Page 9 of Crush & Byte (Grim Road MC #9)

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, flashing her a grin.

Usually it was Crush taking point on shit like this, but I found myself relaxed in a way I could never remember being.

Especially when River moved closer to me and snagged my arm.

It didn’t escape my notice she put herself slightly behind me as if for protection.

Maybe her trust gave me what I needed to pull myself out of my shell.

All I knew was it felt good to have her close and leaning on me for protection.

The woman bent down, fished out a small envelope from beneath the counter. She smiled at us before addressing Crush. “Tell your grandmother I said hello.”

Crush took the envelope and nodded. “I will, ma’am.” He flashed her a smile before turning and jerking his head for us to leave with him.

“It was nice meeting you,” River called over her shoulder, waving at the older woman.

“You too, dear. Keep your men out of trouble.”

River stopped, but I snagged her hand and tugged her after me. “My men?” She still looked over her shoulder at the other woman. “We’re friends, but we’re not --”

“Of course you’re not, dear.” She gave River a soft, knowing smile. “Not yet.” She waved at River before turning to another customer.

I felt River’s grip tighten on my arm as we walked away from the woman’s stall. The blush creeping up her neck was impossible to miss, and I had to resist the urge to reach out and touch that warm pink skin.

“That was embarrassing,” she muttered, but she didn’t let go of my grip. “She made it sound like…”

“Like what?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what the woman had implied.

The old bat had seen right through us, probably pegged our dynamic within thirty seconds of us walking up.

Not how I’d have preferred to broach the subject of River being with both of us, but the old woman had put the thought in River’s head.

Now, maybe she’d think about it before me and Crush brought it up.

“Nothing,” River muttered, but her voice had gone higher, the way it did when she was flustered. “She doesn’t know us. She was just --”

“Being observant,” Crush cut in, already tearing open the envelope. His tone was matter-of-fact, but I caught the way his eyes flicked to where River’s hand was still wrapped around my forearm.

I should have pulled away. Should have given her space to breathe. Instead, I found myself slowing my pace, so she wouldn’t have to let go. The contact sent little sparks up my arm, and I wondered if she felt it too.

Crush found us a semiprivate spot behind a row of produce stands and handed me the envelope. The paper was thick and expensive, sealed with blue wax stamped in the shape of a bird. I broke it with my thumb and shook out the small sheet of paper folded in half, and a brass key.

River leaned over my shoulder, her hair brushing my jaw. “What’s it say?” she asked, practically bouncing again. Either she was genuinely excited, or the caffeine was still doing a number on her.

“It’s the same cipher she used before.” Crush leaned in so that all three of us were staring at the missive.

I nodded, pulling out my notebook and working my way through the message. “Trail marker seven, Mount Pilchuck. Sunset.” I glanced at Crush and grinned. “Looks like we’re going hiking.” I tucked the note away. “We’ve got just enough time to get there if we leave now.”

“Christ,” Crush muttered, scrubbing a hand over his face. “It’s been a couple decades since we’ve been to that little cabin. You think that’s where she means for us to go?”

I shrugged. “Whether or not she does is irrelevant. If we’re going out into the fuckin’ wilderness, I ain’t campin’ in a fuckin’ tent if there’s a cabin available. No matter how rustic.”

“Cabin?” River looked from one of us to the other, her eyes sparkling with delight. The girl was all over the place with her feelings, but the one prevailing emotion she showed was nearly overwhelming excitement.

“Yeah, honey.” Crush gave her a gentle smile.

I liked that she amused him. It took a lot for Crush to let anyone in enough to feel anything.

He might be the one of us who understood social cues and all that bullshit, but he didn’t let people close.

Not as a rule. Whatever he felt for River, though, pushed back the curtain he kept between him and the rest of the world.

Well, other than me. “There’s a little cabin Maggie owns up in the mountains.

She used to rent it out through one of the state parks up here, but stopped letting people up there years ago. ”

“Don’t you think she’d be mad if we used it?” She looked from Crush to me and back, practically wringing her hands now.

“Nope. In fact, that’s what the key’s for.” Crush held it up before pocketing it. “We’ve got enough supplies. We should be fine, too. If you need a pit stop, now’s the time.”

River’s eyes widened. “Bathroom!” Then she turned and darted off.

I couldn’t help myself. I let loose a full-on belly laugh until tears were rolling down my cheeks.

When I finally got myself under control, I found Crush grinning at me, his features relaxed and warm.

He looked like the brother I’d had before we’d been dragged into black ops for the CIA. “What is it?”

For long moments I thought Crush might ignore my question. When he spoke, it was with a voice rough with emotion. “I’ve not heard you laugh like that in a long fuckin’ time.” He gripped my shoulder hard. “I’ve missed it.”

“I know this isn’t fair to her, but Goddamn if that girl doesn’t make me feel alive for the first time in a long fuckin’ time.”

“She’s got spunk. You’d think the girl’d never taken a road trip.” He grinned and gave a soft chuckle.

“Seems like I’m not the only one she’s got under her spell.” I smirked at Crush. “How long’s it been since you actually smiled?”

“Too fuckin’ long.”

It wasn’t long before River rushed back to us, her face flushed and a huge smile on her face. “What kind of cabin is it?”

“Little single room cabin. There’s a full bathroom, though, and a small kitchen area. Fireplace.” I reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair off her forehead where it tried to blow into her eyes. “Best of all, it overlooks a mountain lake.”

She practically bounced on her toes again. “That sounds amazing! Is there electricity?”

Crush nodded. “Solar panels and a generator backup. Maggie had it updated about ten years ago, but she kept it simple on purpose.”

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

I laughed again and Crush joined me this time.

I knew what he meant about missing my laugh.

I’d missed his as well. Maggie damned sure hit this match on the mark.

When this was over, assuming we convinced River this could work among the three of us, Crush and I were going to have to do something special for Maggie.

Then again, maybe we were doing exactly what she wanted already.