Page 78 of Redemption

“Hot model?” Ryder teased in her ear as Seven came apart behind the counter. “Seven can charm all she wants, yeah?”

Victoria playfully jutted her elbow back.

Seven pulled herself together long enough to give Victoria a look that said all kinds of things, but mostly, why had she not dished about him? And mostly, that was because she didn’t think she’d see him again…

“Give me two minutes, and I’ll bring it to you, okay?” Seven waved them toward an empty table.

“Could we get ours to go?” Ryder asked.

Victoria turned. “Where are we going?”

He shrugged. “Iowa is all new to me.”

“Sure thing,” Seven said over her shoulder.

“Where’s the closest national forest?” The wheels were turning, and she had no idea what he was up to. “Or public-use open land?”

“You could ask me.” Victoria nudged his shoulder.

His eyes danced. “What fun is it to plan your own day?”

“Holy shit.” Seven looked one hot flash away from a puddle of pierced and dyed goo. The girl was going to melt in a puddle of Ryder-induced hot flashes—and she wasn’t the only one.

“That means you know some place?” he followed up on her cursing.

She nodded like a girl in a trance. “Go down Main, turn left on to Old Clover, and then you will see the 352 Bypass. Take that for ten miles or so. You’ll start seeing signs for a national forest over there.” With that, she handed Ryder a bag that held far more than one muffin. “In case you get hungry on your adventure, I packed sustenance.”

He gave her a wink and a grin.

“Sustenance?” Victoria almost shook her head. “What is it you think we’re doing out there? Hiking the back forty?”

“I don’t kiss and tell. Why would I ask you?” Seven cocked her head innocently despite what she’d just said.

Victoria’s mouth fell open, but unless someone was going to shove a croissant in there, she had nothing to say, and gaping wasn’t doing her a bit of good.

“Your latte,” Seven offered.

She closed her mouth. “Thanks.”

“For the sustenance,” Ryder quipped, and Victoria elbowed him again.

He took his coffee from Seven and went to the side station to doctor it or grab napkins. Whatever, Victoria didn’t pay much attention. She was too busy shooting eye daggers at her friend. “There will be payback.”

“I hope so, and I’m putting a request in that my payback also involves an Aussie.”

Pretending to mutter, Victoria did her best to hide her amusement behind her coffee as Ryder came back.

“We’re off. Thanks, and nice meeting you, Seven.” Ryder walked ahead of her as Seven made a whispering noise for Victoria to turn around. She did, leaning on the counter.

“That accent…” She bobbed her eyebrows. “Figure out a good way to needsustenance.”

“I can still hear you.” Ryder laughed.

Seven blew him a kiss. “If you stay in town long enough, you’ll find out I don’t care that much.” Her eyes dropped back to Victoria. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen you smile like this.”

Victoria shifted so that she could see Ryder waiting for her by the front door.

“Why, in the name of bad boys who are good men and good men who know how to make you scream bad, bad things, are you not running toward that man?” Seven whispered, quiet enough this time that only Victoria could hear.

---