Page 48 of Hearts on Ice
She gave him a half smile, and followed him into the kitchen. “Do you really have energy for a hike after last night?”
He turned and caught her by the hip, turning her toward him. “And this morning.”
She curved her hand around the back of his neck and tilted her chin up at him. “We haven’t done anything this morning.”
He chuckled and ducked his shoulder to lift her in a fireman’s carry, and headed back into the bedroom.
CHAPTER19
Colby sat forward on the seat as Declan turned the truck onto Archie’s street.
“How did they know?”
Cars lined the street on both sides of the block. Lying in wait.
“We can come back,” Declan said.
“I don’t want to stay in my clothes another day,” she said, mad at herself for not coming by last night instead.
“We can go buy you some.”
“Great, and get our pictures taken at the mall.”
“I was going to say Walmart, but okay.” He gave a short laugh when she turned to look at him incredulously.
“Just drop me, I’ll run in, and grab a few things, then get a ride share to your place, or something. No reason both of us have to run the gauntlet, and give them more ammunition.”
“I’m not leaving you to go through that alone.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time I dealt with it.” To be honest, most of the time she invited the attention. Not this time.
He drew in a breath through his nose. “No. I’m not leaving you to do this alone. Come on. We’ve got this.” He put the truck in reverse. “I’m going to drive around the block. Do you think you can go through the alley and to the back door?”
“I don’t know if my key works in that one, or just in the front.”
“Can you call him and ask?”
She retrieved her phone from the console and tried to ignore the dozens of messages on her screen as she tapped over to her contacts. And just when she tapped Archie’s name, the phone rang in her hand, and she accidentally tapped “Accept” instead of “Decline” and oh, hell.
“What are you doing, Colby? You need to give these people what they want. Don’t run away.”
Colby winced because her mother’s voice carried. “Mom, not now. Please. I need to call Archie.”
“Why did you answer then?”
Colby didn’t want to admit she’d made a mistake. “I just wanted you to know I’m okay.”
“I don’t think you are. You’re letting Declan call the shots again, and he doesn’t know what you need. He never did.”
“Hi, Jo,” Declan said loudly.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Colby.”
“Mom, can we please talk later?”
“Can you be reasonable later?”
“Can you?” Colby shot back. “I need to call Archie, so I’m hanging up now.”
