Officer Garcia took some pictures, making a verbal recording as he did so of the scene and the people there. Then the helicopter above them lowered to just above the treetops, running a cable down to them. Easton and Garcia hooked up the sling, then stepped back. Head and massive antlers hanging limp, Ulysses’s body was raised into the air, then flown off into the distance.
The whole thing was awful, and Zoey couldn’t imagine how terrifying it would be for him when he woke up, somewhere completely new.
“Can’t we go with him? Make sure he’s okay?”
Garcia shook his head. “No. My partner and another Fish and Game warden are already en route to where they’re unhooking him. If they waited until we got there, he would wake up.”
“How far is she taking him?”
“To the base of that big mountain north of here,” Garcia said. “Mount Veil. Too far for him to come back and hurt anyone else. If he survives.”
Wordlessly, Graham rose and walked away. Not sure what to do, Zoey followed, staying quiet as they backtracked to their truck. Graham drove them to the diner, which was blessedly empty of onlookers. Leaving all but a single light off, Graham went straight to the liquor shelf. She’d never seen him drink anything harder than beer, but Graham poured himself a shot of whiskey and downed it. Then he poured himself a second and threw that back too.
“Is Ulysses going to be okay?” Zoey asked softly.
“Fifty-fifty shot.” His voice was harsh, clipped, and angry. “Some get hurt in the move, and some don’t come out of the tranquilizers well. He’s an easy target until they wear off. He won’t know where to get water or find food or shelter. All because some piece of shit wanted to take a picture.”
“It could have been an accident.”
“No way. I know exactly what happened because I see this crap all the time.”
“Graham—”
“No. No, this is exactly what it’s like living here. Zoey, you don’t have to like it, but you are the problem. You, Lana, and all those assholes up there. You come here, you get your kicks, and then you’re gone. And screw whoever you hurt in the process. It’s all in the name of a good time, right?”
Flinching at his attack, Zoey stood up straighter. “Graham, I know you’re upset, but that’s not fair.”
Inhaling three deep breaths, Graham finally shook his head. “No. It’s not. You didn’t do anything. But I’m so damn tired of all the people who do.”
Clearing his throat, Graham gripped the counter with white-knuckled hands. He walked away, then turned and slammed his fist through the wall. Right next to Barley the Biker Bear. “Zoey,” he rasped. “You don’t get it.”
Except she did. At least as much as she could.
“He was your friend.” Coming up behind him, Zoey wrapped her arms around Graham’s waist. “You lost a friend today. I’m so sorry, Graham. This wasn’t fair to either of you.”
He turned, and the hand that had gone through a wall cupped her cheek as carefully as if she were made of glass.
Zoey went up on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s just a moose,” Graham finally whispered.
“But he was your moose.”
“You’re right, Zoey. He was my friend.” Leaning his forehead against hers, Graham closed his eyes. Then with a soft noise of surrender, he dipped his head down and kissed her. Just like last time, his lips were warm and soft, but this time, they tasted of whiskey, sweet and strong.
Graham turned, pressing her back to the wall as he deepened the kiss.
A picture frame got caught between her shoulder and his hand fisting into her hair. When the picture fell, Graham ignored it. He ignored two more that hit the floor when he hoisted her up with the strength of one arm, guiding her legs around his waist with the other.
“This stops when you say so,” he whispered against her neck. “This doesn’t even start unless you say so.”
Pulling his face to hers, Zoey crushed her mouth to his, a silent but clear reply. In response, Graham muscled her higher in his arms. But when she started to fumble at his shirt, he pulled back, abruptly releasing her back to her feet.
“Not here, Zo. Not like this. Not some one-night stand.”
“We’re not—” she started to say, but Graham shook his head, eyes pained.
“But we are. All of this was never a good idea.” He braced an arm over her head, resting his forehead to hers. “I can’t, okay? This relationship, or whatever it is, is going to end with you walking away. Listen, gorgeous. You and me, this was a mistake. I like you so much, but, Zoey, all of this—”
“A mistake.” Just because she understood why he was saying it didn’t make those words any easier to hear. “I should go.”
He’d been drinking, and he’d been her ride. Even now, Graham wasn’t leaving her stranded. “I’ll find someone to drive you.”
“It’s fine. I’ll call Lana to come get me. Or I’ll call a rideshare.”
Ducking under his arm, Zoey took her wounded pride and tucked it into her pocket. She was hurt and still breathless from his kisses, but he was hurt too—more deeply than she was right now, for far more important reasons. Having her feelings hurt was nothing close to losing a friend forever.
And if he could love an animal this much, Zoey had no illusions to how deeply this man could love another person if he gave his heart away.
Graham was right. She was leaving in five days, and she needed to walk out this door. But even as she thought it, she hesitated at the doorway. Graham was watching her leave. The look he gave her…so helpless…so hopeless…broke her heart all over again.
“He’ll be okay,” Zoey promised softly from the doorway. “And you will be too.”
Chapter 14
There would be no saving the dress.
Between the hike through the woods, rolling a moose, and multiple encounters of the sexy kind with Graham that evening, the delicate layers of fabric had been ruined.
“I’m sorry, Zoey.” Quinn held it up to the light as if better illumination would help her find some inch of fabric not damaged by the evening before. “We can have it cleaned, but this part won’t hold a stitch without unravelling more.” Turning the dress over, she pointed at the worst of the tearing. “And this can’t be stitched without it showing. If you want, I can try.”
“It’s okay. I won’t waste your time.”
Disappointed, Zoey accepted the dress back from the hotel’s expert seamstress. Quinn was a woman of many talents, including the ability to be truly crestfallen at Zoey’s misfortune. If Quinn couldn’t save it, it couldn’t be saved.