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“Please.”

“Fine.” Vic reluctantly slipped his arm around Harlow’s waist. The burly bodyguard easily lifted her up and carried her to the fence before gently setting her down.

Grabbing hold with both hands, Harlow clung to the pickets. “This will work.”

“Now what?”

“Do you think you can haul the scooter up and over?”

“Yeah. No problem.” Vic was built like a bodybuilder. Her bodyguard, a former pro wrestler, who worked out faithfully every single day, was in top physical condition. He didn’t have an ounce of fat on him—just solid muscle.

“You want me to… Never mind. I recognize the look on your face.” Grabbing both ends, Vic lifted the scooter. “I can get it up and over, but there’s no guarantee the condition it will be in if I drop it on the other side.”

Harlow pursed her lips. “I don’t see any other way in unless…we leave the scooter hidden behind the bushes and come back for it later.”

“You’re not worried someone might steal it?”

Harlow giggled. “Mackinac Island is as close to Mayberry as you’ll ever get.”

“Mayberry?”

“You know. Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show.”

“Never heard of it.”

“It’s a fictitious town, a place where crimes never happen. It’s so safe that locals leave their windows open at night.”

“Sounds like my kind of place.” Vic studied the fence.

Male voices echoed from the other side of the bushes.

“Great. I think they’re working their way toward us. Let’s hightail it out of here.”

“I know the drill.” He leapt over the fence, easily clearing it. Helping Harlow up and over was an entirely different story. She was deadweight, unable to assist in the “up and over” part.

“What have you been eating?” Vic groaned, tugging on her arms and struggling to get her to the other side without hurting her. “You weigh a ton.”

“Cheeseburgers, my dad’s delicious chicken bacon casserole. All the foods Robert would throw a fit about if he knew.”

“I was teasing about you gaining weight. I doubt you’ve gained an ounce.” Vic dusted his hands. “Even if I’m able to get you over, what’s the plan? If the goal is to avoid your ex, we need to find somewhere to hide…er…hang out.”

“My Aunt Birdie’s RV is down by the bay. We can stay at her place until they’re gone.”

He took a step back to assess the situation. “I have an idea. I’m going to stand on this boulder over here, which should give me some leverage. On the count of three, I’ll lift you up and then toss you over my shoulder. With any luck, we’ll clear the fence and you won’t end up with a face full of slivers.”

“Or dive headfirst into the rock and crack my skull.” Harlow swept her hair out of her eyes. “I trust you, Vic. We can do this.”

“The things you get me into,” he muttered under his breath.

“You wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I suppose not. Save the glowing praise until we pull this stunt off.”

Harlow leaned against the fence panel and wrapped her arms around Vic’s neck, clinging tightly. “If carrying me all the way to Aunt Birdie’s place is too far, we can hang out in the bushes.”

“We’ll worry about it when we get you over the fence.” Vic adjusted his grip. “On the count of three. One…two…”

Heavy steps echoed on the pavement. Caleb and a city worker appeared at the precise moment Vic gained momentum, lifting her up.