Page 96

“About two hours, depending on traffic and road construction and—”

“You don’t have to go off on male directions versus female.”

I laugh again. She knows me so well. “I’m just saying. Distance is more reliable than time.”

“I’m just making sure we’re still on for our date tomorrow night.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” I think about a place I haven’t seen in a long time. “Is it okay if I hijack where we go?”

She makes a little frustrated groan, and I grin. Everything she says and does makes me smile or grin. Nothing has changed.

“I guess,” she finally says in a pretend annoyed voice.

“I have a surprise for you. I think you’re going to like it.”

Billy’s like a kid in a candy store when he sees the haul in the bed of my truck.

“Man, this is some serious shit.” He picks up the clutch I swiped. “Taylor’s clutch is in good condition.”

“Chuck said some asshole in Atlanta was sniffing around. I figured I’d take what we might need for future jobs.”

He smiles and nods. “Good thinking. Man, I wish I’d gone with you.”

“We’d have bought the whole car.” I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in two days. “Anything happen while I was gone?”

His face turns red, and I grab his shoulder. “What?”

“You’re going out with Drew tonight?” I nod, and he gives me a tight smile. “You’d better ask her about it.”

I have no idea what to expect when I pick up Drew. All I know is I’ve planned an evening for us where I hope all the things hanging over our heads will be forgotten. I tossed a blanket in the bed of the truck in case we want to go somewhere to look at the stars later. In the meantime, I pull up to her house and get out, ready to walk up and knock on the door.

Ready for her father to answer.

I’m lifting my hand when it opens on its own, and Drew swirls out in a chambray dress that hangs mid-thigh with a little belt around the waist. She’s wearing short, brown cowboy boots, and her long hair is in a thick braid over one shoulder with little strands hang around her face.

Her lips are so full and pink. “Hey, beautiful.” I lean down to capture them in a kiss.

She pulls the door closed behind her. “Where are you taking me?”

I glance up at the closed door of the huge mansion. It’s stately red brick with an enormous white front porch and wide white stairs leading down to a circular drive. This fortress was never open to me. I let it go for now. It’s not where I want my head to be tonight.

“I was going to say close your eyes.” Our hands are clasped as I lead her to the truck.

She grins, letting me help her into the passenger’s side. “How long do I have to keep them closed?”

“I changed my mind on that.” I climb in the driver’s side and stretch my arm across the top.

She scoots over to the middle, buckling the lap belt and laying her head on my shoulder. “I don’t mind closing my eyes from here.”

I plant a kiss on the top of her sweet-smelling head. “Your call.”

We cruise through her neighborhood out to the main drag through town, following the road that leads to the Interstate. We go a little farther until the lights of the park brighten the sky.

She sits up suddenly, bouncing around to face me. “Gray!”

“What?” I know she knows where we’re heading, but I’m having fun with her.

“Are we going to…” She looks down at her outfit. “I should have asked what to wear!”