“Damn dog,” she sighed when he didn’t come running. She called again, this time shaking his tin of treats, and when he still didn’t appear, she went out into the gallery to look for him. The courtyard, which she’d once loved, now looked so forlorn. She’d even had to get rid of the piano. Only two of the artists still had to collect their paintings, and then it would be time to hand in her keys at The Priory. There were really not many places left where Baxter could hide. Not finding him outside, she went back into the house, did a quick search and came up blank.

Then, she started to panic.

Chapter 15

Travis spent most of his time holed up in one of the rooms above The Priory working, occasionally venturing downstairs for a beer and to discuss the Ministry issue with Ajax and Blue. They still hadn’t decided what to do about the information he’d found, because none of them wanted to go into Ministry territory all heavy-handed when their own club wasn’t yet back to full strength. Which was a drag, because Travis was in the mood to wreak havoc.

He’d assumed within a couple of days of moving out of Billie’s place that he’d start to feel like himself again. Every night he went downstairs hoping that some tart’s short skirt would pique his interest—he figured fucking someone else might help him obliterate the taste and feel of Billie—but so far he hadn’t been able to bring himself to even talk to another woman. Sophie had guessed what his sour mood was about and told him to either get over Billie or go the fuck back to her.

“I don’t want your hangdog expression turning away my customers,” she’d said last night.

It was easy for her to hand out advice when she was so loved up, but she and Ajax were partly to blame for his grumpiness. How was he supposed to forget Billie when they constantly reminded him what it was like to be one part of a whole? They seemed truly happy, and Travis couldn’t help the jealousy that sparked within him. Ajax, although still hard around the edges and still not someone you’d want to mess with, had definitely changed since shacking up with Sophie.

Needing some fresh air and to break this cycle of unhelpful thoughts, he took himself downstairs, sat down on a stool and kicked his boot into the old oak of the bar. He was considering whether it was too early for a drink and decided maybe it would be better to go for a ride, when he felt something warm and furry at his feet.

“Baxter?” he said, glancing down.

“You know that pup?” Sophie asked, coming in from the back. “I was about to call the pound.”

And he was about to tell her it was Billie’s dog and ask if she could take him back, but something stopped him. Instead, he stooped down and scooped him up. “Yep. I’ll take him back where he belongs.”

He hadn’t seen Billie since his explosion at Lorna’s and he wanted to, dammit. Just one last time. Maybe one last hit was what he needed before he exorcised her from his mind altogether.

Baxter nuzzling against his neck and licking his face in a way that was quite embarrassing, Travis went out onto the street and turned toward the gallery. Watching from above The Priory, he’d seen the trail of people coming and going over the last few days, collecting pieces of art and taking them away, but he didn’t expect to feel so bereft when he looked through the ornate ironwork gate and saw it almost empty.

And he was responsible. He’d taken away the life and color of the building, stolen the place where so many locals showcased their work and where Billie and Baxter had made themselves a home. He’d done some pretty bad shit in his life, but somehow this made him feel worse than any of it. Baxter still in his arms, he tried the gate, but it was locked. He’d have to go get a key from next door. As he turned, a thought struck him cold.

Could she have left already and abandoned Baxter?

As unlikely as it seemed, the place looked deserted, and if she was heading back to Australia, she might have thought Baxter was better off here. Maybe she sent him toward The Priory, assuming someone would take him in? Something inside him constricted at the thought—not because he was worried about the dog so much but because of what it meant.

“Are you trying to kidnap my dog now?”

A voice he’d recognize anywhere jolted his jumble of thoughts, and he spun around and came face-to-face with Billie as she approached from the other direction. Her face glistened with perspiration and she was breathing heavily as if she’d just run a marathon. She glared at him like he was the devil incarnate. Fuck, she was gorgeous. If anything, the scowl on her face only made her more attractive. He couldn’t help glancing down her body, taking in her short skirt and knee-high boots. Although her top was of the baggy variety, he knew the curves beneath it all too well and his hormones stood at attention.

“Do you mind?” she spat, crossing her arms over her chest and shaking her head at him.

He chose to ignore that question, answering her first one instead. “I’m just trying to bring the stupid mutt back to you. I found him next door.”

She closed the distance between them and snatched the dog from him. “Well…Thanks.” It sounded like those two words almost killed her.

They stood there in silence, glaring at each other for what felt like an eternity. A voice inside Travis’s head told him to walk away, but his legs wouldn’t listen. Probably because they were attached to his dick, and his dick thought walking away was a stupid idea.

“Well, I guess this is it,” Billie said eventually.

He waited for her to say something deep and meaningful about their time together, but she fished her key out of her pocket and, struggling with Baxter in her arms, turned to open the gate. She cursed as she fumbled with the key in the lock and he slid his arm around her and assisted, easily turning the key and then pushing the gate open for her. Without thinking, he put a hand on her butt as she passed by him and she flinched as if he’d touched her with a hot flame.

That hurt, but then she took a few steps and he saw that she was limping. His touch hadn’t been that hard. “What the hell’s wrong with your leg?”

“Nothing,” she called back without even turning to look at him.

But he could tell that was bullshit. She was hurt, and for some insane reason he wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything serious. Uninvited, he followed her right inside the house.

“Don’t lie to me, Billie. Tell me what happened.”

“What do you care?” she asked, dumping Baxter on the floor near his bowl and wincing again.

He opened his mouth but no words came out. It was a good question and he had no idea how to answer it.

“If you must know, I got a tattoo,” she admitted. “It’s still a little tender.”

“A tattoo? On your ass?” He smiled at the thought. That was something he really, really wanted to see. And not just because she had the hottest butt he’d ever laid eyes on. He wanted to know what kind of tattoo she’d chosen.

“Surprised, Travis? If you must know, I’m regretting it immensely. And not just because it hurts like hell.”

“What is it?”

She rubbed her lips together a moment as if considering whether or not to tell him, and then glanced down at the dog. “Baxter.”

“You got that ugly mutt etched into your ass?” It didn’t make sense. If the tattoo was that innocuous, wouldn’t she have gotten it somewhere she could show it off?

She nodded. “Not that it’s any of your damn business. Now, if there’s nothing else, do you mind running away again, please?”

Always so polite. Even when she was pissed off. “When did you get it?”