by Taryn Quinn
“What?” I asked defensively.
“You catch your tongue between your teeth when you’re working sometimes. It’s almost cute.”
The back of my neck heated. What the hell? I’d had women objectify me in a hundred ways, and this one could render me mute with just a few words.
“Yeah, well, you probably snore.”
I didn’t know why I said it. But I definitely didn’t expect her to laugh.
“The opposite, actually. I’ve had people check to see if I’m still breathing because I’m so quiet.”
I pocketed the tube of cream, dumped the bandage wrapper in the garbage, and then hung the towel to dry. “Since I can’t confirm or deny that one, I’ll just say you should get some smaller scissors.”
“That’s my kitchen pair.” She glanced toward the remnants of destruction on the island and scattered on the floor. “You’re not curious?”
“I’m curious about many things.”
How your lips would taste, for one.
“Thor, you’re really annoying sometimes, you know that?” She didn’t give me time to answer before marching over to the island and gathering up half of what I saw now was a photo. “That’s my brother, Cohen.” She jabbed her finger at his smiling face, his forehead partially shadowed by his shock of dark hair. “He’s the one who got hurt and fucked up my life.” She closed her eyes. “I didn’t mean that. I love the jerk. I just didn’t intend for all of…this. Didn’t plan on it. Didn’t need it.”
“All of what?” I asked gently.
“The other guy in the photo,” she gestured to the floor where the other pieces had fluttered, “was my brother’s best friend. He died in the same accident where my brother got hurt.”
“And you hate him.”
“How do you know?”
Didn’t deny it. Hmm. “Taking a blade to a dead man’s face is usually a pretty strong clue.”
She stunned me by laughing, and then I returned the favor by drawing her into my arms for a hug. She went stock still, not moving, not breathing, until I skimmed a hand down her rigid spine and urged her in against my chest.
I almost thought she’d shatter before she’d bend but she folded against me with something that sounded suspiciously like relief.
Or grief. It bothered me I didn’t know her well enough to be able to tell the difference.
“That’s a girl.” I rubbed her back in even strokes as she trembled against me.
She wasn’t crying, though I’d worried for an instant that she was. No, her eyes were dry and remained wide open and on mine. She wasn’t much shorter than I was and fit so well in my arms that I knew this had been a mistake.
It was always so much harder to forget the forbidden once you’d had a taste.
“What did he do?” I asked once her shudders had subsided.
“I trusted him so I showed him my designs for my first fabricator.”
I braced against what she’d say next.
“And?”
“And he took them for his own and sold them to a competitor.”
I sucked in a breath as I fisted my hand against her lower back. “Your brother’s best friend.”
“Yes. Supposedly.”
I nearly asked what he’d been to her. I could hear the current of more underneath the pain in her words. But she’d already given me so much, and I didn’t want to ask for things she clearly wasn’t ready to tell.
After a moment, I eased away from her and gathered the photo shreds off the island and the floor and dumped them in a paper towel.
“What are you doing?”
“Gonna take them out to the fire pit where they belong. Lu would approve,” I added almost as an afterthought.
Even with my limited knowledge of all things mystical, I knew fire was an important way to release and cleanse. And this dude needed some serious releasing for being a fucking traitorous dick. I was sorry he was dead, but that didn’t absolve him from what he’d done while he was here.
“You didn’t even look at the pieces.”
“Why should I? He hurt you, so he isn’t worth it.”
She swallowed loudly enough for me to hear. “Ezra asked me to go to his memorial in Mystic. I don’t know if I can. My family doesn’t know what he did, and I don’t think I can look them in the eye and pretend he was a good guy when I know deep down he wasn’t.”
“You feel you have to go.”
“Yes. Not for him.”
“No, for your brothers.”
Silently, she nodded.
“Would it help to have a friend with you?”
She reached up to grip her throat, her fingers digging in until I was sure she’d leave marks behind. “I don’t have any friends I could ask.”
“You do, and you don’t have to ask because I’m offering.” I wrapped my fingers around hers and carefully pried them away from her skin. With a squeeze, I released them. “Let’s go on a road trip, Ruby.”
Ten
Watching the sun tease the sky held a whole new meaning when you knew a funeral was in your future.
No one should be in the ground before the age of thirty. Hell, I’d say eighty with the whole medical advances thing. But twenty-seven? The same age as me? No.
That wasn’t the way it should go.
I tucked my fingers into the oversized cardigan I wore against the biting wind. The sky was steel gray and heavy with rain. I could smell it on the air and feel it in my shoulder.
It was always my barometer. At least the old injury had been for a good cause—beating the holy hell out of a ’67 Impala for a client with more money than sense. She’d wanted a replica of Baby from the show Supernatural.
And I’d been stupid enough to do it.
She’d found the most ridiculously rusted out piece of crap that had been wasting away in some dude’s barn. It’d had water damage, frame issues, and leather eaten by God knows what. But in the end, I’d gotten that motherfucker growling as well as Dean Winchester himself.
Or so I liked to believe.
