Page 55 of Clumsy in Love

“What is it?” She inched in front of him.

“Please tell me that’s not a snake.” Cole looked over her shoulder as the thing lifted its head and glared in irritation. It was huge. And gross.

“His room now,” Holly said, backing out, shutting the door, and walking away. “Guess we’re sharin’ the couch.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“We’re just gonna let him have the only bedroom?” Cole asked.

“Youwanna ask him to move?”

“Would he?”

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s a timber rattler. Get bit by that, my friend, and it’s all over.”

“What?” His voice jumped two octaves higher, and Holly laughed.

“No snakes in New York City?”

“I’ll take cockroaches and rats any day of the week,” he mumbled. “Can we kill it?”

“No. It’s endangered. And anyway, what are you gonna do, wrestle it? Shoot it? That’s a tiny moving target.”

He huffed. “Well, should we search around to make sure there aren’t more?” His eyes darted back and forth across the cabin.

She picked up her wine. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll do a sweep.”

He paused as if deciding how much his man card was worth to him. “I’ll do it,” he said reluctantly. He pulled out his gun, took the lantern, and creeped around the room as if clearing a house full of bad guys, dramatically pointing the gun in each corner before moving on to the next.

While he hunted snakes, she plopped onto the couch and threw her feet up on the coffee table to warm her toes with the fire’s heat. She had to admit, he was taking things pretty well.Clearly a fish out of water, he was doing the best anyone could hope for.

Earlier, when he’d found out Cruz was in custody and he could return home, a pang of something shot through her. Something resembling disappointment or regret. In the few days they’d been glued at the hip, she’d grown to respect him. Maybe even like him. Certainly, he was no hardship to look at.

“I think it’s okay.” He laid his gun on the table and sat beside her. The rain picked up and drummed on the roof. Adrip,drip,dripsounded in the kitchen. “So, seriously. Is the roof gonna make it through the night?” He cast a dubious glance at the ceiling.

“Hope so. It’s all we’ve got.”

She sipped her wine. With so little food in her stomach, the alcohol marched directly to her head. When she started to entertain Faith’s fling idea, she set down the glass.

“I’m sorry you missed your flight out of here,” she said.

“If there’s one thing I know about, it’s emergencies messing up plans. It’s cost me a relationship or two.” He shrugged. “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

“Is that why there’s no Mrs. Robinson?” Damn this wine.

“I just haven’t found the right girl,” he said, looking away.

Taking his lead, she changed the subject. “What happens now that Cruz is in custody?”

“The DA will be in touch soon. They’ll need you for the grand jury. The defense might want you to sit for a deposition. And then of course, you’ll have to testify once the case goes to trial.”

“Is all that in person? Will I have to make multiple trips?” Her underlying question, which she hoped he didn’t read into, was would she ever see him again after tomorrow?

“Honestly, I’m not sure how they’ll handle you being from out of state. Maybe. Why? You worried about getting more time off?”

“Yes,” she said, picking up the wine again. “But also, the money thing. New York is expensive, and I’m still paying off a wedding that never was.”

“You can stay with me if you want.”

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