Page 89 of One Big Little Secret

He sucks in a breath as he sees the damage to the front of my car.

“That’s an ugly scrape. I called a guy I know to see if he can speed up a tow.” He looks me up and down. “And where the hell is your coat?”

“The kiddo has it. And thanks, you didn’t have to work any miracles…” My cheeks are on fire.

Rather than meet his gaze and see the concern flashing in his eyes, I work on getting Arlo out of the car.

He’s wrapped up in my purple coat, absurdly large on him, now trailing halfway behind him in the snow.

“Mr. Rory!” Arlo says with genuine delight the minute they lock eyes. “I knew you’d come with the cool car.”

Patton sends me a quick glance before switching his attention back to Arlo. I think my little boy keeps trying to find hidden James Bond guns and booby traps that pop out of secret compartments since he’s convinced my boss has superpowers.

“Let me help you up to the escape pod, little man,” Patton tells him.

“Wait, he needs his seat,” I say, wrestling it out of the back seat and wishing it didn’t look so beat up next to Mr. Everything New.

I get the seat in the vehicle while Arlo dances around in the snow, seemingly oblivious to the temperature. Now that Patton’s here, Arlo’s chattering a mile a minute, full of stories about the snow and karate and the big crash and what he hopes to have for dinner.

At least someone’s feeling better.

“Come on,” I say to Arlo. “Let’s get you in here.” I brush off the snow and help him up, strapping him in securely. He squirms, making it difficult, and it’s hard not to snap at him to sit still.

He’s just a kid.

He doesn’t know how stressful this situation truly is.

How close we both came to being hurt.

And without my knight in shining jeans charging to our rescue… tonight would easily be a bigger mishap than it is.

“There, all set,” I tell Patton, shutting the door and brushing my slick hair back from my face. “I’m so sorry for putting you out again. The tow trucks were just tied up tonight and—”

“Jesus, Salem.” He cuts me off, sounding irritated and worried. “You’re freezing your face off and the kid needs a meal. Don’t apologize.”

“I’m fi—”

“You’re not. Hold still.”

I don’t have time to finish lying before he slings his coat around my shoulders.

I’m instantly silenced.

It’s insanely warm. I snuggle in before I can help myself.

There’s also no escaping his scent, this woodsy aftershave that’s so heavenly I’m able to forget the hell we’re in for a second.

Who knew this would be the night I’d want tobreathePatton Rory? And right now, he smells like manly salvation.

When I look up, he’s eyeing me curiously.

Maybe I should stop looking like I’m in a fabric softener commercial.

“What happened?” he asks.

“The roads were so slick. Another vehicle lost control and almost clipped us. I tried to swerve out of the way, but the ice was crazy, and I just—” I stop and shake my head. My hands aretrembling. Shock, I guess, from how close we came to a bigger disaster. “We veered over and hit the sign instead.”

“Are you okay? Both of you?” He gives me a sharp look.

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