Some days were insanely fun. Some days were made to be stamped out and forgotten. I had a feeling the next two days would fall in the latter category.
The rumble of Lucky’s ancient pickup coming down my drive had me turning around. My weekender was packed and a cooler with snacks, water, and sodas stood at the edge of my as yet renovated barn.
We had to wait a few days for some final permits to come in as well as roofing supplies and some lumber from Turnbull. It was the snow capital of NY and they’d already had their third snowstorm, though it wasn’t even a full week into October.
I could only imagine what was coming our way this year.
Lucky and Gideon had assured me they would get the roof finished first so the rest of the barn renovation could move along.
If I had to go to a funeral-slash-memorial, at least the timing could’ve been worse.
I wanted to hide in the workshop and figure out the back panels of the Phantom, not face my dead lover’s family. Oh, and of course my brother, who was still mourning for his best friend, and my dad, who’d thought of Jimmy as another son. All of it made me want to take my bag and hit the road for a whole different kind of destination.
I could start over again. Maybe try Canada this time.
The beige and blue battered panels of Lucky’s truck as it barreled down the drive were disguised in a wake of dust. I really needed to think about improving the road with winter coming. That was going to be a bitch to keep plowed.
One more thing to add to my checklist.
He parked and hopped out. “Mornin’.” He strode over to my bags. “Oh, hey. You packed snacks?” His slash of a smile made my gut twist.
Here I was, acting like nothing happened last night. That I hadn’t let Lucky hold me while I shook in his arms. Never mind that I’d agreed he could join me on this trip.
He’d asked if I needed a friend, and I couldn’t remember ever wanting one more.
I wrapped the edg
es of my sweater tighter and crossed to him. “Less stops the better.”
“That’s no fun. You’re supposed to find shitty diners on the endless highways of America.”
“Been to all of them.”
“I got you a coffee from Macy’s on the way.”
“I could ki—um…thank you.”
He grinned down at me. “What was that?”
“That’s very kind of you.”
His lips twitched. “What’s in the thermos?”
“More coffee.”
“You’re so organized.” He crouched down to the cooler and flipped it open. “Grapes, trail mix, nuts.” He glanced up at me. “Where’s the gummy bears? M&Ms?”
“Keep digging.”
“That’s my girl.” He shoved his big paw in there and found the candy layer. “Twizzlers—you are my soulmate.”
“Shut up.”
He tucked the thermos under his arm, and swung both the soft-sided cooler strap and my bag over his shoulder. When my coat slipped free from where I’d looped it over the bag, I stepped forward and snatched it before he could take that too. “I can carry my own stuff.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just get in the truck.”
I stomped after him, my arms wrapped around my one good jacket—well, other than my leather one.
“What did you do with Butch?”
“She’s getting spoiled by Luna and Caleb.” He swore as he twisted his shoulders to stuff himself into the back. “They said it was mini practice for the kid.”
“With your dog? No. She’s cake.”
“I didn’t argue and neither did B. She is loving life. I’m actually worried she won’t want to come home.”
I came up next to him. The small backseat of the cab didn’t have much room. Lucky had a ruck sack tucked in the corner and a blazer hanging from a makeshift hook in the ceiling.
“B will miss you desperately.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Are you trying to make me feel better?”
“Well, you are driving me to Connecticut.”
“I can’t believe that’s where this shindig is. Didn’t you say he was a California firefighter?”
“They both were—are—adrenaline junkies. They went where the action was.” Now I didn’t know what Cohen would be. Even more out of control? Or would this change the heart of him?
“Yeah, I get that.” He seemed satisfied with his version of luggage Tetris, then opened up the passenger side for me. “Ready to get on the road?”
“No.”
He tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear. “Want to do it anyway?”
I sighed. “Yes.”
He gripped the top of the door. “Then get that superior ass in the truck.”
I hopped up and he gave me a smile before he shut the door. His soapy scent hit my nose again. He’d cleaned out the truck for me—pretty sure he’d even hit the car wash, at least on the inside.
A large to go cup was waiting for me as well as a stash of candy. I wasn’t the only one who thought ahead. The truck had a big bench-style seat with the shifter on the floor, giving both of us much needed leg room.
He got in and laid his arm across the back of the seat as he backed out. I couldn’t figure out why I knew his scent, but it was driving me crazy. It didn’t match the kind of guy I’d thought he was.
“So, are you a rock tunes or a podcast girl?”
“You listen to podcasts?”
He shook his head. “I have brain cells too. My life isn’t just smashing walls down.”
“I didn’t—” My jaw dropped open.
“Your face.” He chuckled as he put the truck in drive. “I like that Asher dude’s podcast. Murder in small towns is fascinating.”
I gave him some side-eye. “Should I worry?”
He laughed and made the executive decision to go with some Keith Urban. “Don’t worry, Ruby. I only give killer orgasms.”
“Keep it up and I’ll push you out of the truck myself.”
He threw his head back with a hearty laugh. His not quite perfect baritone serenaded me for an hour before I cried uncle. I didn’t want to own up to the fact that I actually liked it. That was precisely the problem.
