Pursue (Portland Street Kings Book 3) by Evie Harper Page B

and moves toward the ladder. Remembering something, I quickly grasp Dom's arm to stop him. “My phone battery is dead. We might need to ask them if we can use their phone for a tow truck.”
    Grimacing, Dom says, “I think we’ve pissed this guy off enough. We might have to walk to another farm and ask to use their phone.”
    I give a quick nod. When Dom is halfway down the ladder, I start my climb as well. On my way, I notice the old couple is quietly arguing with each other.  
    As soon as I reach the ground, Dom steps in front of me as Jared swings his shaking gun between us.  
    I peer around Dom to get a better view of the lady Jared called Abi. She’s studying us as I observe her. Abi’s hair is a gunmetal gray and it’s tied up into a bun. She stands confidently in jeans and a white sweater. She spots me staring and smiles at me with rosy cheeks and wrinkles which show a lifetime of laugh lines and her ability to age with grace.  
    “Before you go, let me get you some change,” Abby offers, but before she can take a step, Dom stops her.
    “Not necessary, ma’am. Consider the rest payment for us staying the night.”  
    “Hush,” Abi says with a wave of her hand. “You two seem like nice people. I’m glad our barn could give you shelter when you needed it. Where were you two off to when your car broke down?”
    Jared appears frustrated and grumbles under his breath to his wife, “Abigail, let's not stick our noses in their business.”  
    Abi smacks Jared on the arm causing me to jump, latching onto Dom's shirt and hiding behind him.  
    “Jared,” Abi says firmly. “Put down the gun. They paid for vegetables for goodness' sake, and you're scaring the poor girl. Look, she already has a hurt arm.”
    A giggle threatens to escape when Abi says I'm scared of the gun. I am afraid of any gun being pointed at me, but I’m more frightened of Abi smacking her husband's shaking arms and Jared accidentally pulling the trigger while he’s pointing it at us.
    I hear movement and Jared sighs heavily. “I may be old, but I have quick reflexes. Don't try anything.”  
    Dom nods and I step out from behind him, wanting to reassure them we mean no harm. “I promise we aren't here to hurt either of you or anyone, ever.”
    Abi claps her hands and smiles. “That’s settled then. Why don’t we move this conversation into the house over a cup of tea.” Not waiting for our reply, Abi spins on her heels and waves at us to follow.
    Dom and I step forward to follow, but Jared swings the rifle up in front of us at waist height, stopping us in our tracks. “My wife is very trusting. However, I am not. I'll be watching you two.”
    A wide smile spreads out on my face. He reminds me of my brothers. Jared's head jerks back, obviously not expecting my reaction. “I like you,” I announce and then walk around the gun and follow Abi.  
    As I'm walking away, I hear Jared mutter, “Christ. Your girl and my wife might get on better than I want them to.”
    “That’s Della. She’s full of surprises,” Dom states proudly, and my smile grows bigger, wider than I ever thought it possible to smile.  

    ***

    Abi sits us down at their mahogany dining table as she makes the tea. The kitchen is a large space filled with mahogany cabinets, silver appliances, and a marble countertop in the center of the kitchen where a blue apron and dish towel sit disheveled. The living room, which we can view from our seats, is similar: Mahogany furniture with two blue sofas which match the cushions we're sitting on. From outside, the house shows its large size, but inside, it seems smaller. It has a homey warmth to it. It’s impeccably clean; however, it’s filled and almost cluttered with a lifetime of accumulating trinkets. Their ivory walls are covered in memories with picture frames; photos of their family as they’ve grown, children, and I think what must be their grandchildren as well. Every inch of what I’ve seen so far shows a