    He looked slightly sheepish. “You still haven’t unpacked your boxes. It looks like you’re not sure if you’re staying.”
    Stevie glanced around at her cluttered place. “I’m not going anywhere. Yes, I miss the sun, but not enough to balance out the crowds and cost of living down there. Solitude is home. I see that very clearly now.”
    “Your mother once told me she knew you’d have to leave Solitude to see this is where you need to be.”
    Stevie tried not to choke on a bite of taco. “You two talked about me? She said that?”
    Zane gave her an easy grin that made her heart skip. “She loves you. I do too. Why wouldn’t we talk about you?”
    She didn’t know what to say and settled for another bite.
    “But my question about your boxes was more self-centered. What would you think about moving into my place?”
    The question was casually delivered with his eyes on his food, but Stevie knew he’d laid his heart out on the table. She put down her taco and slid her hand into his, waiting until his blue gaze met hers. “I love you and I love us together, but I’m not ready for that yet. That feels a little too fast for me right now.” Images of the apartment she’d shared with her ex-boyfriend flooded her mind, and she shoved them away. When their relationship had crumbled, she’d felt homeless and desperate. She’d had to bunk at a friend’s until she’d packed up to move back to Solitude. Her current apartment stood for independence, something she still needed to cling to.
    He broke eye contact. “I knew I’d asked too soon.”
    “But I’m thrilled to know you want it. I just need more time. It’s only been a few months.” She gripped his hand harder, hating to disappoint him, but the insecurity from her last relationship was too fresh. Zane wasn’t overbearing like her ex. Not one bit. But she couldn’t take the step yet.
    “I’ll wait. I’ve got all the time in the world,” he said. “Especially when I’ve got