Stolen Kisses Page 10

  Mac sighed heavily. “The goods will be ready for pickup first thing Monday morning. I’ll make sure the invoice reflects what we discussed.”

  Guilt stabbed Connor at Mac’s look. The man stank of defeat. His father would be ashamed of him for getting involved in something so underhanded.

  They headed back to the truck and climbed in. Dale turned to Connor, laughing so hard tears rolled down his pasty cheeks. “Did you see his face when you stepped up? Man, I thought he’d piss his pants. Stubborn old bastard could have avoided all this if he’d just played ball in the first place.”

  “Who’s Bailey Clarke?” Connor asked. The laughter on Dale’s face vanished immediately. Interesting.

  “Bailey Clarke is someone you don’t want to get on the wrong side of, trust me on that. Come on, I’ll drop you off.”

  Thankfully, Dale kept his mouth shut for the short drive to the boarding house. Connor stared out into the night, wrestling with his conscience and the driving need to beat the living shit out of the miserable bastard next to him. Whatever had just happened wasn’t his problem, wasn’t his business. The wolf stirred inside him, and he sighed inwardly. Being a man of integrity sucked, but it went against every natural instinct to prey on the weak. Dominant wolves protected those who couldn’t protect themselves.

  The truck pulled up outside the well-kept white clapboard house. Connor opened the door and climbed out. Bracing his hand on the frame, he ducked his head back inside the cab. “Pick me up before you see Mac. You might need me with you in case he changes his mind over the weekend.”

  Dale grinned, shifting the truck into gear. “Good idea, Connor. I knew you were the right kind of guy the day we met.”

  Connor slammed the door and stepped back. Wheels squealing, the truck peeled away from the curb. Dale Thomson was a gullible fool. A poor judge of character to boot. Shaking his head, he shouldered his work bag and trudged up the front steps. For the first time in months, earning the money he needed to get home would have to take second place. The town of Franklin had a big problem. He suspected the key to solving it meant dealing with Bailey Clarke.