The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [159]
By the time he followed her, she’d already left for work.
Gabe gave him a questioning look, but Morgan didn’t even bother to acknowledge him. He left for work and didn’t come home until late that night. He didn’t see Misty at all.
MISTY WAS SITTING by the lake when Honey found her. She glanced at her sister, shielding her eyes from the sun. “Hey. What’s up?”
“That was my question.” Honey lowered herself onto the edge of the dock beside Misty. She pulled off her sandals and dangled her feet in the water. “Morgan has looked like a thundercloud all day, growling at everyone, ready to spit nails. We’re all avoiding him. The only one not afraid is the puppy.”
Misty looked at the dark lake water and promised herself she wouldn’t cry. “The dog has really taken to him, then?”
“Amazing, isn’t it? Do you know what he named that little wad of fur? Godzilla. And the dog seems to like it.”
Misty summoned up a smile, when in truth, it was all she could do not to bawl like a baby.
Honey made an exasperated sound. “So Morgan is more feral than ever and you’re so morose the sun won’t even shine on you. What’s going on?”
Misty turned her face away, resting it on her bent knees. Hoping Honey couldn’t hear the strain in her voice, she said, “Nothing. I just wanted some peace and quiet.”
“Funny. That’s just what Morgan said.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. He sent Gabe and Jordan running, and Sawyer was ready to hit him in the head, but I insisted he talk to me. He won’t growl at me, you know. I think he’s afraid it’ll break me or something.”
Funny. Morgan had never hesitated to shower her with his bad moods, not that she’d minded. He hadn’t scared her at all, because she’d seen through him.
Honey cleared her throat. “He told me he just wants to finish up the house so he can get moved out. He’s been spending every spare minute up there.” Honey hesitated, then said with a dramatic flair, “Tomorrow he’s moving in.”
Her stomach cramped, because she knew she’d chased him away, but what else could she do? Marry a man who didn’t love her?
“I hate to see him go,” Honey admitted softly. “The house won’t seem the same without him.”
Misty didn’t reply to that. What could she say? She’d barely seen Morgan in two days. Even today, at the station, he’d not taken much notice of her. When he had looked at her, his expression had been flat. There’d been no teasing, no lust, no tenderness, none of the things she was used to and that she had begun to expect. Oh, he’d still been courteous, telling her to go to lunch, to take her time, to make sure she ate right. It was as if what had been between them was no longer there.
Misty couldn’t bear to think about that, so she decided to do something she should have done already. “I have a confession.”
Honey’s arm slipped around her shoulders. “I’m still a good listener, you know.”
“You’re going to be angry,” Misty warned her.
“I doubt it.”
But when Misty explained all about the theft, how she’d been found guilty, Honey was absolutely livid. Not at Misty, so much, but that her boss had dared to accuse her and that the judge hadn’t believed her.
It took some fast talking on Misty’s part to make Honey understand that all was well now, or at least on the way to being well, thanks to Morgan, and to explain why she hadn’t told her sooner.
“So Morgan is the one that got it all straightened out?”
Misty nodded, once again confounded by his generosity. “He’s pretty wonderful, isn’t he?”
“I’ve certainly always thought so.”
She’d always thought so, too, but what she felt wasn’t enough to make a marriage work. Misty heaved a sigh. “I have to leave tomorrow morning. I might be gone overnight. I’m not sure.”
Honey stiffened. “Leave where?”
“My lawyer needs to see me. There’re some things that have to be done to set up the new trial. Everything should go well, so I’m not worried about that. I already told Ceily, and I told Nate. I know I should have told Morgan that I wouldn’t be in, but I just couldn’t. Things aren’t great between us right now.”
Very gently, Honey asked, “Why not?”
Misty squeezed her hands into