Page 48 of Love in the Wild

He sent Hadley a quick text as he got in his truck.

Gage: I have to go to my uncle’s today.

Hadley: Ok.

Shoot. That was too easy. Was it wrong to want a little push-back? It wasn’t like he wanted to cancel lunch.

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up at Bruce’s garage and didn’t try to hide his irritation when he walked in. As usual, everyone was standing around while three vehicles looked like they’d just vomited parts onto the floor around them.

Bruce and Tommy laughed as they faced a taller man with dark hair. Rome had three years on Gage, but they’d always been evenly matched in strength and wit. Both of their families lived on the wrong side of the law, and they knew how to stay out of each other’s way.

Rome’s hair was longer than the last time Gage saw him, but his eyes held the same wild smirk that warned anyone with a brain to tread carefully.

“There’s the man I came to see,” Rome said as he held out a hand.

Gage accepted the handshake with a grip that held its own warning. “Not sure why you need me. Bruce and Tommy lost their legs?”

Rome let out a hearty laugh and slapped Gage on the back. “That’s why you’re my favorite, man. Most people are allergic to hard work.”

Gage avoided Bruce and Tommy’s stares and crossed his arms over his chest. “Where you been? I thought the law might’a got you.”

“They might catch me, but they can’t keep me. Nah, I got a job down in Kansas City.”

“What kinda job?” Gage asked.

“Nothing worth writing home about.”

“Come on, now. You gotta tell us,” Cain said.

Rome shook his head. “Would you believe me if I said I was a dog walker?”

The entire room broke out in laughter, including Gage. Bruce doubled over, Cain hunched against the toolbox, and Tommy threw his head back as he cackled.

“I’m serious. It was some rich old lady, and she paid me two hundred dollars in cash to walk her dogs twice a day.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” Bruce said as he wiped his eyes.

It was ridiculous to imagine. Rome was built like an NFL quarterback and had tattoos running down both arms and up both sides of his neck. What kind of rich woman would hire him to do anything?

“Was she blind?” Gage asked.

Rome grinned. “No. Actually, she liked what she saw.” He winked and crossed his arms over his chest, keeping the smirk on his face.

Tommy spat a wad of tobacco into his water bottle. “Can’t say I blame you for coming back, but you know Bobby and Zach are still locked up. I’m sure the law will jump at any chance to complete the set.”

“I’ll keep my ear to the ground. I still can’t believe they were stupid enough to get caught. It’s like the two of them don’t have brains when I’m not around.”

That was something Gage could agree with, but Rome’s decision-making skills were questionable too. They might all skirt the law on a regular basis, but Rome had a tendency to get bold and reckless.

The crunching of wheels on gravel turned everyone’s attention to the open bay door. Gage’s heart stopped as Hadley’s unmistakable purple car crept toward the garage.

“Who’s that?” Bruce asked.

Gage bolted around the car and lengthened his stride as Hadley’s car crept closer to the garage.

No, no, no, no, no. She couldn’t be here. Gage barely forced a breath as she parked her car beside his truck.

He had to hurry. No one else could see her here. He broke into a jog, but she’d already rounded the back of the car before he got to her.

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