Page 21 of Ride Hard
“That’s not a good thing.” He returned the nozzle to thepump.
“Duh.”
“I’m going inside. Get back in thecar.”
Shoving off the side of the car, I darted between the pumps and sauntered toward the automatic doors. Chaser was beside me in aninstant.
“Isaid—”
“Get over yourself. I’m not going to do arunner.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me to his side, making mestumble.
“I’m hungry,” I declared, tensing at hiscloseness.
“Get back in the car, and I’ll bring yousomething.”
His attitude was really wearing medown.
“Chaser, we’re in buttfuck nowhere.” I waved my hands around, forcing him to let me go. “Who’s going to find us out here? And more importantly, where am I going to run to? Believe me, I’ve already done themath.”
He scowled at me, and I stood my ground, staring right back. Luckily for me, I couldn’t see his shiny hypnotic eyes through the tinted lenses of his sunglasses. Otherwise, I might’ve backed down. He knew how to melt a woman’s resolve, and it had everything to do with the lure of hiscock.
“If you squeal, there’ll be trouble,” he saidreluctantly.
“Give me some credit.” I flicked my hair over my shoulder. “I’m a survivor, Chaser, and right now, you’re my bestchance.”
“Get inside before I change mymind.”
The automatic doors swished open as we approached, which was quite the technological feat for an out-of-the-waygarage.
Inside, it seemed to double as the local store. There were shelves of everyday groceries along with cheap hardware, hunting gear, and a rack of magazines. Lingering by the candy, I eyed a chocolate bar as Chaser talked to the attendant. They were yapping about the weather and the best way to Nashville when a stand of sunglasses caught myeye.
Turning it around, I perused the selection while studying Chaser in the mirror. We’d have to hit a big city sooner or later. If we were headed to the home of country music, then there ought to be a bleeding heart willing to help a damsel indistress.
Picking up a pair of aviator sunglasses with a blue tint on the lenses, I slipped them on. Angling my head from side to side, I studied my reflection and concluded I lookedbadass.
“Hey,” I said, calling out to Chaser who was still at the counter. “Give me fivebucks.”
He turned and glared while the attendant—a man who seemed around his thirties in age—looked at me withinterest.
“Why?” Chaserasked.
“I want these.” I turned my head from side to side so he could see. “How do Ilook?”
“Put those back,” hebarked.
“You look mighty fine, ma’am,” the guy behind the countersaid.
“See?” I pointed at the guy and pouted at Chaser. “Five bucks won’t emasculateyou.”
Chaser rolled his eyes and handed a bill to the attendant. “The gas and thesunglasses.”
The cash register dinged as the money exchanged hands, and I admired myself in the mirror once more for good measure. A moment later, I was being dragged outside and toward thediner.
“Hey!”
Chaser towed me across the lot, through another door, and along a row of tables before practically shoving me into a booth. He sat opposite, his expression pure thunder. It was a little early for him to have reached his level of pissedoff.
