Page 42 of Lure

“Yep.” I stepped off the treadmill and moved in little circles. Probably kind of dumb to run for that long after not running for even longer. I’d probably end up stiff as hell.

Worth it.

Head cocked, Lunchbox pursed his lips. “Talk to me, Gracie.”

“About what?” I drained the last of the water before heading for one of the towels in the corner.

“About you.” He didn’t follow me but he also didn’t look away from where I stood wiping my face.

“Not much to say. I’m still here. You guys are still searching. None of us have answers.” I was back to being ready to scream again. That had me grabbing the spray bottle and a couple of paper towels.

“You’re frustrated.”

The urge to say“no shit”bubbled away inside. Thankfully, only some mildly ironic laughter escaped as I wiped down the treadmill. “You could say that. Going for the walks was helping, a little.”

His frown deepened. “I thought the debriefing helped.”

I shrugged. “It did until it didn’t. Not much is helping. I need to be doing—” I spread my arms and motioned to the room as if the answer should be lurking around somewhere. “Something. Anything. So—I ran. Now I’m going to shower and find clean clothes.”

That would keep me occupied for thirty or forty minutes. Then I’d be back to nothing. Maybe I could take Goblin out for a walk and head downhill this time. The main road had to be down there somewhere, right?

The moment the thought hit, I discarded it and the used paper towels in the trash before putting the bottle of spray cleaner back. I couldn’t take A-B’s dog. They were such partners. I also had no idea how far I’d have to go and I was really not built for survival or had I ever taken survival training.

“Do that, then come down to the kitchen. I’ll have your coffee waiting and…” He studied me for another long moment. “I think you need cinnamon rolls. Big fat ones. Light on the frosting, because you think it’s needless sugar.”

Was that so? “I didn’t say needless, I said too much.”

“Same thing,” he said with the faintest of smiles. “Cinnamon rolls need the sweet. Especially hot and fresh from the oven.”

My mouth watered and my stomach gurgled away. I could practically taste them and it sounded fantastic. “You’re really going to make them?”

“Yes,” he returned with a glance at his watch. “Get going, Gracie. I’ll have everything ready for when you come back down.”

I must have hesitated too long because he frowned.

“Don’t tell me there are too many calories in the rolls. You just did an hour on the treadmill and you’ve been hiking. Carbs are good.”

Snorting, I shook my head. “I wasn’t going to say no, I’m still back at—the offer. Thank you.” Cinnamon rolls were my favorite and I wished they were ready right now.

“You’re welcome,” he said, ushering me out of the gym and up the stairs ahead of him. “Now, hurry up and shower. You’re finally excited about something I’m making you, I don’t want the moment to pass.”

I was almost to my room when the guilt stabbed me. Had I really not expressed my appreciation for all his cooking? The man was a machine and he made something different for every meal. Very few items seemed to be repeated.

Giving myself a look in the mirror, I shook my head. I needed to be better about how I responded to them. They were trying to help and they had saved my life. It wasn’t perfect. Not yet, I needed more answers than we’d found. They were busy men, that much I’d gleaned, and they didmercenarywork that included blowing things up.

I needed to keep their interest on finding Am and getting us home. Then we could all go our separate ways. But if another job came up and I was being a bitch…

Yeah, I couldn’t afford that. We—Am and me—couldn’t afford it.

Chapter

Sixteen

LUNCHBOX

The sheer tenacity and stubbornness housed in Grace’s petite frame blew my damn mind. Each time I thought I had a bead on her, she changed the game. She was as fragile as a grenade with the temperament to match. Little seemed to intimidate her. If anything, Bones’ attempts to glare her into compliance only served to make her more defiant.

It was fucking hot.

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