Page 141 of Wild Card
“I’ve got a better idea,” he said. “Let’s skip dinner and go straight to my place.”
I smirked. “I like the way you think.”
“You two are disgusting,” Jett groused from next door.
“Shut up, Jett!” we both yelled.
I took Axel’s hand and led him from the cell. We walked down the corridor, out through the heavy metal door, and made a stop at the clerk’s window.
“I need to bail out Axel Wilder,” I said.
The clerk blinked. “Oh, that’s not necessary. You can just?—”
Axel leaned in over my shoulder. “Do it by the book. No special favors.”
My heart squeezed, and I nodded. “You heard the man. We won’t be cutting corners around here anymore. Hale is gone.”
“Yes, Sheriff. I’ll get started on that.”
I squeezed Axel’s hand, heart full. This was my life now. An imperfect man at my side, but agoodone who’d support my principles, even if they cost him. The road ahead wouldn’t be smooth, but that was half the fun.
Loving Axel would be a bumpy ride, but if I held on through the hairpin turns, the skids, and the potholes, we’d get through it together.
I couldn’t wait to get started.
CHAPTER 34
Axel
Dalton droveto Ball Breakers so I could pick up my El Camino, and then we continued on to the junkyard. The entire way, my heart beat an unsteady rhythm, underscoring the line repeating in my head:He didn’t leave me.
Somehow, that was more powerful than his confession of love. Maybe because I’d heard those words from people who’d left. Maybe because actions spoke louder than words.
Whatever the reason, he was here. For me. Even though I’d fucked up royally.
Dalton Harvey really was a man of his word.
I parked just outside the junkyard and got out to open the gate. Once it opened, the dogs came running.
Dalton joined me, smiling as Loki jumped up and got muddy prints on his pants.
“Loki!” I scolded. “He’s the sheriff now. You can’t be assaulting him with your dirty mitts.”
Dalton chuckled and patted Loki’s head. “It’s okay. My pants are brown. Besides, I already made my first major arrest as sheriff. I think I deserve the evening off.”
I turned to him, surprised. “You must have a million things to do.”
“I do,” he said, taking my face between his hands and drawing me into a long, sweet kiss. “You’re at the top of the list.”
My heart fluttered. “Yeah? Let me distract the dogs. Meet you inside?”
He nodded. “Okay.”
I put out some new food—even though the monsters didn’t need it—and then snuck into the RV and shut the door in a sad-looking Sugar’s face. But she’d rather be out there for what came next, anyway.
Dalton came up behind me before I could even turn from the door and swept my hair to one side. His lips brushed the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I missed you these last couple of nights,” he murmured, hands sliding inside my leather jacket.
