Page 16 of Reckless
It’s what I’d do for my mom or my sister.
But I give her what she can handle, which is cold, hard facts. “I just want you to get back home safe.”
She responds with a laugh that borders on a sob and then peers back up at the navy sky. “Home.”
I lean against the porch railing and cross my arms over my chest, watching her. Giving her space, but also not wanting to leave her alone.
“I’m staying at the hotel in town. The Rosewood Inn.”
“Yeah?” I quirk my head. “Same.”
The look she gives me is disbelieving.
“Come on, Winter. I’m not a total dog. Give me some credit. What if I drive in front of you and you follow? That way, if there is any wildlife, I’ll hit it first.”
Her eyes roll, but her lips reiterate, “Follow?”
I shrug. “Yeah. And when you get into town, you’ll be fine. You can watch me walk away and never see me again.”
Now her lips do tip up, but it’s practiced. “That holds a certain appeal.”
“Watching me walk away? Busted you doing that earlier already.” I wink as I jog down the stairs and hit the button to unlock my truck.
“You are incorrigible.”
“Oooh! Incorrigible! Great word. VeryBridgerton. I could role-play the duke if that’s something you’re into.”
I tug her driver-side door open and gesture to usher her in, but she stops in her tracks. Finally looking amused. “You knowBridgerton?”
“Yes. They even taught me how to read at bull riding school.”
“You readBridgerton?”
She’s so impressed by my ability to read that she still doesn’t move, so I leave the door open and carry on to my truck. I laugh as I haul myself up into the driver’s seat. “Stole them from my mom for teenaged spank bank fodder.” Her responding gasp makes me laugh harder and I call out, “Let’s go, Tink! We’re off to Neverland!” right as I slam my door.
Knowing that now she’ll follow me just so she can tell me off about comparing her to a Disney fairy again.
* * *
I go slow. Slower than necessary, but it eases the pressure in my chest to see her headlights behind me. She drives like she’s never seen snow before, and I’m worried she’ll hit the ditch. But at least I’ll be here to pull her out and call a tow truck. Better than sitting at Wishing Well Ranch thinking a woman who is far more terrified than she’d ever admit is out on the roads white-knuckling it by herself.
The drive takes twice as long as it should, and I let out a deep sigh when we hit the first stoplight in Chestnut Springs. The roads were ugly, and I swear I can feel her relief from twenty feet away.
When we pull up in front of the Rosewood Inn, I hop out and start to walk away like I promised her I would. I think I’ve needled her enough for one night. Yet I find myself somewhat disappointed at the idea of never seeing her again.
A good sparring partner is hard to find.
“Hey, Theo?” she calls, chin tucked deep into her coat to keep the snow out, warm honey hair shining under the flood of light from the streetlamp arched over her. “You uh...” Her arms cross over her body protectively and she drops my gaze awkwardly. “Thanks for that.”
I nod. “Of course. Anytime.”
“Anytime the roads are bad, I can just, what? Give you a ring and you’ll come running to the rescue?”
“Yeah. Sure. If you ever need help, you can give me a call.”
She looks momentarily stunned. “Why?”
I lift my shoulders in a shrug. “I don’t know. Why not?”
