Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
There’s not much to say. Vik stalks off, his long legs and I’m-going-to-kick-some-ass gait eating up the sidewalk.
Peter tips his chin. “See you soon, Marianna. Don’t forget about dinner.”
Marianna waves tiredly, her pain showing now. “Tell Elsa, hello. I’ll be in touch.”
“Let’s get you home.”
“Since you destroyed the truck…” Scout motions to a green Jeep that’s parked across the street. “You’ve got to ride with me.”
That does not help my guilt.
Marianna waves a finger at him. “Technically he didn’t destroy the truck. Whoever made the bomb did.”
Scout walks around the Jeep. Drops to the ground and scoots underneath. He takes the back and I take the front, doing the same while Marianna watches us.
Dusting off his hands, Scout walks to the driver’s door. “All clear.”
“Wish I had some of that tech that Vik and his boys have. I’m going to have to ask about a hook-up.”
Scout clicks the button to unlock the Jeep as he turns to Marianna. “I still want to give him shit about the other truck. You should too.”
She glances at me. “I think he’s already feeling bad enough about it.”
I lift her up into the Jeep. “Yeah. I don’t even want to talk about it right now. I’m still kicking my ass and will be until I hit the grave.”
Marianna’s hand catches mine as I pull back to close the door. “Don’t feel like that. I’m not mad.”
I squeeze her hand, lacing my fingers with her. “I’m mad enough for both of us.”
“Come on, let’s roll!”
Scout can be as impatient as he wants. I’m not done. After I kiss the back of Marianna’s hand and her forehead, I close her into the rear passenger area.
He’s muttering when I climb in the passenger seat and drives like he usually acts—angry at the world.
As we rail around a curve, there’s a loud pop.
“Dude, really?” I stare at the oh-shit handle that’s now broken off the Jeep and sitting in my hand.
Scout doesn’t even slow down. “Maybe you really are a chicken.”
“This Jeep is not made for cornering like that.”
He cuts me a side-eye as Marianna laughs in the back seat.
I look for something else to hold onto. “You two are ganging up on me now.”
I turn to look at her. The glass is down a few inches and the wind is catching her hair. Her pretty eyes are tired, but softly studying me.
My physical reaction is immediate.
She presses her lips flat to hide her smile.
Is that smile for me, or because Scout’s being a dick?
“You think it’s funny to watch me get thrown all around.”
Her composure falters. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m still laughing at the expression on your face when you saw the cell key dangling from my finger.”
The tension is leaving all of us, making the vibe in the Jeep almost fun. Except Scout. He still looks like his face would crack if he had a good time.
I groan dramatically and settle into my seat again. “I won’t be forgetting that any time soon. What other tricks have you got up your sleeve?”
Scout grumbles something.
“What was that?”
He keeps his eyes on the road.
“What? You can’t say you weren’t shocked as shit when she did that.”
“Oh I was. Gotta say, Marianna, I like you more all the time. First you kick this slack-ass out of your hospital room. Then you give the police chief the metaphorical middle finger by getting the cell key out from under his desk.”
Scout glances in the rearview before he continues. “In my book, you got a set of balls on ya.”
“I guess,” Marianna replies with a small laugh. “I just don’t like being pushed around. My grandfather taught me that when I was just a kid. The boys that came to the farm to work with their fathers were a bunch of bullies… and I was the smallest and youngest.”
Hate a damned bully. I was that kid that they pushed around. A long time ago.
“Those guys still around town?” I ask as I spin in my seat to look at her.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Scout and I will pay them a visit. Right, Scout? You got my six, man.”
Eyes widening, Marianna hides her smile behind her hand. “As much as I like the idea, you don’t need to. I grew up and got a pair of cowboy boots. Cow girl boots. Their shins paid dearly. Everyone stayed far away then.”
I’m looking at her, soaking in the way her eyes are dancing, when Scout takes a hard turn and slings me against the door.
“Seriously?”
Hanging one hand over the steering wheel, he shrugs the shoulders that take up more than half of the Jeep’s front. Crowded as hell in here with the two of us.
He rumbles, “I like testing the limits of this thing.”
The Jeep rocks hard when we make a left onto Marianna’s lane. Gravel spits from beneath the tires. A plume of dust rises around us.
“Drive it like you stole it…” Marianna laughs as she bounces around in the back seat.
I love the sound so much I don’t care how Scout is driving.
“It sure isn’t a Humvee.” I toss the broken handle on the floor. “Thank god, I had enough of that for a lifetime.”
“Not me. I loved those things.”
That’s not the only topic Scout and I differ on.
Scout’s silent beside me as he drives, following the long driveway over a couple of small hills and up the last climb to the ranch house. When I glance over, he’s wearing the classic Scout scowl. Never called it that to his face. Yet, anyway.
Out of our Agile Security work team, Scout seems to be having the hardest time adjusting to civilian life.
Me? I don’t know how I feel anymore. I missed it before. Now, all I can think about is…
I glance back, Marianna’s head is dipped as she looks inside her purse for something. The soft curve of her upper lip has my abs tightening.
Scout better not fucking hang around.
The instant the vehicle stops, I’m out. When I open her door, Marianna looks surprised.
“Let me help you.”
Scout slides out of the driver’s seat and stretches. He looks around. “Damn, nice pad, Marianna. I’ve never been to an agave farm before. I’d like a tour when you’ve got time.”
“Which is not now.” I drop her hand, spin around and slam my palm against his chest. “You shouldn’t be late for check-in at the hotel. Appreciate the lift, man.”
He gives me a flat-eye stare. Then he speaks around me. “Marianna, you good? I can call the hotel and beg off of the reservation if you want me to play cock-block for you.”
I swear. My fist is already celebrating how it feels to smash that expression right off his damned face.
Marianna’s already walking toward the house. She turns to look at us, tsking loudly. “Enough, you two. I’ve still got my boots in case I need to kick his shins. Thanks for the lift. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you again before long.”
She disappears inside.
“Fucker.”
The half-smirk falls off of his face and he sneers his upper lip.
“You hurt that girl because you want to fuck-it and forget-it, you’ve got a lesson coming. She’s got enough shit men in her life. You included if you do what I think you’re going to do.” He tilts his head. “And mark my words, I will fucking own you. I know your achilles.”
I shove his chest. “Mind your fucking business.”
He shrugs his shirt back into place and takes a backward step toward the Jeep. “You best do that too.”