Page 48 of Take a Hike
“I don’tusea hookup tool.”
It was completely believable to her that he didn’t need any help getting all the action he’d ever want, but adding to his adorably flustered state was just too tempting. “So, you just frown at the ladies, and they come running? That’s a bit hard to imagine, isn’t it?”It’s so easy to imagine.In fact, it was easy enough that her jealousy of these hordes of women she’d just made up flared up again.
“No—I mean, that’s not how… I don’t…” He gave up with a frustrated huff.
Charlie couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore. “Sorry. I have a lot of sisters. We’re themastersof teasing. I couldn’t help myself.”
His grumpy sound was her kryptonite, and she couldn’t stop herself from reaching across the seat to squeeze his knee. She meant it as a friendly gesture, a sort of way of telling him that no harm was meant, but her fingers wanted to linger on the rock-hard muscle. His leg jumped just the tiniest bit under her touch—as if he’d quickly controlled the motion—before the truck lurched forward, rocking her back and making her realize she was being weird.
“Sorry,” she apologized, moving her hand back to her own leg as she glanced at the speedometer and cleared her throat. “Sheriff deputies with a grudge against my family.”
The reminder—and possibly the removal of her hand—madehim lighten up on the accelerator, and the truck slowed until it was going the speed limit. It felt impossibly slow, especially out in the dark emptiness, where it seemed like she and Kieran were the only people in the universe.
That wasn’t true though. She turned around, peering into the darkness behind the truck. The running lights didn’t do much for visibility behind them, but she squinted, undoing her seat belt so she could turn completely.
“What are you doing?” Kieran snapped. “Put that back on.”
“I will.” She leaned closer to the rear window. “Just confirming something first. Yep. Someone’s following us.”
“Sure they’re militia?” Kieran asked as she returned to facing front and rebuckled her seat belt. “Could just be a random car.”
“With their lights off?” she asked skeptically, and he grimaced, speeding up again. “Know where you’re going?” She grabbed her phone and opened a navigation app. “I can give you directions.”
He shot her a flat look. “I’m a firefi—” He snapped his mouth closed before finishing that sentence, but Charlie still laughed.
“We’re back to that?”
“No, I’m just saying that my job requires me to know how to get around this area,” he grumbled as Charlie grinned at him. She had no idea why she liked him so much—especially his growling, especially,especiallywhen she was winding him up—but she really did. Keeping his gaze straight ahead so she was smiling at his scowling profile, he continued. “Besides, map software is notoriously unreliable in this area, especially sincecell reception is spotty.”
As if he’d just cursed her, the last bar disappeared from her phone, and the dreadedNo Servicemessage appeared instead. “Humph.”
He laughed outright at her disgruntled sound. “Don’t worry.” A small, smug smile stayed in place, and she completely forgot about her phone. “I know how to get us there—andI’ll lose our tail in the process.”
“You’re adorable.”
“What?” His tiny grin slipped away as he stared at her, horrified.
“Oops.” She knew she didn’t look repentant, but she couldn’t stop grinning at him. Besides, she hadn’t lied. “Sorry. I meant to say that you’re very competent.”
This mollified him enough that he returned to his usual scowl.
Curious if she could get him back to his happy smile, she tried again. “Very geographically aware.”
He didn’t smile, looking more baffled than anything, but she couldn’t stop. She was discovering all sorts of fun games to play with Kieran.
“Your driving is good. Not as good as mine, but it’s still good.”
That just received a grunt.
“And your posture is excellent.”
“Okay.”
“That’s rare in the time of smartphones.”
“Hang on.” He cut the truck’s lights, and the dark outsideseemed impenetrable.
“Why?” Despite her question, she grabbed for the handle above the door with one hand and braced her other on the dash.
