Page 81 of Stripping Bare

His mouth was turned down, making her cuddle him. But this wasn’t the time to be sympathetic. He needed to let his family in. “I will.Later.”

Uh-uh.Something about this was hinky. “Keeping people in the dark never comes togood.”

“This isn’t their deal, and I don’t want them in anyone’scrosshairs.”

Crosshairs. Charlotte. “Why the sudden need to go to Charlotte?” shedemanded.

She made her way down the steps and realized halfway to the car that he wasn’t behind her. He was standing on the porch staring at his shark car, the one she’d taken from his garage. “You droveClementine?”

Oh, yeah. That was a perfect name for this delicious car. Sweet with a distinctive bite. “Yes.”

“She’s a four-speed.”

“I know what to do with a gearshift.”

At that, he cut her a speculative look, which served to remind her exactly what she’d done withhisgear shift last night. If she had her way, she’d be test-driving him againsoon.

“She’s a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird,” hesaid.

No wonder it had made her think of a roadrunner. “I like her. Alot.”

“The interior is all restoredoriginal.”

Tessa rolled her eyes skyward. “I didn’t take a box cutter to theseats.”

“Don’t joke about that. It actually happened to Grifonce.”

Trying not to get defensive because Jonah was looking at her as if she’d threatened his firstborn, she waved at the car. “You left me. I came downstairs and you were gone. What else did you expect me todo?”

“Sorry.” He winced. “Since I moved out of Mom’s house, I’m not used to checking in with anyone. And my brothers can be verypersuasive.”

“Next time, do more than leave a note.” She unlocked the driver’s door and glared at him across the top of the car. “Get in. I’m driving you to Charlotte. Can you ask one of your brothers to check onBadger?”

“Dammit,Tessa.”

“After last night, I thought you’d stopped shutting me out. You can’t do one thing with your body and another with yourmind.”

His face took on a stubborncast.

Uh-uh,buddy.

She would use whatever weapon she had to. “Last night, I was so tired and then I was sobusythat I forgot to mentionsomething.”

“What?”

“When I took Badger outside, something was rustling around at the edge of the yard.” Now his expression turned dangerous, so she hurried on. “It was probably nothing, but now I’m a little nervous about stayingalone.”

“If something else like that happens, you tell me immediately. I meanit.”

Success! “So why are we going toCharlotte?”

“To talk to CarsonGrimes.”

He’d planned to do it behind her back. He would’ve if she hadn’t pushed theissue.

Once Jonah was inside, Tessa cranked the car. She was tempted to gun it just to spite him, but she and Clementine had bonded earlier, so she wasn’t eager to take her frustration out on her newfriend.

Wow, she’d made a lot of new friends today, hadn’t she? Miss Joan and Brynne andMicki.