Page 12 of Denim & Diamonds

“I’m a giant man with a giant dog. You’re a tiny woman with no goddamn phone and for all I know, no fucking underwear.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll have you know, Iamwearing them tonight. Although, I considered sticking them in your flannel pocket as a token of my appreciation. But something told me your grumpy butt wouldn’t have appreciated it. You might have thought that was a bitsilly, so…”

“Whatissilly is you trying to disregard real danger, just to prove a point.”

I pointed my index finger at him. “Oh, I know what this is. You must not have a good deed for the day yet. That’s why you want to drive me home.”

“My good deed today is refraining from throwing your ass over my shoulder right now and walking you to my truck.” He exhaled. “And why don’t you have a damn coat on if you’re walking a mile?”

“Howsillyof me…” I grinned mischievously, enjoying this exchange a little too much. “Actually, that was an easy mistake. I wore your flannel on the way here and hadn’t accounted for the fact that I wouldn’t have it on the return trip.”

His voice softened a bit. “You’re really not gonna let me drive you home? I think that’s dumb.”

My teeth chattered. “I’m already halfway there. It makes no sense to walk back with you only to have you drive me. I’ll be fast. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Let me walk you then,” he insisted.

“No, please don’t.”

“Why are you really here in Meadowbrook?” he asked. “What are you running from?”

“I’ll tell you if you tell me why your girlfriend left town.”

Brock grumbled something under his breath.

After a long moment of silence, he took off the plaid flannel he was wearing.

I held up my palm. “I don’t want it.”

“Take it, Red. Don’t be stupid. It’s cold.”

“You are the grumpiest man I’ve ever met.” I chuckled as I gave in, gladly wrapping his warm shirt around me. It smelled a bit different than the last one, still woodsy and delicious, though.

“Be careful,” he warned. “I’d tell you to call me when you get there, but you have no damn phone.”

“I’ll howl into the night.” I giggled. “Even better, I’ll send your dead heads a telepathic message that I got there safely.”

“Dead heads? Like Grateful Dead?”

“I’m talking about your stuffed deer and moose.”

“Oh,” he muttered.

“You’re a little slow tonight, Brock. Must be the cold air freezing your brain.”

“The only thing freezing my brain tonight is the city girl who thinks it’s safe to walk on the side of a dark country road with no phone, no jacket, and—I don’t care what you say—probably no goddamn underwear. I’m just trying to make sure you don’t turn into roadkill.”

I walked backward away from him. “Tell you what…if that happens, you can have first dibs on hanging me on your wall, Lumberjack.”

He shook his head. “Watch your ass, crazy woman. And hurry home.”

Heeding his advice, I did add some pep to my step as I took off. He wasn’t wrong at all about the dangers of walking late at night. But somehow the prospect of seeinghimhad seemed worth the risk. To be honest, I was pretty sure Brock Hawkins wasthe most dangerous thing on this road.

I made it back to Sierra safely, wishing there was a way I could let him know I was okay.

As I reluctantly removed his cozy shirt so I could take a shower before bed, something fell out of the pocket. How had I not felt this earlier?

I bent to pick it up.