Page 62 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
“Yeah, baby?”
“Is it okay if I don’t want to know?”
He jostled her, hitching her higher in hisarms as he tried to get a look at her face. “What?”
“If I don’t want to know what happened, isit okay?”
Einstein sighed. “Luke knows, so does Thad.Part of it at least. I think you should probably know that much, soyou aren’t blindsided when we walk in the house.”
“Okay, that makes sense. If Luke knows, itcan’t be that bad.” Her chin tipped up, and their gazes met. “Oh,”she breathed. “It is bad. Oh no.” Einstein stopped next to the car,looking down at her. “Will you tell me?”
“How much do you remember of today?” He kepthis eyes on her as Hoss opened the car door for them and movedaway. Einstein settled Marian into the seat, grabbing a foldedblanket from next to her, and as she sat back, he spread the softfabric over her lap.
“That we have an agreement, you and me. Apretend relationship.” The pain that washed over her face piercedhis heart, and he had to look away. “It’s okay, Einstein.”
He forced his gaze back to her, taking inevery fleeting expression.
“It. Is not. Pretend. Nothing about it wasever pretend for me, not really.” Einstein continued tucking theblanket around her, leaning close. “That was my lie to myself. Idon’t have an excuse, other than I think it was to ease into theidea. A protection for myself. I don’t need it now, though. Notafter tonight. I don’t want to go slow and easy anymore,Marian.”
“But your wife?”
Something pinched his ribs, and he breathedthrough the pain, not shifting away as it slowly eased. A coolbreeze blew across the nape of his neck, and he sucked in a hardbreath. He didn’t need to pat the front of his vest to know thetoothbrush wasn’t there anymore, lost somewhere in the terror ofthe preceding hours or in the rush to get to Marian’s side—itdidn’t matter. It had served its purpose.
“She was a beautiful, sweet woman, who diedtoo early, because of me. That’s my truth and what I live with. Butbefore that happened, we had years of happiness. I had so much timewith her and never gave her a single reason to doubt my feelings.Tonight—” His throat closed tightly, blocking the words he wantedto say, tears burning the backs of his eyes. Einstein dropped tosit sideways on the seat and wrapped his arms around Marian.
“What happened tonight?” Her arms circledhis back, one sliding up to cover the chilled portion of his neck,warming it with her touch.
“I nearly lost my chance of time with you,Marian.” He whispered against the side of her head, “Baby, it feelslike we’ve been working towards this for years. Tell me you feelthe same, put me out of my misery.”
“He came after me, didn’t he? The man youtalked about today.” She laughed, the broken sound muffled againsthis neck. “That feels like so long ago, but it was just today,right?” He made an affirmative noise, and she tightened her hold.“He did exactly as you predicted and came after me. You were rightabout what he was going to do.” She stiffened, words wavering asshe asked, “Is Luke okay? I remember coming out of the movietheater with him, and then nothing until…now, basically.”
“Luke’s shaken up. He’s going to be stickingclose to you for a while, I expect, but he’s going to be fine.” Headjusted his hold, pulling her closer. “You’re all right, andthat’s what matters. You’re good, and you’re here.”
“And you might care for me a little?”
“Me liking you a little? That’s like callinga hurricane a thunderstorm. It’s more than a little, baby. I knowyou’ll need some time to get used to the idea, but I’m not goinganywhere. Already talked to Retro about hanging up my nomadrocker.” Her arms spasmed. With fingers clutching at him, sheburrowed closer yet. “I figured out that what I want is you, andwhere I wanna be is wherever you are.”
***
Marian
“We’re home.” Einstein jostled her, andMarian lifted her head from his shoulder. She’d dozed in the car,secure in the knowledge Einstein would keep her safe. “And herecomes everybody’s favorite protector.”
She tried to focus on whatever he wastalking about, still peering through the car windows when the doorbeside her was flung open. Thad’s head poked into the car, and hestared at her from only inches away. Lines were etched along hisforehead, between his brows, and they didn’t ease off as he studiedher face. Then his arms were around her neck, and he sobbed againsther shoulder, the harsh noises broken with word fragments thatcontained a mishmash of sounds, mixed in with her name.
The angle was awkward, but she got her armsaround him and squeezed as hard as she could. “I’m okay. Thaddy.I’m here, and I’m okay. Everything’s going to be all right.”
“Can you walk, baby?”
She glanced over her shoulder at Einsteinand nodded. The nap on the short drive from town to here had beenenough to clear her mind, and she was surprised to find how closeto normal she felt now.
“Okay.” He smiled at her, the expressionturning sad as he watched Thad, who still clung to her neck. “I’llcome around to the other side and help you out, make sure you’resteady as we go inside.”
Without lifting his head, Thad barked out,“I’ll help her.” His arms were a vise around her neck, clenchingthrough the trembling.
“You can both help me.” Marian gave Thad’sshoulder a little shove. “Let me out of the car, Thaddy. I want toget inside, check on Myrtie.”
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t release her as heshook, arms tightening around her neck. “I’m sorry. I’m quittin’soccer and football. Quittin’ all of it.”
