Page 46 of Stolen for Keeps
“Stay here.” I crossed over, gathered what I could of her ruined lunch, and shoved it into my pocket.
“Thanks,” she said. “I’d have felt bad leaving it.”
“So would I.” My tone was calm, though my insides still trembled. “Let’s get you back to your motel and get you cleaned up. Then let me take a look at that side. You trust me?”
She gave a tiny, tired sigh. “You a physio or something?”
“Close enough.”
“Thought you were in media.”
“I’ll tell you everything, if you let me,” I said, helping her to her feet.
She winced as she tried to straighten. “Argh…shit!”
“Come on. Arm around me, bad side against me,” I said quietly, stepping in before she could shut me out. “Call it a small apology.”
“Fine,” she said, leaning in.
I slid an arm around her hips, guiding her so her injured side rested against me. She moved without hesitation, but I kept close, just in case.
Her face tucked into the space beneath my jaw, and I kept us moving toward the truck, slow and even.
Whatever this thing between us was, or whatever it wasn’t, I’d seen what fear looked like on her face, and I’d do everything in my power to never let her wear it again.
11
MAYA
I wasn’t fragile. God knew I’d been through worse. But right now, my body felt like it had been wrung out and tossed to dry on barbed wire.
Strangely, with Noah supporting me, the pain felt contained, as if his arms had drawn a line the hurt couldn’t cross.
But once the worst had passed, reality found room.
Napoleon hadn’t recognized me. I was sure of it. And despite his mention of Bridger Canyon, I didn’t think Annamaria had sent him for the necklace either. He’d left me for dead, and that move must’ve come from panic—and from him being pissed about his phone.
His spiel about Bitterroot Valley becoming the next wedding hotspot wasn’t exactly wrong either. Sheryn had gone all-in on Buffaloberry Hill from the moment we arrived. She said it felt like the kind of town where love might actually stick. Her fiancé, being a local, just sealed it.
So why had he said Bridger Canyon? It wasn’t just to rhyme with Beverly Hills for some poetic punchline. But then again, there were plenty of wealthy folks out that way whomight be tying the knot. The Lazy Moose was a hidden gem, but if Claire and Elia had already started promoting it, then maybe it wasn’t so hidden anymore.
Everything suggested Napoleon hadn’t been here for me, or the necklace. And my gut said Annamaria hadn’t found out about my second heist. The necklace hadn’t been locked away like before. It was tucked inside a box in her closet, buried under silk scarves that had started to yellow, and forgotten like a souvenir from a game she no longer cared to play. Annamaria attended a lot of high-profile events. If that necklace had mattered, she wouldn’t have put it there.
No.I convinced myself. Nobody knew anything.
That conviction somehow manifested into me holding Noah tighter.
“You okay?” Noah muttered.
I looked at him, dazed. Relief and exhaustion battled for dominance. His face blurred in and out of focus, but his hold was solid. Safe.
We made it to his truck faster than I’d expected.
“I’ll deal with your car later,” he said, already reaching for the passenger-side handle.
I was on my feet now, no longer leaning on him. Wobbly, sure. But standing.
“You know what?” I said, clearing my throat. “I think I’m good. I’ll leave you to it. I can drive myself back.”
