Page 31 of Found By You

“You’re blocking the view,” I say.

“What?”

I point to the sky. “They’re so much brighter here.” I suppose light pollution from the city I lived in had something to do with that, but still, it’s hard to look away.

He tips his head up, and the second he does, I bring my leg up and kick out his knee. He lands in the snow beside me with a grunt. “Shit. That’s cold,” he hisses.

I burst into laughter.

He looks less than amused as he extends his hand. “Come on, you’re going to freeze.”

I take his hand with both of mine and yank him to lie down beside me. He braces his arm in the snow, his face hovering inches from mine as he chuckles, “You’re out of your mind.”

“Me?” I snort. “You’re the psycho who just beat a guy for no reason.”

His smile quickly fades. “He had his hands on you, Maci. Trust me, he deserved it,” he says, still visibly angered even as he brushes my hair from my face. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” he adds softly, “but I won’t apologize for keeping you safe.”

Something akin to fear crosses his face as he searches mine. Despite the chill, my body ignites in a way that has me questioning my resolve. It’s not the first time he’s used that word. Safe. Is that what he thinks? He’s been keeping me safe these last few days? I don’t need to think much more on it, I’m sure the jury would agree—he most assuredly has.

“Where were you?” I whisper.

“Oh, uh…” His gaze darts to the side. “Taking a leak.”

My nose scrunches. “Outside?” I accuse. “With your brother?”

He shrugs. “Maybe.”

We burst into a fit of laughter that only dies down when I start to shiver. “Let’s get you inside,” he says, and I nod. Snaking my arms around his strong neck, he lifts me from the side of the snowbank and onto the sidewalk. I brush off my backside while he pats my damp coat, then helps me into the passenger seat.

I watch him climb back over the snowbank. When he slips, having to grab onto his plow to stay upright, his gaze snaps to me through the windshield. I’m in tears laughing, watching him hold on and chuckle at himself.

He makes it over and gets in the truck. “For a second, I thought you were being a bit dramatic falling in the snow like that,” he says, grinning, “but it’s slick as shit over there.”

I fan my eyes to dry the tears. “I am not dramatic.” I laugh. “I fall gracefully.”

He chuckles, driving us toward the motel. “I don’t know if I’d call that graceful,” he adds, grinning from ear to ear. He stops out front of my motel room door and throws the truck in park. His smile drops a little. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I pain a smile. “It was just a little…unexpected.”

He sighs heavily. “I get that.”

“But I trust you.” The words spill from my lips before I can think better of it. I surprise myself with the truth of them. Do I? I suppose I do.

Duke rubs his face roughly. “Good. ‘Cause I’m feeling like a real asshole over here. And that job is usually reserved for my brother.”

“I bet.” I smile, reaching for the door handle. “Thank you for inviting me out tonight, I had fun.”

His dark eyes dip to my lips and linger there for a long moment before they meet mine once more. “Me, too.”

I hesitate. My mind ricochets between what I want and what I shouldn’t. I force my body to move, choosing to slide out of the truck. I hold onto the door while I debate inviting him in. Would he want to? I don’t want this night to end, but I don’t want to ruin it either.

“I’ll see you later?” I say, a question more than anything else. And I hate how desperate I sound.

“Call if you need anything.”

“If I had a dollar for every time you’ve told me that,” I tease.

The sexy, crooked grin he sends my way has me realizing I do need something.

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