The Gamble (Colorado Mountain #1)(84)

“No,” I replied truthfully this time. My father was the last thing on my mind, which was the only fortunate thing that came from the vicious twists and turns of my day.

“That Niles guy?” Max pressed.

“No,” I replied, again truthfully.

Max was silent again while he made the next turn and he noted, “Somethin’ else is eatin’ you, babe,” but before I could comment, he pulled in a sharp breath.

I looked at him then followed his eyes. Then I pulled in a sharp breath too.

Firstly, there was a Subaru parked in front of the A-Frame. Mindy and a tall man, the sun shining on their hair and both of them were leaning their backs against the Subaru’s hatchback. Secondly, there was my rental car at the edge of Max’s front clearing, obviously, and quite liberally, having been vandalized.

“What the f**k?” Max clipped as he turned into the lane, drove down it and parked behind the rental.

He didn’t glance at me when he got out. I followed him, my eyes also glued to the rental.

It had been nearly covered in spray paint including the windows. The brake lights had been busted out, their plastic shards in the gravel of Max’s drive. The tires were flat, all four of them. The wing mirrors were hanging drunkenly by wires, the mirrors shattered.

“Appears you got an enemy,” the tall man said, he and Mindy walking up to us.

I glanced at him. He had dark red-brown hair, somewhat familiar blue eyes and tanned skin. He was nearly as handsome as Max and, now that I was becoming somewhat of an expert at identifying them, I noted he was also total Mountain Man wearing a thermal under a jeans jacket, faded jeans and boots. His eyes were attached to me.

“I –” I began.

“I’m so sorry, Neens,” Mindy interrupted me, coming to his side, she was biting her lip, looking worried, her eyes appeared red rimmed as if she’d been crying.

It was the red-rimmed eyes that took my attention therefore I forgot about my unknown new acquaintance and asked, “Are you okay?”

She shook her head and announced, “Damon did this.”

“Did what?” I asked stupidly, feeling my heart start beating faster and my palms start itching.

“Your car, honey,” Max answered and I looked to him.

“My car?” I repeated, my mind stuck on thoughts of Damon getting to Mindy in town, doing something to make her cry and wondering where Max kept his gun.

He tipped his head to the rental and his arm slid around my shoulders. “Damon, he did that to your car.”

I glanced at my car then my gaze went back to Mindy.

“Did you see him do this?” I asked.

“No,” she answered.

My voice was softer when I went on, “Have you seen him at all, darling?”

“No,” she replied.

“Did he call you?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know he did it?”

“That’s just,” she flicked a hand to the rental, her breath hitched then she pulled in a deep one to cover it before she went on, “what he’d do.” Then tears gathered in her eyes and she concluded, “I’m so sorry, Neens.”

Then she covered her face with her hands and burst into tears.

I pulled out from under Max’s arm and swiftly walked forward, gathering Mindy in my embrace.

“Sweetheart,” I cooed to her, “I have full coverage on that rental. It’s no big deal.”

Well, it was since I really now couldn’t escape Max unless I somehow managed to make off with his Cherokee in the dead of night but I couldn’t tell Mindy that.

I’d worry about that later, though hopefully not too much later. I had to worry about Mindy now as she was hiccoughing and still hadn’t taken her hands from her face even though I was holding her.

“Yes, but it’s such a dick thing to do,” Mindy said from behind her hands.

“You’re right about that, still, if he didn’t do it, really I would just be throwing that insurance cover away. I should find him, thank him for making that financial outlay worthwhile.”

Her body jerked, her hands went down and her head came up.

“What?” she whispered and I looked over my shoulder at the car then back at her.

“And, Mindy, seriously, he made that insurance really worthwhile. I mean he was thorough. Don’t you think, darling?” I teased.

A surprised giggle came up her throat, she gulped it back and I smiled at her as I pulled one side of her hair over her shoulder.

Then I put my hands to her face and used my thumbs to rub away the tears as I said softly, “All right, you’ll probably shed more tears over that Neanderthal before you’re well and truly over him, but please, don’t do it on my behalf. Okay?”

“You aren’t pissed?”

Oh, I was pissed. Damon Matthews had taken away all hopes of escape and he was, indeed, a very serious dick. Still, Mindy didn’t need to know any of that.

“I’m of the opinion, the more evidence he presents that you can so way do better than him, the better it is.”

“Already, I like her.” The deep, rumbling voice of the redheaded man came from close.

I dropped Mindy’s face and stepped away, looking up at him.

“Brody,” he introduced himself, hand up, eyes (Mindy’s eyes, which was why they were familiar) smiling and open as well as openly curious.