Page 35 of Burning Secrets

The Styrofoam container with leftover ribs sat between them on the seat, and she rested her hand on it, but what she really wanted to do was take his hand again.

Return to that moment when the thug named Jer had shown up at their table and the spooked expression had flashed through Crew’s heartbreaking eyes.

Then it’d vanished behind a wall of darkness, and he’d gone all silent and remote on her.

Practically wolfed down the ribs, not looking at her.

Jer had taken a position at a nearby table, barbecue sauce layering his beard, and oh, she couldn’t look at him without her gut turning. And it wasn’t just his eating habits.

The man had smiled at Crew, something of smug satisfaction, and she just couldn’t shake it off.

“How much trouble are you in?” she said.

Crew looked over at her. Back to the road. “None, probably, since Jer caught me holding your hand. Cover intact.”

“Really? Because it didn’t feel that way.”

He sighed. “The disturbing part is that he probably got sent to town to find me. Track me. Which means Viper didn’t buy our girlfriend-boyfriend bit.”

“Maybe you should have kissed me again.” Yes, she’d said that, and she didn’t care.

“Maybe,” he said, but a small smile eked up his face.

Attaboy.

“I don’t think you should go back, Crew. It’s too dangerous.”

They’d traveled out of town, the base just up ahead, and the closer they got, the more her stomach clenched. She wasn’t falling for him—she just…cared, was all.

Lumberjack Batman just kept on saving her life and, well, who wouldn’t care?

“I have to go back. Not only do I need to find where they’re making and storing this biohazard they’re synthesizing with the nightshade, but we suspect they’re funded by big bucks. And according to a conversation I just heard, those big bucks might be showing up in a few days. Rio wants me to stick around and find out who.”

“Rio isn’t the one who is going to get beat up and tortured if he’s found out!” Oh, whoops.

Crew touched the brakes, slowed, then pulled over. Turned to her. Shoot, she was crying a little, probably just tired.

“Jo—”

“I’m fine.” She turned to him. “It’s none of my business.”

“As my current girlfriend, it’s sort of your business.” He seemed to start to reach out, touch her cheek, then stopped.

Shoot.

What—

“As yourformergirlfriend, I really don’t want you going back there. We can figure out another way to get these guys.”

“We?”

“Two are better than one. Maybe…” She drew in a breath, and yes, that was it. “I should go back with you?—”

“Have you lost your mind?” Now he was shouting.

She didn’t flinch, just folded her arms. “If they think we’re dating, then they’ll let me back in. I can help.”

“What? Distract Viper while I search the camp?”

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