We listened to two episodes of Asher Wainwright’s podcast before stopping for a bathroom break. Traffic was light since most people were working. I knew we had snacks. I’d had all the right intentions. Then a McMuffin called my name. I’d pay for it, but right now, I didn’t really care.
I got two for each of us and rushed back to the rest stop’s parking lot. Lucky was sitting on the hood of the truck, tossing grapes into his mouth.
Damn, all that hair glinting in the light was giving me all kinds of very good but very bad thoughts. Lucky was going to kill me, and not the way that led to a trip into the woods.
I was supposed to be thinking about Jimmy and my brother, but just then, nothing seemed to matter but this moment.
The sun had burned through the clouds as soon as we’d left the Cove behind. He’d stripped off his shirt, leaving him in worn jeans and a black tank. His skin was burnished from the sun, and his tattoos were faded like his jeans.
He tipped his head back as he chewed, soaking in the sun.
I came to a stop in the middle of the road. I was not catching feelings for this guy, was I?
The honk of a horn made me jump as Lucky zeroed in on me. I held up the McDonald’s bag like a trophy and he whistled.
“Girl, you read my mind.” He stuffed the half gone stem of grapes back in the baggie and slid off the truck.
“McDonald’s and a road trip go together like peanut butter and jelly.” I tossed the bag at him.
“Only way better.” He dug in with a groan. “Perfect.” He nodded to the truck. “I’ve got disinfectant wipes in the glove box.”
“Obsessed with germs?”
He shrugged.
Then I remembered he’d been pretty much homeless for years and wanted to kick my own ass. I got in and we cleaned up then unwrapped our breakfast sandwiches.
I held mine out to him and he tapped it with his. “Cheers.”
“What do you have back there?” I asked between bites
He looked over his shoulder. “Camping stuff.”
“You know we’re going to a hotel, right?”
“I like to be prepared.”
“Boy Scout too?”
He waggled his brows. “Always prepared, babe.”
Once the sandwiches were gone, I twisted onto my knees to get to the cooler. I pulled off my sweater and threw it on my bag. I was a bit freakish about my water being cold. I’d filled up a few insulated tumblers for the ride and grabbed one. My elbow brushed his shoulder and he stilled as my hair draped over his arm.
“Sorry.” Quickly, I got back on my side of the truck. “How long do we have?”
“We’re just outside of Pittsfield, so we should make it there a little after noon.” He cleaned up our late breakfast then pulled out of the parking lot.
“I’m gonna blink out for a bit. I slept for shit.”
“Go ahead.”
I wasn’t actually tired, but the closer we got to Jimmy’s hometown, the less capable I was of making small talk. It had been years since I’d been out this way.
I’d tagged along with Cohen and Jimmy one summer—the summer we’d tangled.
Cohen had fallen in lust with a girl working in Mystic and had dragged us both with him in case the online hookup fizzled. It hadn’t, leaving Jimmy and I alone. I was high on my new designs for my first fabricator machine and getting some interest from a company to collaborate. I’d been feeling reckless and happy for the first time in a while.
Jimmy was charming and there had always been something between us. Neither of us had ever thought to step over the line until we’d been left to our own devices. One hot day in July, I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.
At the time, it hadn’t seemed that way. But when Jimmy asked me not to tell my brother about us, I should
have run far and fast. Secrets never led to happiness. But I’d been too stupid and blind. I’d believed that he wanted me. For half a second, I’d even believed I was in love with him.
I’d been so wrong.
I didn’t think I was going to fall asleep, but I supposed I wanted to escape even the memories. I woke to Lucky lightly shaking my shoulder.
“Ruby?”
Before I answered him, I pressed my forehead to the window. The sign outside proclaimed the memorial for James Devine. There were a fleet of cars parked in the lot, and a line snaked out the door.
“Ruby?” he repeated.
“I’m awake,” I said quietly.
“I can head over to the hotel if you want to get ready.”
Sitting up, I flipped down the visor. Going to the hotel first was the smart thing to do, but I just wanted to get this over with. I looked like death, and extra primping wouldn’t help that.
I scanned the road. “Why don’t we go over there? I can get dressed in the bathroom.”
He followed my gaze and arched a brow. “Wouldn’t be the first time I got dressed in a diner.”
“I mean, we can go—”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t have to impress anyone. I’ll just clean up a little.”
I reached over and gripped his arm. “Thank you for driving me to this.”
“Don’t sweat it.”
I’d been pretty low after Ezra’s call last night. It was the only reason I could think of for letting down my guard so thoroughly with Lucky. But right now, the idea of walking into that firehouse alone was more than I could handle.
I checked my phone. I had a few texts from Rhett and Ezra asking when I was arriving. They were saving a seat for me.
But instead of replying, I flipped my phone over on my lap.
“You don’t have to do this.”
I rolled my head toward Lucky. “I do.”
“We can split right now. That road right there,” he arrowed his hand, “can get us out of here in less than five minutes. Three if you hold onto that ‘oh shit’ handle.”
I couldn’t stop a smile.
He turned in the seat. “You can blame me. I got lost.”