You've Got Tail by Renee George

course you can.”
    My knees buckled for a second. Crap. Why did he have to be so sexy? “Babel,” I said firmly, trying to sound in more control than I felt. “Is there a purpose to tonight’s visit? Other than the initial scaring the bejeezus out of me?”
    â€œSheriff called. Said you were nervous about a barn owl. He thought I could come over and reassure you.”
    The way he said “reassure” made it sound like a naughty, naughty word. I’m almost positive when the sheriff had said it, he hadn’t made it sound that way at all. “Consider me reassured. Anything else?”
    â€œDo you want me to stay?”
    Yes. “No.”
    â€œI could sleep on the couch. It might make you feel safer, what with all the dogs and owls creeping around you.”
    Okay. “No.”
    â€œYou sure?”
    No. “Yes.” I was a woman of many contradictions. My brain had apparently joined forces with my libido, but at least my mouth hadn’t betrayed me.
    He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
    â€œYou can take the couch.” Traitorous mouth! “Just for tonight, though. And don’t be getting any ideas,” I added. After all, I was in control. Right?
    Babel winked. “Got it. No ideas.”

Chapter 5
    T he next morning I jumped out of bed, ran a comb through my hair, brushed my teeth, and pinched my cheeks for color before casually strolling into the living room.
    Unfortunately, it had all been for naught. The spare blankets I’d given Babel were folded neatly on the side of the couch, and he was gone. No note, no nothing. Which shouldn’t have pissed me off, but it did. How come he hadn’t stuck around? I felt like a one-night stand without all the hot, sexy fun that comes before the shame and regret.
    Ruth stopped over and invited me to go to Lake Ozarks. She enticed me with the promise of name-brand outlet malls. I’m weak. What can I say? Besides, I needed a distraction. We went in her car, and during the drive, I found out that the only access road in or out of Peculiar was the long one-lane bridge I’d come in on. I enjoyed being a passenger. The country was beautiful and lush and green, something San Diego lacked, especially during water shortages. I hadn’t really paid attention when I’d driven in—more focused on the destination than the journey.
    After we’d finished shopping, (and hell yes, we shopped! I found some really cute things for the restaurant at an antique mall), Ruth said, “Are you sure I can’t talk you into getting a hotel room for the night, Sunny?”
    â€œDon’t you have to get home?” After all, Ruth did have a dozen kids.
    She shrugged. “Sometimes it’s nice to get away.”
    I could see that. Hell, if I had that many ankle biters I’d want to run away. But damn, I’d already run away from home once before, and I wasn’t looking to go anywhere else at the moment. “I have some stuff I need to do in the restaurant today. Plus, I want to go through Chav’s things and see if I can get a clue to where she is. You don’t mind, do you?”
    Ruth tensed, pursed her lips, and wiggled them. She minded. “Please, Sunny. You don’t want to go back to Peculiar. Not tonight anyway.”
    â€œI had a good time today, Ruth.” In other words, she was killing my buzz.
    She didn’t respond.
    I’d had it up to my eyeballs. “Do people really want me gone that badly?”
    â€œThere’s good reason for not wanting you around.” Ruth wouldn’t look at me. “You’re not one of us.”
    Great. There was some kind of hillbilly club that required membership I wasn’t privy to. “I could be ‘one of you’ if you guys would just stop treating me like I’m a boil on your asses.”
    Ruth cracked a smile. “I can’t explain it. Not in a way to make you understand. So, no offense,