Page 90 of Hard Knock Hero

We needed food and gas, so we pulled off in another tiny town. Aiden went to a drive-through to get us some breakfast, and then we parked the truck on a deserted scenic overlook. We ate egg-and-bacon sandwiches, which Aiden complained about because they really were terrible, and then we popped breath mints and bundled up in his backseat.

Aiden grabbed his puffer coat from his duffel. He wrapped it around the both of us, and I sat in his lap and we kissed. A lot. Kissed each other’s mouths and necks and hands and wrists. Any bare skin we could reach. My cold hands ventured beneath Aiden’s shirt, getting warm against his firm stomach and chest.

With the way our plans had gone sideways, Aiden was on the road far earlier than he’d scheduled. We would travel east another hour or so before heading north. We had plenty of time before he was expected, so we could relax a little. We both needed this. A chance to be close and stare at one another and just be happy. To push away the rest of the world and beus.

Today was supposed to be the end. But this was our beginning.

“When we get to Steamboat,” I said, “can I help you in the kitchen?”

His eyes turned smoldering, as if I’d made a far more scandalous proposal. “I’m the boss in the kitchen when I’m working. Can you handle that?”

“I like when you’re the boss, if it’s the right moment. I think you know that already.” My tongue flicked out to lick his lower lip. Aiden growled.

“Then I insist on you helping me.”

We kissed for a while longer. The windows of Aiden’s truck had long since fogged up. I moved to sit in between his thighs, my back to his chest. Aiden’s arms were wrapped snuggly around me.

“Will you be my date for the wedding reception?” he asked. “I wasn’t planning to make an appearance, but I’d like to dance with you.”

“I would love to dance with you. But I can’t go to a wedding. I have nothing to wear except what I have on right now.” And that was just jeans, a sweatshirt, and mud-speckled boots.

“I bet one of my sisters will pack an extra dress. But if they don’t, who cares? You look beautiful as you are. Or naked.”

I gave him a sardonic glare over my shoulder. “It’s a good thing they relegate you to the kitchen for this wedding-planning stuff. You’d probably throw carnations into buckets for the centerpieces and call it a day.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Sounds cost efficient. Then they could spend more on the food.”

I laughed and shook my head. After that, it was more kissing and murmuring sweet things until we had to get back on the road. He also switched out his jail-issued shirt and shoes for comfier ones of his own.

Aiden swung by a gas station to fill up the tank. It was a huge travel stop, serving regular vehicles and semis. The shop sold all kinds of adorable Colorado themed souvenirs. I went in to use the restroom. When I got back to the truck, I relaxed in my seat, feeling unbelievably content as Aiden pumped the gas.

Then a familiar logo caught my eye. It was on the side of a box truck parked across the lot.

Hart-Made Candy Co.

I remembered what Scarlett had texted. She’d said the Rigsbys had moved delivery trucks out of their warehouse during the night, spiriting away whatever secret contraband they’d brought down from Refuge Mountain.

And here was one of their trucks. Just sitting and waiting. Right in front of us.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Jessi

I gotout of the pickup and circled around to where Aiden was pumping the gas. He’d just finished up and was putting the cap on the tank. “Look over there,” I said, pointing at the red Hart-Made logo. “It’s got to be one of the trucks that left Hartley overnight.”

Aiden looked. We kept ourselves behind his quad cab, using it to provide cover. The Hart-Made truck had a shredded rear tire, and two men were arguing over it. I assumed those were the truck’s drivers. Whatever problem they were having, it was more than a simple flat, and it had caused a delay. Maybe they were waiting for someone to bring them a part so they could make repairs.

Aiden put a hand on the small of my back. “Both of those guys are armed. They’re wearing gun holsters.”

“How can you tell?” I hadn’t seen any sign of a weapon.

“The way they’re standing. And the way their jackets fall.”

“If they only have candy in that truck, then why would they need guns?”

“Good question.”

“I want to know what they’ve got in there,” I said.

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