Made For Loving You (Rescue My Heart Book 3) by Kait Nolan (i can read book club txt) 📕

the shower. I’ll get you something of Harrison’s to wear.”

Ty squinted at her, desperately hoping the gesture didn’t make his eyeballs pop out of their sockets. “You’re going to help me?”

“Well, I didn’t drag you awake just to yell at you.”

“Thank you.”

She pointed toward the bathroom. “Go!”

Because he needed more shock to his system, he cranked the water to icy cold and stepped into the tub. Absorbing that fresh agony, he stood for a moment under the punishing spray, trying to logic his way through the situation and find the answers that had eluded him at the bottom of a bottle.

She’d had all night with his harsh words echoing in her head making her think…what? That he blamed her? That he was a weak, cowardly shadow of a man who couldn’t protect her? That he wasn’t even going to try anymore? That he didn’t love her?

None of it was actually true, but he’d said or implied all of it. Of course, she’d want to leave. What the hell had he expected her to do? Just sit around being biddable until he pulled his head out of his ass enough to apologize? In all reality, he hadn’t been thinking. He’d been reacting. And somewhere, deep down, a part of him had said it all to be proved right. That he wasn’t worthy. That she’d ultimately get sick of his shit or disappointed enough to walk away.

Well, congratu-fucking-lations. Mission accomplished.

He had to get to her. He didn’t know what he’d say when he did, but he’d cross that bridge when he got to it.

Fifteen minutes after his rude awakening, he strode into the kitchen, feeling several steps below human. Harrison held out a tall glass with something resembling vomit inside.

“Do I wanna know what’s in that?”

“I assure you, you do not. Here, take some aspirin with it.”

Bracing himself, Ty tossed the pills back and gulped down the sludge. The indescribable horror of it made his eyes water. He slapped the empty glass down on the counter with a gasp. “Was there a raw egg in that?”

“I told you, you don’t wanna know.”

“Ty.” At the sound of her voice, he turned to see Ivy standing in the doorway, face pale, green eyes scared.

The noxious brew he’d just downed turned to lead in his stomach. “What is it?”

“Ari just called. Duke is missing and now nobody can find Paisley. They were out looking, and Ari went to get more people to help. When she came back out, there was no sign of her. She’s probably gone too deep in the woods and can’t hear anyone call her.”

Ty’s heart thundered, dread and horror racing neck-and-neck through his system. “You don’t really think that’s what’s going on.”

“Do you?”

“No.” The stalker knew about the dog. Had already demonstrated once that he could get close to him. What did Paisley love more than Duke? Nothing. She’d walk into hell itself to bring him back. And Ty had walked away, leaving her alone, foolishly believing she’d be safe among all the other guests and staff at the inn.

Harrison’s hand settled on his shoulder. “Wherever your brain is going now, stop. You’re no good to her if you spiral. Lock it down.”

Drawing on all his training, he exhaled a long, slow breath, bullying the fear and the blame into a cell deep in his mind. There’d be time to deal with them later, when she was safe. As he felt the control click into place, he nodded. “Let’s go’”

“I’ll text Sebastian and be right behind you,” Ivy promised.

Harrison drove. The whole way there, Ty prayed he was wrong. Prayed Paisley would be walking out of the woods with Duke at her side. But the people milling about in front of the three-story Victorian and the collection of extra vehicles parked all up and down the drive—including the sheriff—put that fragile hope to a swift death.

Spotting his boss at the center of a small crowd, Ty headed in his direction, Harrison on his heels. Xander looked grim as he held something out. “We found this.”

Automatically, Ty accepted it, staring down at the bright turquoise case with the custom vinyl skin proclaiming Please do not annoy the writer or she will put you in a book and kill you. Paisley’s cell phone. His jaw worked. “Where?”

“About half a mile due east. There—” Xander sighed, “there were signs of a struggle.”

The beast Ty had locked away roared and rattled the bars on its cage. He closed his eyes and allowed himself a single moment to acknowledge the rage. At himself. At whoever had taken his woman. “What do we know?”

“She was planning to leave.” This came from Ari, who’d been Paisley’s shadow since she arrived at the inn.

Ty focused in on her, noting the mix of fear and teenage belligerence in her dark eyes. “She what?”’

“She’d packed her car and everything to go back to Nashville because you were an idiot.”

“Ari!” Pru’s reprimand was horrified and sharp.

“Not helping,” Xander added.

Ty absorbed the words and the guilt they inspired. He’d driven her away even before she’d been taken. Ivy had surmised as much, but the confirmation still rocked him. “She’s not wrong.” Pushing past self recrimination, he turned to the girl. “Did she tell anyone she was going?”

“She said someone was expecting her, but she didn’t say who.”

It had been less than twenty-four hours. He felt in his gut she hadn’t made this call before last night, which meant the stalker had been close, waiting. How close? “Are all the guests accounted for?”

Pru’s eyes went wide. “Are you suggesting one of them could have taken her?”

“Process of elimination,” Xander explained.

Pru’s husband, Flynn, was already headed toward the house. “I’ll go check.”

“Did you see anyone else out this morning? Did anyone?” Ty glanced around at the others gathered, including them in the question.

“It’s midweek so we don’t have a full house,” Kennedy explained. “Three guests have been up and at breakfast in the dining room, and we haven’t opened for the day’s spa appointments.”

Xander