Page 69 of Take a Hike
“We’re almost to the hotel,” she said, feeling bad for him. She of all people knew what it was like to be stuffed into something that didn’t fit. “You can take it off then. In fact, you’re welcome to takeeverythingoff.”
“If you’re trying to distract me, then it’s working.” His voice dropped to a deep grumble that did fun and interesting things to her insides.
“Once all this is over, want to go on vacation somewhere?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t even hesitate, his definite answer smooshing all the doubts that she hadn’t even realized had snuck into her mind. “Excellent. Where should we go?”
“Anywhere with a bed and a lock on the door.” His stare was so hot she was surprised it didn’t burn her skin. “The bed’s optional.”
She shivered in anticipation. “Let’s just stay at the hotel then. That way, we won’t waste time traveling.”
“Yeah.” He sent her another one of those smoldering glances that sent her stomach butterflies into a tizzy. “Let’s do that.”
Kieran parked on the street a block from the hotel, and Charlie’s pulse, which had already been pounding thanks to Kieran’s impossible hotness, ramped up to a faster rhythm. She felt the familiar rush of adrenaline racing through her, and she sent him a wild grin.
“Ready?” he asked, his hand on the door handle.
“Always.”
Opening her door, she jumped out of the truck. Once she and Kieran had closed their respective doors, a deep silence fell. The night was too quiet, as if it were holding its breath. Kieran joined her on the sidewalk, and they walked toward the hotel door, close enough that their arms were brushing.
Charlie loved having him next to her. She’d always prided herself on her independence, on the fact that she didn’t need anyone to help her bring in skips or get her out of tight spots. The time she’d spent with Kieran showed her that, although she didn’tneedanyone with her, she wanted him there. In fact, his presence made her adventures even better.
Catching his hand, she gave it a squeeze. “I like you.”
He gave one of his usual snarly choke-laughs. “I thought you loved me. Have I been downgraded?”
“Nah.” She gave a laugh not because anything was funny, but because she was happy. “It’s easy to love someone. It’s harder to actually like them.”
“That makes no sen—” He broke off with a grunt as a dark shape hit his solar plexus, taking him down in a rough tackle.
Charlie took a step toward him, rage surging through her at the sight of three people piling on top of Kieran’s fallen form. Before she could start kicking some asses, someone hit her from behind, and she went down. Hands patted her down, ignoring her struggles, as at least two others held her face down on the sidewalk.
“Turn her,” someone commanded, making Charlie grit her teeth. That voice was familiar—she’d known it her entire life—and even though she knew well that Jane chose money over her own daughters, it felt like a kick in the stomach to have it confirmed yet again.
The hands holding her down flipped her over onto her back, and Charlie kicked out at Jane, who barely managed to dodge in time. Tassie and Bones were the ones holding her down, and Charlie felt a strange sense of betrayal, as if the fortune hunters had broken the rules by teaming up with Jane.
“Lachlan, Dave,” Jane yelled. “Get over here and help hold her down.”
“We’re a little busy…with this guy,” Lachlan answered, his voice breathless with exertion. Charlie felt a grim satisfactionthat Kieran wasn’t making it easy on them, and that thought made her redouble her struggles.
“Hold still, Charlotte,” her mom ordered, sounding annoyed as she dug into Charlie’s cargo pockets.
Charlie’s laugh came out as a gasp as she tried to knee her mom in the face, making Jane jerk back out of range. “Why should I make robbing me easier?”
Jane tsked. “Robbing you? I’m just taking backmyproperty. You had no right to take it in the first place. Ah!” She made a sound of triumph as she yanked the grocery bag out of Charlie’s pocket. She took a quick look inside before climbing to her feet. “Got it. Knock them out.”
Bones grabbed double fistfuls of Charlie’s shirt, lifting her upper body off the sidewalk.
“Can’t believe I was rooting for you and Rhys,” Charlie sighed in her bestnot surprised, just disappointedtone.
Bones hesitated, turning her face away slightly as she said sheepishly, “It’s just that we’d really like to buy a house, and Denver real estate prices right now are outrageous.”
“Do it,” Jane snapped, and Bones shoved Charlie down, cracking her head against the sidewalk.
Her head spinning from the blow, Charlie resisted the urge to struggle—and her even greater urge to tell Bones her rationale for joining the evil team wasridiculous—and forced her muscles to go limp. Bones gave her upper body a shake. When Charlie remained boneless, she dropped her and stood.
