Page 38 of Small Town Hunter

“What’s wrong?”

“Something I left in Tippalonga.”

When he reaches for the GPS, I stare at his large, hard shoulders. His man-smell washes over me again and with it the overwhelming heat that races through my whole body. Crash smells like something hot and wild.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Crash stares out the window, thinking. I leave him to it until he suddenly says my name.

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you call your grandmother and let her know we’re coming? And maybe let her know this taxi service ain’t free while you’re at it.”

“Um,” I say. He won’t like this. Not at all.

“What?”

“I, uh, don’t have Mamie’s phone number memorized,” I confess.

He stares at me and says slowly, “Alright.”

“Yeah. Um— I forgot to mention it.”

“Well. That complicates things, don’t it?” He’s mad.Pissed.

“So we’ll get to L.A and find her. How hard can it be?”

“Do you know how big L.A. is?”

“Of course,” I say defensively. “But it can’t be much bigger than OKC. We’ll find her. I have faith.”

He curses and reaches for a cigarette. There’s a strong wind, and he can’t light it. His dark hair blows everywhere. Finally, the flame catches on the end and he drags on it hard. The circles under his eyes look like bruises. “I thought you were valedictorian,” he says.

“And I thought cigarettes kill you,” is my lame comeback.

“Trina, if you don’t give me a lead there’s no way I can take you anywhere.”

I don’t even know what to say. If Crash doesn’t help me I’m on my own. I offered him money and I don’t know what else I have—

Yes.

Yes, I do know.

And you know what?

I think Crash knows, too.

And you know what else?

I think I know he would take me to California, if he did. If Ilethim.

For a fact, he would.

Do it,I think wildly.Make a move on me.

I stare at his chest. He’s breathing hard, over me. His hands come up almost as if to touch me. And I do nothing. I stand there, willing for it happen.

He pulls away, adjusting his belt. I hear him curse under his breath. Him almost touching me and the hot melting urge between my legs seem to be related.

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